LOCAL GOVERNMENT MINISTERS FORUM

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (14:50): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for State/Local Government Relations a question about the Local Government Ministers Forum.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA: I understand that the inaugural Local Government Ministers Forum was held last week in Canberra. Minister, will you outline the outcomes of the Local Government Ministers Forum and explain some of the opportunities that exist for the three tiers of government to work together in delivering meaningful reform?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:51): I would like to thank the member for his very important question.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: A previous question was asked—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: I am just watching the clock tick down, that is all I am doing. I am happy to stand up here until the cows come home. As to a previous question by the Hon. Mr Wade regarding do-it-yourself Asbestos Awareness Week, I have some information here, some literature, and I will provide a copy to the honourable member.

I thank the honourable member for his very important question. The Local Government Ministers Forum met for the first time last Wednesday and was—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: I have been asked to repeat this, the honourable member cannot hear.

The PRESIDENT: Hear, hear! Keep repeating it until they are quiet.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: The Local Government Ministers Forum met for the first time last Wednesday and was chaired by the Hon. Simon Crean MP, Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government. Forum members include state and territory ministers with responsibility for local government matters and the president of the Australian Local Government Association, Ms Genia McCaffery.

The establishment of the forum represents the continuing strong commitment of the commonwealth, state and territory governments to local government issues. At this meeting, members agreed on a work program of reforms focused on strengthening and building the capacity and skills of local government. The forum has agreed to develop options for performance measurement criteria to strengthen the Inter-Governmental Agreement Establishing Principles Guiding Inter-Governmental Relations on Local Government Matters (IGA) as part of building an integrated approach to improve performance measurement, capacity building and elements of grant funding. The IGA—

The Hon. R.L. Brokenshire interjecting:

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: Do you want to? The IGA has been in operation since 2006 and provides a framework to improve—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: Can you hear me back there?

The Hon. J.M. Gazzola: No.

The Hon. G.E. Gago: No. Can you repeat that? I can't hear.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: I will repeat it again. The Local Government Ministers Forum met for the first time last Wednesday and was chaired by the Hon. Simon Crean MP, Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government. Forum members include state and territory ministers with responsibility for local government matters and the president of the Australian Local Government Association, Ms Genia McCaffery.

The establishment of the forum represents the continuing strong commitment of the commonwealth, state and territory governments to local government issues. At this meeting, members agreed on a work program of reforms focused on strengthening and building the capacity and skills of local government. The forum has agreed to develop options for performance measurement criteria to strengthen the Inter-Governmental Agreement Establishing Principles Guiding Inter-Governmental Relations on Local Government Matters (IGA) as part of building an integrated approach to improve performance measurement, capacity building and elements of grant funding.

The IGA has been in operation since 2006 and provides a framework to improve the way the three spheres of government (federal, state and local) relate to each other, including to minimise cost-shifting between the spheres of government. After a recent review of its operation, members renewed their commitment to the IGA.

Members will now have regular performance measurement and a reporting framework at all three levels of government. Members will then examine the potential to broaden the scope of the IGA. Minister Crean has undertaken to provide an update of the review of financial assistance grants, and members comments will be factored into scoping that review. The minister also undertook to consult members on the proposed terms of reference.

The forum has also agreed on the need to better understand opportunities and constraints in local infrastructure provision. Minister Crean announced the Australian government has commissioned work to support improvements in the provision and financing of local infrastructure to ensure that Australia's future development needs can be met. The forum will provide input to this project, which is due to report in March 2012.

Financial sustainability of local government was also discussed, and members agreed that the forum has a role in driving continued productivity—you can hear a pin drop, Mr President. I am not used to such silence in this chamber; it is quite amazing.

The PRESIDENT: I would continue, minister. I wouldn't chance your luck.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: —and efficiency gains and building discipline and continuous improvement into funding agreements with local government.

As I informed the chamber yesterday, ministers also discussed the opportunities for local government, presented by the Australian government's Clean Energy Future package, to cut carbon pollution. Members supported the proposed development of a tailored local government engagement strategy to ensure appropriate information is provided to local government on the opportunities under the climate change programs for the sector.

The forum also met with the chair of the Expert Panel of Constitutional Recognition of Local Government, the Hon. James Spigelman AC, QC, and expert panel members, Mr Greg McLean and Ms Genia McCaffery. Mr Spigelman provided an update on the progress of the expert panel's activities, with the panel currently considering its findings before formally reporting to the government next month.

The state government of South Australia has a great respect for local government and the work it does, and we support in principle the constitutional recognition for local government. We will be putting a submission into the panel and looking forward to being a part of the debate in future. Nevertheless, the South Australian government is certainly keen to participate in the national debate in a constructive manner and the state submission to the commonwealth government will reflect this.

Forum members undertook to consider further the issue of financial recognition in both the constitutional recognition process as well as more broadly. I note with some disappointment that the Victorian and Western Australia Liberal state governments have already indicated their opposition to constitutional recognition. Other matters of national significance to local government considered by the forum include issues and lessons learned for land use planning and local government and the critical role of local government in a regional agenda. The forum has agreed to a forward work program covering the issues discussed at the recent meeting, as well as matters of national significance to local government.

The forum noted the need to consider work underway affecting the sector, such as the Productivity Commission's review of local government as a regulator and to address the challenges of infrastructure in indigenous communities. I found the forum to be valuable in progressing issues of national significance for local government and look forward to progressing the agreed work program.