Third and final council report card has major parties tied
Labor and the LNP are tied in first place in the Local Government Association of Queensland’s (LGAQ) final report card of the State Election campaign.
Both parties received an ‘A-’ rating following a range of key commitments announced in response to the LGAQ’s State Election priorities, including extending the successful Works for Queensland program, an initiative that has created and supported more than 26,000 jobs since its inception.
They came in slightly ahead of the Katter’s Australian Party, who scored a ‘B+’ based on their commitment to the LGAQ’s suite of election priorities designed to create or support more than 28,000 jobs and generate $4.662 billion in economic activity.
One Nation was next placed with a ‘C+’ and the Greens rounding out the ranking with a ‘C’.
The LGAQ President and Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson said that the report card was an important indicator of the priorities of the major parties as they related to the needs of councils and communities – and that the close result reflected pleasing bi-partisan commitments to a number of big ticket focus areas for councils.
“Local government has shown that placing councils and communities in the driver’s seat when it comes to economic stimulus works best – and this has been reflected by the commitment of both the ALP and LNP to continue the highly successful Works for Queensland program, as well as a new job creation program for South East Queensland councils,” he said.
“Strong support was also received from the ALP, LNP and Katter’s Australian Party for a Bush Councils Compact, a historic agreement designed to take collaboration between bush councils, their communities and the State Government to a new level.
“If this year has shown us anything, it’s that robust working partnerships across all levels of government are critical in our ability to respond to the needs of Queenslanders quickly, and with strength and clarity.”
Mayor Jamieson said councils appreciated both major parties making time to come to this week’s LGAQ’s Annual Conference to outline their plans to work with councils and to support stronger communities going forward.
Labor’s commitments also included funding to provide councils with access to a $75,000 grant to deliver tailored mental health initiatives – a request that formed part of the LGAQ’s Battleplan for Local Communities – as well as extra funding for cluster fencing, the QCoast2100 program and a $280 million commitment to continue funding under the TIDS (Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme).
The LNP also committed to reviewing certain local government legislative reforms maintaining the waste levy and to addressing water security issues in rural and regional towns across Queensland, starting with a statewide water asset audit and then the formulation of a 30-year water security plan, among other commitments.
Mayor Jamieson said the LGAQ remained disappointed, however, in the lack of clear commitments to Queensland’s First Nations councils from the major parties.
“These councils and their communities deserve better and we urge both Labor and the LNP to make clear what they will do to advance the interests of Queensland’s First Nations communities before the campaign ends on October 31.”
“It is not acceptable that the needs of our First Nations councils be overlooked during this election.”
Mayor Jamieson said Queensland councils were committed to work with whomever forms government following the October 31st election.
Queenslanders are urged to continue visiting the LGAQ’s State Election website voteforlocal.com.au, informed by the results of the report card, to help them determine which party is best placed to support their local community.
Thousands of voters have already made use of the website to help them decide what they will do on election day.
Statistics to date reveal Queensland voters are most interested in the commitments given by the parties to sustaining local jobs.
To view the full final report card, visit voteforlocal.com.au.
For more information, please contact:
Sarah Vogler, Media Executive
Local Government Association of Queensland