A discussion paper on whether local government should be recognised in the Australian Constitution has been released by the Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Local Government for public consultation.

 

The Expert Panel was formed in June this year to consult with stakeholder groups and the community on the level of support for constitutional recognition of local government and to identify possible forms that recognition could take.

 

The discussion paper sets out reasons for including local government in the Constitution and  ideas about how the Constitution could be changed to achieve this. The panel seeks submissions on the ideas and issues involved to inform its advice to the Commonwealth Government.

 

There are a range of ideas on how to include local government in the Australian Constitution.


Each meets different practical objectives and has advantages and disadvantages. In its considerations, the Expert Panel is looking for ideas that will:

  • make a practical difference
  • have a reasonable chance at a referendum
  • resonate with the public.

 

The panel has identified four ideas that appear to satisfy these three criteria and is looking for specific feedback on each of them:

  • Symbolic recognition
  • Financial recognition
  • Democratic recognition
  • Recognition through Federal cooperation

Submissions close on 4th November, 2011.

 

The discussion paper can be accessed here.