Legislative Council Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2) 52 2 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Local Government Planning Days LOCAL GOVERNMENT PLANNING DAYS The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO Legislative Council LOCAL GOVERNMENT PLANNING DAYS The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (14:55): My question is to the Minister for State/Local Government Relations. Can the minister please provide information to the chamber about state government support and sponsorship of upcoming regional local government planning days? The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY Legislative Council Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations LOCAL GOVERNMENT PLANNING DAYS The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:56): I would like to thank the honourable member for her question. I am pleased to advise the chamber that my departmental officers are currently discussing with the executive officers the format for the next six regional local government planning days to be held in each of the six regions: the South East Local Government Association (SELGA), the Eyre Peninsula Local Government Association, the Central Local Government Region, the Murray and Mallee Local Government Association, the Southern and Hills Local Government Association and the Provincial Cities Association. The executive officer of each regional local government association will be responsible for organising their particular planning day or forum, as it is the executive officers who have the greatest understanding of the format and content that best suits the needs of their region. Nevertheless, I am pleased to advise that they will receive strong support from me through the Office for State/Local Government Relations. This support will be financial, with funding of up to $5,000 to assist each planning day. Additionally, the Office for State/Local Government Relations will provide organisational support. The office will ensure that the state agencies involved in each day provide information and, where appropriate, participate in discussions that are of most relevance and help to the particular region. I also emphasise that I do not expect that these days will simply be one-off events. It is my intention that the government will continue to support the regions to establish these planning days as annual events. This will ensure that our regions, which are crucial to a strong future for our state, have regular opportunities to discuss and progress what is most important to their communities.