STATE/LOCAL GOVERNMENT RELATIONS PORTFOLIO

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:25): I seek leave to make another ministerial statement in relation to machinery of government changes.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Yesterday I wrote to the LGA welcoming its feedback on the restructuring that is being proposed by the government for the state/local government relations portfolio. Members would know that I have long believed in encouraging the most streamlined and effective relationship between local and state levels of government. It is to that end that the government has decided to restructure the current Office for State/Local Government Relations where some functions will be incorporated into departments which are more directly aligned to those roles.

This important and progressive step in raising the bar as to how state and local governments relate to each other is timely now that the new ICAC legislation has been passed. The new framework, made up of the Ombudsman, the Auditor-General and the Anti-Corruption Branch, with the new ICAC commissioner at its pinnacle, should reduce the oversight role of the Minister for State/Local Government Relations. Furthermore, new codes of conduct for elected members and employees of councils will come into operation at the same time that the new ICAC commissioner begins his work.

Also, legislative amendments are now being developed with the aim of improving the conflict of interest provisions of the Local Government Act as well as tightening up the provisions that deal with how and when and, obviously, the frequency that councils can consider matters behind closed doors.

As Minister for State/Local Government Relations and Regional Development, I will continue to work closely with the local government sector. I am pleased to announce that, supported by PIRSA, I will assist local governments to engage directly with state local government agencies and the commonwealth, with particular reference to matters related to regional economic development. PIRSA will be assuming responsibility for the Outback Communities Authority as well as the Local Government Grants Commission.

The Local Government Act 1999 and the Local Government (Elections) Act 1999 will become the responsibility of the Minister for Planning. The Local Government Forum will be managed by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet so that it truly reflects an across-government strategic role.

I would also like to take this opportunity to emphasise the state government's ongoing commitment to our intergovernmental agreement, which will also be the responsibility of DPC. I look forward to working with the LGA on this change process into the future.