Excluding councils from Federal infrastructure plans hurts communities

Published on 27 January 2025

The peak body for local government in Queensland is urging the major parties to commit to overturning a decision not to allow councils to submit critical infrastructure proposals directly to Infrastructure Australia.

Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) President Matt Burnett said the Federal Government’s decision to remove the ability of councils to submit proposals directly to Infrastructure Australia was deeply disappointing.

“Queensland councils want to ensure our state gets its fair share of funding and that every Queensland community is a liveable one through the provision of the infrastructure they need," Mayor Burnett said.

LGAQ Chief Executve Officer Alison Smith said Queensland councils have significant responsibilities.

“Our councils are not like their interstate counterparts. They support communities in the most decentralised and disaster-prone state, amid the highest migration and with an Olympic Games on the horizon," Ms Smith said.

"They have different responsibilities and play a key role in identifying nation-building projects.

“It is therefore crucial that councils have the ability to identify and nominate essential infrastructure projects of national significance, especially given the pivotal role Infrastructure Australia’s Infrastructure Priority List plays in determining the Federal Government’s infrastructure spend.

“Without this ability, local communities will be left behind.”

Ms Smith said the decision to remove the ability for councils to submit projects to Infrastructure Australia for consideration was taken alongside the Federal Government’s edict that it would only fund infrastructure on a 50:50 funding basis going forward, in a double blow.

“The LGAQ, on behalf of Queensland councils, has been advocating to reinstate the original 80:20 funding arrangement ever since the 50:50 funding change was announced in 2023," Ms Smith said.

“We very much welcomed the decision of the Federal Government to return to the 80:20 funding split in order to progress much-needed safety works on the Bruce Highway, and the Federal Opposition’s promise to match this commitment.

“We now need to see both the Federal Government and Federal Opposition agree to a full return to the 80:20 funding split, not just for the for the Bruce Highway, but for all roads and infrastructure funding, alongside the reinstatement of the right of councils to submit proposals directly to Infrastructure Australia for inclusion in the Infrastructure Priority List."

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Dan Knowles, Media Advisor