Major peak bodies representing rural and remote Queensland have joined with the state’s councils to support a new agreement to guarantee bush communities a fairer go from the Queensland Government.
The Bush Councils Compact, proposed by the Local Government Association of Queensland on behalf of its rural, regional and remote member councils, is an historic agreement designed to establish a new level of collaboration between the State and bush councils to guarantee minimum standards of service delivery and infrastructure for rural and remote communities.
The LGAQ has called on all political parties to commit to the Compact ahead of the October 31 State Election and to implement it within the first 100 days of the new Parliamentary term.
The Bush Councils Compact would require the next Queensland Government to:
- ensure special consideration is given to how every piece of legislation and every Cabinet decision will impact Queensland’s rural and remote communities.
- publish an annual report on the State of our Bush Communities, which includes an independent assessment of government programs and service delivery to rural and remote communities.
- introduce a ‘Bush Champions’ scheme for Directors-General including Key Performance Indicators to ensure government program provision and service delivery to rural and remote communities are top of mind.
LGAQ President and Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson said the Compact was designed to ensure the State Government never failed to consider how every Cabinet submission, every piece of legislation and every policy decision might affect bush communities.
“Small populations, funding and policy uncertainty, the tyranny of distance and a high dependence on industries impacted by global fluctuations are combining to hurt our bush communities,” Mayor Jamieson said.
“One-size-fits-all government policies only add to this frustration by ignoring any unique circumstances existing in rural and remote economies.
“We want a far greater understanding throughout government departments of the realities facing bush councils and their communities so they can make better decisions, provide greater revenue certainty and, of course, improve the quality of life of residents in rural and remote communities.”
Mayor Jamieson said the Compact would be a formal partnership between the Queensland Government and the LGAQ and apply to 45 councils in rural and remote areas of Queensland.
“It’s not a funding wish list but rather a high-level agreement providing greater policy and regulatory transparency for bush councils and a better understanding of their local circumstances,” he said.
The Compact has earned the support of fellow peak bodies, the Queensland Farmers’ Federation, the Queensland Country Women’s Association and AgForce.
Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) CEO Dr Georgina Davis welcomed the proposed Compact as a means to ensure essential services support and meet the needs of rural and remote communities, and encouraged the state’s major political parties to lend their support.
“Queensland is the most decentralised of Australia’s mainland states, with the agriculture sector of critical importance to these communities whereby they contribute to the state’s food security, environmental sustainability and economic opportunity,” Dr Davis said.
“Despite their contribution, Queenslanders in rural and remote areas do not receive the same standard of infrastructure and essential services as those living in metropolitan areas.”
“To bridge the divide between the city and the country, while improving the quality of life of rural and remote residents, in the next Parliament, the government must guarantee minimum standards of service delivery and infrastructure for rural and remote communities.”
AgForce General President Georgie Somerset said improving support for rural and remote Queensland was critical to the economic future of the state.
“Queensland’s rural communities – and the vital industries like agriculture they support – are the powerhouse underpinning our State’s economic strength,” Ms Somerset said.
“We must make sure these communities have access to the same level and quality of services available to people living in our cities.
“The vision driving AgForce’s Stand With Regional Queensland campaign is the same as that behind LGAQ’s Bush Councils Compact.
“AgForce is proud to endorse and support the Bush Councils Compact and hope that, working together, we can ensure rural councils receive the support they need to deliver vital services to their communities.”
For more information, please contact:
Sarah Vogler, Media Executive
Local Government Association of Queensland