Joint Media Statement
FEDERAL
PARLIAMENT SAYS YES TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Last night,
Federal Members of Parliament voted 134 to 2 to change the Constitution to
recognise local government.
This is a
strong endorsement of the proposed amendment and reflects the bipartisan
support the referendum has at the Federal level.
The
amendment would add 17 words to our almost 12,000-word long Constitution and
alter Section 96 to read:
96 Financial assistance to
States and local government bodies
During a period of ten years after the
establishment of the Commonwealth and thereafter until the Parliament otherwise
provides, the Parliament may grant financial assistance to any State, or
to any local government body formed by a law of a State, on such terms
and conditions as the Parliament thinks fit.
The
passage of the legislation is the culmination of work done by the Expert Panel
on Constitutional Recognition of Local Government, led by the Hon James
Spigelman AC, QC and the Parliamentary Joint Select Committee and follows
strong advocacy by local governments across Australia.
It is a small but important change
that reflects the fact that the Commonwealth has
partnered with local governments to deliver local roads, sporting fields,
libraries, child care and community services.
Together we have delivered programs like
Roads to Recovery which has enabled upgrade and repair work to take place at
16,000 road sites across the country.
The change
will not diminish the role of the States with regard to the administration of
local government. Recognition in the Constitution does not alter the fact that
local governments are created by and are accountable to State Governments.
The Government encourages
Australians to support including local government in our nation’s Constitution
and to SAY YES on 14 September.
