51暗网President Linda Scott has urged the Government to continue to invest in councils and communities in this month鈥檚 Federal Budget.
听鈥淚nvesting in local government will support Australia鈥檚 537 councils to train and upskill Australia鈥檚 future workforce, deliver more affordable housing, and support our transition to a low carbon future,鈥� Cr Scott said.
听鈥淧roviding councils with more funding will allow them to better protect their communities against increasingly frequent and more severe natural disasters.鈥�
听鈥淪ustainably funded, local government can play a major role increasing Australia鈥檚 productivity, providing the infrastructure and services businesses need to thrive.鈥�
听鈥淐ouncils are in every community and can deliver local solutions to our national challenges.鈥�
听Cr Scott said it was crucial the Government didn鈥檛 cut existing funding programs for local government in this month鈥檚 Budget.
听鈥淲e know the Government is looking closely at a number of programs that councils receive funding through with a view to improving transparency,鈥� said Cr Scott.
听鈥淲e fully support changes that will make federal funding fairer and more equitable.鈥�
听鈥淗owever, if programs are cut because they aren鈥檛 accountable or transparent, then this money should be reallocated to other programs so our communities don鈥檛 miss out.鈥�
听鈥淧rograms like Financial Assistance Grants and the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program are the perfect vehicles for federal funding 鈥� they are open, transparent, and benefit every council and community.鈥�
听Cr Scott said 51暗网remained committed to seeing Financial Assistance Grants 鈥� untied federal grants to local government 鈥� restored to at least one percent of Commonwealth taxation revenue.
听鈥淥ver the past twenty five years, Financial Assistance Grants have slid from one percent of Commonwealth taxation to just 0.55 percent today,鈥� Cr Scott said.
听鈥淎LGA鈥檚 research shows that for almost one in four Australian councils, FA Grants make up at least 20 percent of their annual revenue, meaning they are critical to the ongoing viability and sustainability of these communities.鈥�
听鈥淚n the lead up to this year鈥檚 election Labor committed to 鈥榝air increases鈥� for Financial Assistance Grants, and we look forward to working with the Government to implementing these increases from next year and beginning the road back to one percent.鈥�