PRIME MINISTER
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SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTE R, THE HON P. J. KEATING, MP
SIGNING OF COMMONWEALTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACCORD,
PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA, 14 NOVEMBER 1995
I am very pleased to be here to sign the first partnership agreement entered
into by Commonwealth and local governments.
The textbooks commonly refer to local government as the " third" tier of
government. I suppose it might seem a little remote when you're sitting on
Capitol Hill but that description seems much less accurate when you're
driving along a suburban road, or sitting in a local park or using the local
library. Of all the tiers of government local government actually operates closest to
the people. Good local governments keep their communities together and
keep them strong. Local representatives are drawn in a very immediate way
from their communities and because most elective positions are part-time,
the incumbents remain fully engaged in those communities.
Local government is situated directly in the communitys line of sight and
your work is of interest to all the members of the community.
Australia's councils have always served as the forum for local decisionmaking
on local matters. But they are also increasingly significant to our
national life.
In all bu a few areas of Australia's public life, the decisions of local
government and the quality of those decisions help determine our
progress. This is the case with the regeneration of our cities and the redevelopment of
our regions. It is most certainly the case with the protection of our natural
environment. The health of our people and the houses they live in, the
culture in which they participate, their jobs and their standard of livng all
this is touched by the processes of local government-Many of the problems
we face as a natio lie at the 1oca level and so do ft solutions.
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All Australian governments owe a duty to the Australian people and all are
charged with serving the Australian nation. No less than their
Commonwealth, State and Territory counterparts, local governments have a
role in addressing national issues and pursuing national goals.
As local governments become more aware of their national responsibilities,
the federal government is moving to anchor itself more securely in local
communities.
The lesson we can draw from such widely different initiatives as Working
Nation Landcare and Australia Remembers is that national programs work
best at the local level when they are delivered by local people, fuelled by
local energy and informed by local needs.
We realise that in pursuing national priorities, we must make use of the
people and resources on the ground and very often that means local
, tered governments. So a partnership between the Commonwealth and local government is very
worthwhile and long overdue. But like all matches, it required some making.
j on
re In February David Plumridge first mentioned to me the idea of an Accord
; al spurred on, I believe, by the success achieved at your First National
Assembly last November.
081, to I thought it was a very good idea and an excellent means of broadening and
and deepening the relationship between our two levels of government
e way
-time, In the intervening months, the two parties, led by David Plumridge and Brian
Howe, have worked hard to put some flesh-onto the bones of this Accord
and they have succeeded. We will sign a very valuable document today, one
ind which contains some significant undertakings and which will shape our future
working relationship.
At the heart of this Accord is a set of principles shared beliefs sincerely held
ur and shared goals to be sincerely pursued. These include commitments to
social justice and community cohesion, the pursuit of reconciliation with our
indigenous people, recognition of the benefits of cultural diversity and the
need for all governments to pursue micro-economic reform and to protect the
environment. This is an important statement a statement of the principles which guide
ent of Australian government. These principles have not always been the subject of
iral consensus within the Australian polity, so it is worthwhile setting them down
in ink if not in concrete.
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blems B# ftiPc= icmposed of morn than finwoLs. Both th-
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The Commonwealth believes local government should be involved in COAG de
processes and Ministerial Council activities where local government has a a r
legitimate interest, such as a significant statutory responsibility or financial up
commitment. Or
The Commonwealth will consult with local government when its initiatives are thit
likely to impact upon local government, having regard to normal budgetary an,
processes and existing arrangements with State and Territory Governments. If/
And the Commonwealth undertakes to provide funding, within existing anf
resources, for a range of local government initiatives from the Local PC
Government Development Program and to review the financial position of
local government, taking account of such issues as future changes in local W
government functions and responsibilities. de be
So the Accord is good for local government. But it's also good for Australia. we
It folds local affairs into the national mix and draws local government more rer
fully into the mainstream of national life. art
Under the Accord, local government commits to pull its weight in the arena of It v
micro-economic reform, particularly through the implementation of national thE
competition policy, enterprise bargaining, productive diversity and regulatory
reform. Fir
go'
Following on the Report of the Urban Design Task Force, the Commonwealth pei
welcomes local governments willingness to pursue reforms that will improve
the quality of our cities and thus the quality of life of our people. Th
I welcome your commitment to the protection of the environment. The Accord tw(
provides for an integrated approach to planning and development and to Fe
appropriate involvement in areas like waste management, sewerage and
stormwater treatment issues that are crucial if we are to look after our rivers Tland
our coasts. ac, th(
In this Accord, local government signs up to the cause of invigorating
Australian democracy through the creation of an effective citizenship W!,
education program. 191
Th
I know you had Philip Adams speaking to you yesterday and I gather you na
warmly welcomed everything he said about the program called Australia
Consult. Lei ffui-
The government endorsed the program back in June, shortly after I Cc
announiced the Government's preferred model of an Australian Republic. an(
There has been a good deal of debate about the model. I believe it is the
best means of reaching the objective of having an Australian as Australia's W(
Heed of State; Au
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We decided it was the best model after extensive consultations and a great
n COAG deal of hard thinking. We still firmly believe it is the best model. But it is not
has a a model we want to force upon Australians indeed no model can be forced
iancial upon Australians. A republic can't be forced upon Australians.
On the contrary, we want the whole nation to consider the issues. In fact, we
atives are think that the consideration of them will be immensely beneficial to the nation
igetary and to the life of our democracy.
rnments. If Australia Consults serves the purpose of encouraging interest and debate
ng and knowledge of our democratic system and an enlivened sense of national
possibilities and national purpose, it will be an invaluable program.
; ition of
n local We have a chance with the approach of the Centenary of Federation and the
debate about our Head of State and other constitutional arrangements to
become much more familiar with our democracy and ourselves. And I hope
, ustralia. we learn a great deal more than what our shortcomings are. I hope we will be
int more reminded that there is no more robust democracy in the world: indeed, there
are few older democracies and few, if any, more truly democratic.
arena of It will do no harm if through the national debate ahead of us we are reminded
ational that Australia is a very good, and very democratic place to live.
egulatory Finally, by participating in a national system of performance indicators, local
government joins the other two tiers of government in the measurement of
ionwealth performance and progress in the delivery of services.
improve The Commonwealth Local Government Accord is a balanced document,
which will make for a more secure and productive relationship between our
he Accord two levels of government. More than that though, it will make for a better
nd to Federation and a stronger nation.
iand
our rivers The Accord demonstrates how well Australian federalism can work when the
activities of all governments coalesce around national priorities and when
the decisions of all governments are measured against the national interest.
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a When this Labor Government signed our first Accord with the trade unions in
1983, no one could have predicted the benefits that would flow to Australia.
There is no reason why today's agreement should not similaily advance the
ir you nation over the next decade.
' ralia Let me say in dosing that it has been one of the real pleasures of my time in
this office of Prime Minister to watch the relationship between the
Commonrwealth and Local Government grow into something truly substantial
iblic. and creative.
is the
; tralia's We will all have to drew our own conclusions about the other side of the
Australian political equation who, at this premier event on fth local 2 I 9,
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government calendar, decided that the interests of local government are best
advanced by a deafening policy silence. DPI
If we all rack our brains, perhaps we can think of some reason why we should
be kept in the dark. I must say I can't think of one. If it is a decent policy I
cannot think of any advantage the Government could take from it. If it is not a
decent policy I cannot think why it would be more credible just before an
election than it would be now. The
Let me offer my thanks to those responsible for negotiating this Accord Lim.
ehsep leecaivaellsy bBerhiainnd H aonw eim. pBrerisasniv ree trierecso rfdro omf speurbvliicce l ifaen da t atchhei enveexmt eelenct tion and aM rre I
And to all the local government representatives here today: good luck for the Eproc
future because the work of local councils represents much of the hard work " No
of government. I trust you will return to your communities excited by our D
achievement today and confident in the ability of Australians to work BedF
together for a common cause. Bd
Thank you. Po
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