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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-02-10 Daily Xml
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STATE/LOCAL GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (14:43): Given that in recent years there has been a lack of attendance and participation by the Office of State/Government Relations at regional Local Government Association meetings, including the meetings of SELGA which he would be well aware of, will the minister assure this chamber that all meetings of regional Local Government Associations will be attended by staff or representatives of the Office of State/Government Relations?

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for Gambling) (14:44): I'm not sure how that supplementary related to my initial answer; however, I am happy to address it. Of course, the various local government associations, where the various councils come together—particularly those in regional areas—are a very important part of local governments' functioning and their relationship with the state government.

Of course, I do not know offhand what the attendance has been by officials of the agency at particular meetings at particular times. I would think that what is important is a productive and fruitful relationship and that lines of communication are kept open between the government and between local governments.

Whether or not that means somebody from the agency attends every single meeting of every regional local government association body, I do not know. I would have thought that it would not necessarily be essential for the good functioning of local government that there be a representative from the state government there on every occasion.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN: I am confident that regional councils and regional local government bodies are connected by telephone and the internet, so I am sure there is an opportunity for officials to have a look at what local government bodies have been discussing, debating and deciding as to whether or not there was a representative present.

It is not important whether a particular person is at a particular meeting on every occasion. What is important is the overall relationship between state and local governments. What this agreement is about is ensuring that that is a productive, effective relationship. Certainly, as minister, I am looking forward to visiting as many of the local government associations in regional areas as I can, and it will be an opportunity for me to meet with local government representatives I may not have met this time.

So, I believe there are opportunities for local governments to communicate with the state government; this agreement sets up mechanisms which ensure that that will happen. What is important is ensuring a collaborative, constructive relationship, and that is what will be happening in the future.

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