The full membership of the Joint Select Committee tasked with considering constitutional recognition has been announced following its first meeting earlier this week.

 

Chaired by NSW Labor MP, Michelle Rowland, the committee includes five members of the Australian Labor Party; two members of the Australian Greens; one Independent; four members of the Australian Liberal Party; and one member of the Australian National Party.

 

Members of the committee are:

  • Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon;
  • Labor Senators Glenn Sterle and Lisa Singh;
  •  Liberal Senators David Bushby and David Fawcett;
  • Labor MPs Tony Zappia, Michelle Rowland and Kirsten Livermore;
  • Independent MP Tony Windsor;
  • Liberal MPs Steve Irons and Jane Prentice; and
  • Nationals MP Mark Coulton.

 

Earlier this year, Australian Local Government Association called on the Australian Government to establish the committee as the next step towards a referendum on the constitutional recognition of local government.

 

The parliamentary committee will consider the timing of a referendum and the wording of the constitutional amendment.   ALGA is seeking an amendment of Section 96 of the Constitution so that it would read: "Parliament may grant financial assistance to any state or local government body formed by or under a law of a state or territory on such terms and conditions as the Parliament sees fit."