SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON. E, G. WHITLAM, Q. C, M. P.
AT THE OPENING OF THE MEETING OF THE CAPITAL CITY LORD MAYORS,
27 JUNE 1975, AT THE TOWN HALL, CITY OF SYDNEY
My LORD MAYORS,
WE LAST MET 18 MONTHS AGO IN CANBERRA. WE MEET
AGAIN TODAY IN THE TOWN HALL OF THE CITY WHICH GREW
FROM THE FIRST EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT IN AUSTRALIA, 187
YEARS AGO. IN 1842 IT BECAME THE FIRST MUNICIPALITY
IN NEW SOUTH WALES. IT IS INDEED AN APPROPRIATE VENUE
FOR A MEETING BETWEEN THE HEADS OF AUSTRALIA'S CENTRAL
CITIES AND ITS NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.
TODAY, WE WILL BE DISCUSSING IDEAS OF MUTUAL
CONCERN. WE WILL BE IDENTIFYING AREAS WHERE OUR
OFFICERS CAN HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS. THERE HAVE
ALREADY BEEN REGULAR MEETINGS BETWEEN OFFICIALS
OF THE CAPITAL CITIES SECRETARIAT AND THE DEPARTMENT
OF URBAN AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND IT IS MY
HOPE THAT THESE COOPERATIVE EFFORTS CAN BE FURTHER
EXTENDED.
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THE CAPITAL CjTIES
YOU HAVE NOT COME TOGETHER TODAY TO REPRESENT
LOCAL GOVERNNENT GENERALLY, WLE SEEK DISCUSSIONS Oil
MATTERS OF PARTICULAR CONCERN TO THE CAPITAL CITIES.
YOU ARE SEP-KING RECOGNITION FROM THE AUSTRALIAN
GOVERNMENT OF THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS WHICH THE CAPITAL
CITIES SUFFER AND THE NEED FOR SPECIAL MEASURES TO
SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS.
WITH THE OBVIOUS EXCEPTION OF BRISBANE, THE
FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY THE CAPITAL CITY COUNCILS
DIFFER FROM' THOSE SUBURBAN AUTHORITIES IN EACH
METROPOLIS IN SCALE AND LOCATION, RATHER THAN
FUNCTION. AT THE SAME TIME, WE ALL ACCEPT THAT IT
IS DIFFICULT TO GENERALISE ACROSS THE RANGE OF CAPITAL
CITIES AS THEY EACH DIFFER TO SOME DEGREE.
11E ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CAPITAL CITY COUNCILS DO
UNDERTAKE HIGHER LEVELS OF SPENDING DUE PARTLY TO
THE HIGHER COSTS IN PROVIDING SERVICES IN CENTRAL
CITY LOCATIONS. HIGHER STANDARDS OF SERVICES ARE
OFTEN DEMANDED AND THERE ARE, SPECIAL SERVICES WHICH
ARE NOT WHOLLY USED BY RATEPAYERS. / 3
3
GENERALLY, YOU HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF
PROPERTY EXEMPT FROM RATING AND THIS INCLUDES PROPERTY
OWNED BY THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT. YOU HAVE EXTENSIVE
PARKLANDS AND CULTURAL FACILITIES WHICH ARE USED BY
THE PEOPLE OF THE WHOLE METROPOLIS.
ON THE OTHER HAND THESE SPECIAL PROBLEMS ARE
NOT UNIQUE TO CAPITAL CITY COUNCILS. SEASIDE COUNCILS
ARE REQUIRED TO COPE WITH THE INFLUX OF VISITORS
USING THEIR BEACHES AND RECREATION FACILITIES, SOME
SUBURBAN OR COUNTRY TOWN COUNCILS HAVE VERY LARGE
AREAS OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTY OR OTHER NON RATEABLE
PROPERTY WdHICH CAN SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE THEIR
INCOME PROSPECTS. IN CERTAIN OF THE SMALLER CAPITAL.
CITIES THE ROBLEMS WHICH ARE FACED ARE NOT THAT
DIFFERENT FROM THE PROBLEMS OF CITIES SUCH AS
NEWCASTLE AND WOLLONGONG.
MDDITIONALLY; MUCH OF THE EXPENDITURE OF THE
CAPITAL CITY COUNCILS IS DEVOTED TO WORKS AND
SERVICES WHICH ENSURE THE CONTINUED VIABILITY OF
THE CITY AS A COMMERCIAL CENTRE OF THE METROPOLIS, m / I4
THIS IS REFLECTED IN THE HIGH LEVEL OF RATEABLE
VALUES WHICH IN TURN RESULT IN ABOVE AVERAGE REVENUE
RAISING CAPACITIES WITH WHICH TO FINANCE THOSE
ACTIVITIES, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US ALL TO RECOGNISE AT
THE OUTSET THAT THESE DIFFICULTIES AND PROBLEMS
COULD BE ALLEVIATED BY MEANS OTHER THAN GRANTS
FROM HIGHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. INSTITUTIONAL
REARRANGEMENTS SHOULD BE EXAMINED. THE ADEQUACY
OF THE PRESENT STRUCTURE OF METROPOLITAN LOCAL
GOVERNMENT AND SCHEMES FOR COST SHARING BETWEEN
THE CAPITAL CITIES AND OTHER AUTHORITIES IN THE
METROPOLITAN AREA ARE TWO POSSIBLE AREAS WORTHY
OF CONSiKDATION.
AuSTRALIAm GRANTS CoMISSION
I RECOGNISE THAT THE ROLE OF THE GRANTS
COMMISSION IS OF CONCERN TO YOU. I SHOULD EMPHASISE
AT THE OUTSET THAT THE COMMISSION IS AN INDEPENDENT
BODY HEADED BY A VERY INDEPENDENTLY MINDED CHAIRMAN. 11
DECISIONS ON METHODOLOGY REST W JH THE COMMISSION
AND I, FOR ONE, CANNOT 4T4= ATE ITS
REPORT FOR 1975-76,
IN-ITS 1974 REPORT ON FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO
LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODIES, THE GRANTS COMMISSION
RECOMMENDED THE ALLOCATION OF $ 56,4M DURING THE
FOLLOWING FINANCIAL YEAR FOR GENERAL REVENUE FISCAL
EQUALISATION GRANTS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODIES, I
SHOULD STRESS THE WORD " EQUALISATION". WE CONSIDER
THAT THOSE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODIES WITH THE GREATEST
PROBLEMS AND LEAST MEANS OF HELPING THEMSELVES SHOULD
RECEIVE THE MOST ASSISTANCE, THIS IS REFLECTED IN THE
CHARTER OF THE GRANTS COMMISSION. C-T
HAVE SAID, THAT I CANNOT AaT.'-IP* TE WHAT
RECOMMENDATIONS THE COMMISSION WILL MAKE ON THE
QUESTION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE CAPITAL
CITIES. I RECOGNISE THAT LAST YEAR THE COMMISSION
RECOMMENDED A $ 2M GRANT TO THEBRISBANE CITY
COUNCIL IN RECOGNITION OF THE SPECIAL SITUATION OF
BRISBANE COMPARED TO THE OTHER CAPITAL CITY COUNCILS, ,/ 6
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I UNDERSTAND THAT THE COMMISSION HAS HAD THE BENEFIT
OF THE VIEWS OF THE AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL FOR LOCAL
GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATIONS WHICH HAS MADE SUBMISSIONS
ON BEHALF OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT GENERALLY, I WILL READ
THE SHORTLY TO BE DELIVERED GRANTS COMMISSION REPORT
WITH GREAT INTEREST,
SPECIFIC PURPOSE GRANTS
YOU WILL ALL BE AWARE OF THE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE
IN THE LEVEL AND RANGE OF SPECIFIC PURPOSE GRANTS
WHICH HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
BY THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT, WE ARE NOW INVOLVED
IN A COMPr-. ENSIVE SYSTEM OF GRANTS TO LOCAL BODIES.
IN 1973-74, GRANTS WERE MADE DIRECTLY TO
LOCAL AUTHCRITIES FOR AGED PERSONS HOMES, DELIVERED
MEALS, HOME NURSING, SHELTERED EMPLOYMENT, CHILD
CARE, ABORIGINAL ADVANCEMENT, AND COMMUNITY ARTS.
ASSISTANCE WAS ALSO GIVEN TO LOCAL AERODROMES
ALTHOUGH THIS CATEGORY IS UNLIKELY TO BE OF GREAT
CONCERN TO YOU TODAY,
-7
PAYMENTS HAVE ALSO BEEN MADE THROUGH THE STATES
FOR SEWERAGE AND ROADS AND IN CERTAIN AREAS, FOR
URBAN DEVELOPMENT GENERALLY AND FOR AREA IMPROVEMENT.
IN 1974-75 my GOVERNMENT INTRODUCED NEW OR EXPANDED
PROGRAMS FOR CHILD CARE CENTRES, PRE-SCHOOLS,
REGIONAL EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT, AND ASSISTANCE TO
REGIONAL ORGANISATIONs, THE AUTAINASSISTANCE
PLAN HAS ALSO PROVIDED FUNDS FOR LOCAL PROJECTS.
IT IS NOT PRESENTLY POSSIBLE TO PRECISELY
CALCULATE IN FINANCIAL TERMS THE GROWTH IN SPECIFIC
PURPOSE ASSISTANCE. THE DIFFERENCES IN FUNCTIONS
CARRIED ON BETWEEN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN EACH STATE
OR PARTS 3F STATES AND THE WAY IN WHICH FUNDING OF
PROGRAMS -7 SOMETIMES LINKED WITH STATE FUNDED
PROGRAMS, MAKES THE TASK DIFFICULT. SUFFICE TO
SAY THAT THE LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN
CONSIDERA3LE, AND WHEN ADDED TO FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE
FROM OTHER SOURCES, WE BELIEVE THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT
HAS BEEN GIVEN SUBSTANTIAL HELP IN PROVIDING BOTH
BASIC LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES AS WELL AS
THOSE MORE-* PERSONAL SERVICES WHICH OUR COMMUNITY
HAS BEEN INCREASINGLY DEMANDING.
-8-
IT IS OUR AIM TO KEEP UNDER REVIEW THE TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF SPECIFIC PURPOSE GRANTS, WE NEED
TO GUARD AGAINST OVERLAP AND DEVISE PROCEDURES
WHEREBY THE DETAILED DECISION-MAKING CAN BE DEVOLVED
TO UNITS OF GOVERNMENT CLOSE TO THE PEOPLE.
ON 18 JUNE 1975 1 RELEASED A STATEMENT OF THE
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT'S POLICY ON REGIONALISM. AMONGST
OTHER THINGS I. SAID THAT A REGIONAL POLICY IS BASED
ON THE CONCEPT THAT SOME PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OF
GOVERNMENT ARE MOST EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY
PLANNED, CO-ORDINATED AND DELIVERED AT A LEVEL
INTERMEDIATE TO THAT OF STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
AND THAT ThE POLICY IS BASED ON THE CONTINUED EXISTENCE
OF FEDER. L. STATE AND LOCAL STRUCTURES.
AT THE CONFERENCE WITH PREMIERS ON -19 JUNE I
INVITED PREMIERS TO JOIN THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT
IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CO-OPERATIVE PLANNING
ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE BETTER ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES
WITHIN FUNCTIONS. ,19/ 9
9-
THE STATE GOVERNMENTS HAVE AGREED TO FURTHER
DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN OFFICERS ON THE POSSIBILITIES
OF CO-OPERATIVE PLANNING. I WOULD HOPE THAT
AGREEMENT ON A GENERAL APPROACH CAN BE REACHED IN
THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, OBVIOUSLY FULL IMPLEMENTATION
MAY TAKE SOME YEARS, BUT YOU CAN HAVE MY ASSURANCES
THAT THE PLACE AND ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN
ANY CONSULTATION AND PLANNING ARRANGEMENTS WILL
BE OF PRIME CONCERN TO THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT.
WE ALSO RECOGNISE THE IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION
ABOUT THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
WHICH ARE A" VAILABLE FROM THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT.
AT OUR 1L' 37S MEETING, YOU MADE COMMENTS ON THIS ISSUE
AND AS A DRECT RESULT THE DEPARTMENT OF URBAN AND
REGIONAL 1E'--'/"= LOPMEN4T PRODUCED A BOOKLET IN MAY 1974.
WHICH GAVE DETAILS OF THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS. THAT
BOOKLET IS NOW BEING REVISED AND SHOULD BE AVAILABLE
SHORTLY.
11
IT IS TO BE UNDERTAKEN IN LIAISON WITH THE NEW
ZEALAND DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND A
COMPREHENSIVE WORK PROGRAM HAS BEEN PREPARED
INVPLVING ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, IT IS INTENDED
TO PRODUCE A REPORT BY THE END OF OCTOBER
ADVISING GOVERNMENTS ON POSSIBLE MEASURES TO TACKLE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, AND
FURTHER RESEARCH.
URBAN AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
I UNDERSTAND THAT MY COLLEAGUE, MR TOM UREN,
THE MINISTER FOR URBAN AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, HAS
MADE SCi REMARKS ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE CENTRAL
BUSINESS DISTRICTS OF AUSTRALIAN CITIES IN THE
CONTEXT CF THE WHOLE CITY. IT IS CERTAINLY MY
EXPERIENCE, FOR ALL HIS TALK ABOUT GENTLENESS,
THAT TOm UREN CAN BE BLUNT WHEN HE IS TALKING
ABOUT SOMETHING WHICH GREATLY CONCERNS HIM.
MY GOVERNMENT'S PROGRAMS AND POLICIES
CANNOT BE VIEWED IN ISOLATION, ALONG WITH THE
MAJOR DECISIONS WHICH YOU TAKE, THEY SHOULD BE
DEVELOPED WITHIN A STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK IN WHICH
THEY AND OTHER INITIATIVES IN URBAN AND REGIONAL
DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT AUSTRALIA ARE SEEN AS
PART OF A COORDINATED WHOLE. ,/ 12
12
THE BREADTH OF RESOURCES WHICH NOW HAVE TO
BE CHANNELLED IN THE DIRECTION OF URBAN AND REGIONAL
DEVELOPMENT AND THE NATIONAL PRIORITY NOW ACCORDED
TO THE PROBLEMS OF CITIES AND REGIONS PUTS A HEAVY
RESPONSIBILITY ON THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT TO SEE
THAT RESOURCES ARE USED EFFICIENTLY AND ARE
DISTRIBUTED EQUITABLY THROUGHOUT AUSTRALIA, WITHTHESE
CONCERNS, AS WELL AS ITS POLICIES ON THE
LOCATION OF PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYMENT, THE AUSTRALIAN
GOVERNMENT HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT ITS
DECISIONS ARE NOT TAKEN IN ISOLATION. IN THE SAME
MANNER, THE CAPITAL CITIES COUNCILS SHOULD RECOGNISE
THAT THE EFFECTS AND ACTIONS OF POLICIES OF ALL
CAPITAL.-CITIES DO HAVE FUNDAMENTAL CONSEQUENCES
FOR S! L-=' CUNDING AREAS OUTSIDE THEIR IMMEDIATE
RESPONS:-31LITIES. 0,' LCTHMIES OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THESE
GENERAL ISSUES WITH You. THIS CONSULTATION AND'
DISCUSSION SHOULD CONTINUE AT OUR LEVEL AS WELL
AS BETWEEN OUR OFFICIALS. IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT
AT SOME FUTURE DATE WE SHOULD INCLUDE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT GENERALLY IN OUR ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS. / 113
13
IAM SURE THAT TODAY'S DISCUSSIONS WILL BE AN
IMPORTANT EVENT IN THE CONTINUED PROGRAM OF
CONSULTATION BETWEEN THE NATIONAL AND LOCAL LEVELS
OF THE GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIA.
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