The Federal Government has appointed the members of the independent expert panel that will progress the recognition of local government in the Australian Constitution.

 

Led by former Chief Justice of the NSW Supreme Court, the Honourable James Spigelman AC QC, the  panel members comprise representatives from a range of backgrounds and areas of expertise.

 

Minister for Regional Development and Local Government Simon Crean said the 18-member panel will consult with stakeholder groups and the community on options for recognising local government in the Constitution.

 

"Under the guidance of Mr Spigelman, the panel members appointed today have been asked to look into the level of support for constitutional recognition of local government and to identify possible forms that recognition could take," Mr Crean said.

 

"The panel will consult widely and the outcomes will help shape any proposal to put to a referendum.”

 

The panel members are:

  • The Honourable James Spigelman AC QC (Chair);
  • Cr Paul Bell AM
  • Professor A.J. Brown
  • Senator Bob Brown
  • Fr Joe Caddy
  • Mr Ross Cameron
  • Mr Peter Clarke
  • Mr Rob Hudson
  • The Honourable Karlene Maywald
  • Cr Genia McCaffery, Mayor of North Sydney
  • Mr Greg McLean OAM
  • Mrs Jane Prentice MP
  • Professor Graham Sansom
  • Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Perth Lisa Scaffidi
  • Mr Sid Sidebottom MP
  • Mr Jim Soorley AM
  • Ms Lucy Turnbull AO
  • Mr Tony Windsor MP


The panel will report back to the Government by the end of the year.

 

To succeed, the referendum must attract the support of a majority of votes nationally, and a majority of votes in a majority of states.

 

Biographies of panel members and its terms of reference are available at www.regional.gov.au/local/crlg/panel.aspx