Media response - National General Assembly outcomes
Published on 10 July 2024
Response to the Fleurieu Sun.
Comments attributed to Mayor Moira Were
Last week’s assembly was a key opportunity for councils to advocate for local change on a national stage, and I was proud to represent Onkaparinga alongside 64 other South Australian delegates.
We were pleased to see the City of Onkaparinga’s three motions passed without debate, ensuring our calls – for the Australian Government to do more to preserve democracy in local government, fund immunisation and develop a national approach to rooftop solar – will be heard by federal ministers.
Another cause that received universal support from councils at the assembly was the ongoing push for more untied federal government funding through the Federal Assistance Grants Scheme.
We’d like to see one per cent of the federal government’s gross tax revenue allocated directly to councils through this scheme because current funding levels are insufficient. The value of these grants has continued to drop in real terms since they were introduced, so councils are facing more pressure to deliver for their communities with less funding.
Finally, housing was front of mind at the assembly, and we’ll be exploring council strategies into critical issues on this topic in more depth at ALGA’s inaugural National Local Government Housing Summit in Adelaide on 16 August.
ENDS