The Australian Local Government Association’s (ALGA) National General Assembly of Local Government has unanimously backed the motion requesting the Federal Government confirm its commitment to holding a constitutional referendum of local government in the Australian Constitution.

 

"The issue of constitutional recognition remains a priority for local government to ensure federal funding remains available to provide essential local community infrastructure and services," ALGA President Mayor Genia McCaffery said.

 

"We have identified the building blocks for a successful campaign for a ‘yes’ vote in a referendum but we cannot move forward on our own."

 

Minister for Local Government Simon Crean responded to the sector’s calls by saying that the Government is prepared to take the issue to referendum at the next election if it is confident that it will be supported by voters.

 

"The Government has until October to make a decision. I would urge local government to consider this carefully and work with us to go forward," Minister Crean said.

 

"What history shows is our commitment alone is not enough and others need to be committed. We need to have a clear and united view."

 

Attorney General Nicola Roxon has given the strongest indication to date that a constitutional referendum could be imminent, after acknowledging the High Court’s ruling on the School Chaplaincy Program had complicated funding issues.

 

“We will be carefully considering this, that it has some consequences for the issues surrounding local Government. And of course you know that we already have on the table a question of whether a referendum would be needed to pursue and clarify that direct payments to local Government are possible,” Ms Roxon said.                                 

 

Mayor McCaffery said the High Court ruling shows the urgency needed to act on constitutional recognition, saying that the legitimacy of direct Federal funding of a number of key initiatives has been called into question.

 

“We welcome comments from Attorney-General Nicola Roxon this morning acknowledging that this is a ‘dilemma’ for the Commonwealth and that yesterday’s ruling gives local government’s case for a referendum a ‘kick along’ but we need greater commitment from the Australian Government on this matter,” Ms McCaffery said.

 

“This is an urgent issue for local government.  We have been arguing for years that we need to be recognised in the Australian Constitution to ensure the continuation of direct federal funding through programs such as Roads to Recovery.