The ongoing impact of drought on regional Queensland, the future of waste management and the need for a big increase in federal financial assistance to local communities will be some of the hot topics up for debate at the 2018 Local Government Association of Queensland annual conference in Brisbane next week.
The conference, which has attracted more than 800 delegates and observers, is the principal policy making forum for the State’s 77 local councils.
LGAQ President and Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson said a focus for this year’s conference was the upcoming federal election and the need to ensure local councils and their communities receive a better funding deal from Canberra.
He said local councils in Queensland and all other states would be pushing election candidates hard to commit to a guaranteed flow of financial assistance to local communities of at least one percent of total federal taxation revenue.
“The value of untied Federal financial assistance flowing to councils has almost halved over the past two decades,” Mayor Jamieson said.
“That means much less money for libraries, roads, swimming pools and parks and gardens - the fabric of daily community life across the nation. It also means fewer job opportunities.”
“Local governments’ share of all taxation revenue raised in Australia is just three percent but they are responsible for managing and maintaining 33 percent of public infrastructure.”
“Local communities deserve better.”
Mayor Jamieson said another two pressing issues for local government were waste reform and the response of all levels of government to the drought gripping much of Queensland.
More than 100 motions will be put up for debate at the conference - the 122nd annual gathering of councils across the state.
It will run from 29 to 31 October at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.