Cassowary Coast Regional Council

The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) 112th Annual Conference was held at the Cairns Convention Centre, from 1st – 4th September 2008, attended by around 700 delegates. This was half the number at the 2007 LGAQ Conference, reflecting amalgamation, with now approximately half the number of councils and less than half the number of councillors. An advantage of the smaller size may be that the Conference can in future be held regionally, in other than the major centres.

A number of important recommendations were made:-

• Recommendation that the date of Local Government elections be moved to October, commencing in 2012. This was advised for two main reasons
  • Councillors would have a reasonable time period to formulate budgets, due the following June.
  • The weather in the North is less likely to disrupt voting due to flooding etc.
• Recommendation that there be the option for Local Governments to conduct elections themselves, as in the past, or through the Australian Electoral Commission, which has permanently manned offices, rather than having The Queensland Electoral Commission compulsorily conduct elections, as happened for the first time in 2008. This motion was raised in response to documented inefficiencies in the March 2008 election, and the significantly increased costs in 2008.
• Recommendation that External Development Assessment Panels, as introduced interstate, not be introduced in Queensland, on the basis that best practice devolution of decision making occurs by professional council staff in at least 90% of all decisions. In other words, planning decisions in Queensland are to remain the primary responsibility of Local Governments and their staff.
• Recommendation, on a motion proposed by the Cassowary Coast Regional Council, that representations be made to the Federal Government seeking an increase in the current level of financial assistance, noting that the percentage of tax revenue available to local government has declined from 2% when introduced to 0.7% presently.
• A recommendation calling for casual vacancies on council to be filled by appointment by council was defeated. The conference recommended that by-elections be called, unless the vacancy occurs close to the next election date.
• Recommendation that the State Government pensioner rebate scheme maximum limit be increased from $180 per annum to $300 per annum. Widespread concern was expressed by Conference delegates that Local Government did not have the resources to fund pensioner discounts, and that the upcoming increase in pensioner numbers, as the baby boomer generation retires, will increase this pressure.

So it is now over to the State Government, and in some instances the Federal Government, to respond to these recommendations from Local Government. The upcoming review of the Local Government Act, expected to be released by State Cabinet next month, will no doubt address many of the issues and I will keep you informed.