21 August 2020
National Cabinet missing vital voice of local government
When the National Cabinet of State and Federal governments met today to discuss critical issues facing the country such as border controls in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the voice of grassroots local government was missing.
Local Government NSW (LGNSW) President Linda Scott said councils had so far been denied a seat at the National Cabinet, robbing local communities of a voice and robbing the Cabinet of the vital insights local government can bring to the table.
“No one is more aware of what is happening at a grassroots level than local councils,” Cr Scott said.
“You don’t need to look any further than the initial challenges of the NSW-Victorian border to see the results of excluding councils.
“This could have been largely avoided if cross-border councils had been involved in the process from the beginning.
“LGNSW was able to step in on behalf of those councils in the wake of the initial confusion and uncertainty.
“We facilitated meetings between the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, the Chief Medical Officer, the NSW Police Commissioner and the Cross-Border Commissioner with mayors and general managers of 11 affected cross-border towns to resolve local issues arising from border closures.”
The National Cabinet was formed so State and Federal governments could develop a coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic and other issues of national significance.
Cr Scott said it was critical that there would be local government representation at such an important decision-making table.
“Councils are the closest level of government to their communities and take a leadership role in dealing with everything from drought to bushfires and now a global pandemic,” Cr Scott said.
“And of course, councils will be closely involved in leading their communities through economic recovery. Yet they have been shunned from the highest level of discussion and decision making on behalf of their residents.”
LGNSW has joined other State council associations pushing for the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) to be included on the National Cabinet.
“ALGA represents more than 530 councils across Australia and it makes basic common sense that they’d be represented at this National Cabinet,” Cr Scott said.
“ALGA has been a member of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) for 28 years. For 28 years we have had the voice of local government at the national table and it is important they are part of the National Cabinet speaking up for our communities.
“We will continue to press the case with Federal Government, along with State associations and individual councils across the country. But the longer it takes, the longer a critical voice is being missed in the National Cabinet process.”
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