A-IWtA I I 13 May 1974
S'AVEMNT BY THE! PRIME~ MINISTER, ' H110 IN. E. G. WIIITLAM, Q. C. M. P.
HANDBOOK ON AUSTRALIAN GOVER14MENT ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL GOVERN4MENT
PROJECTS 13 MAY 1974
The Australian Government is determined to ensure that
local government plays a full role in our three-tier,
federal system of government, and as part of this we will
see that it is given adequate access to the nation's
finances.
As a major step in enabling local government to obtain the
financial help to which it is entitled, the Department
of Urban and Regional Development has prepared a handbook
for local government and community groups. Entitled
Australian Government Assistance to Local Government Projects
the booklet is a guide to sources of funds and explains,-how
to apply for them..
Local Government in the past has had to battle with a
Cinderella-like existence, starved of funds and with its
significance largely ignored. As if this were not difficult
enough, it has also found itself cut off from assistance,
simply through lack of information about its entitlements.
It is not good enough just to institute programs to assist
the community. Information on these programs must be
easily accessible.
My Government recognises the importance of communication,
and we see the publication of this handbook as a positive
contribution to the kind of open government and citizen
participation to which we are committed.
The handbook, which is being circulated to councillors, local
government officials and to community groups throughout
Australia, describes the wide range of activities which are
eligible for finance and the forms of assistance available
for each one. A brief description is also incorporated of
the existing financial arrangements between the Australian,
State and Local Government.
It is just one of a series of actions and programs through
which my Government has shown its determination to upgrade
the role of local government. Other initiatives include
ensuring that local government was represented at the
' br-' Constitutional Convention, restructuring the Grants Commission
to allow local government to apply for assistance and holding
a referendum to give voters the opportunity to allow the
Commonwealth to grant financial assistance directly to
local government bodies which request it.
I asked the Minister for Urban and Regional Development,
Mr. Uren, to prepare the booklet following a meeting with
the Lord Mayors of the capital cities last December.
During our discussions it emerged that there was considerable
misunderstanding outside Canberra about just what kinds of
Australian Government assistance were available to local
government and local projects.
We have aimed to gather together all the major sources of
this assistance in one easy reference document. Councils or
local groups wanting help will now be able to refer to the
booklet when they want to discover what funds are available
and from whom and how to set about applying for them.
Such a booklet may appear to some a rather dry listing of
Government programs. But its very existence will help to
bring into being many of these programs, in areas like health,
Aboriginal welfare, housing and employment. And these
projects when implemented make a vital difference to the
lives of the people they affect.
Some examples of projects for which assistance is available
include housing of Aboriginal employees, bridging
finance for the development of essential amenities in new
estates, assistance to local governing bodies in providing
a variety of welfare services and grants for new education
projects. With reliable data on just what assistance is available
from the Australian Government for particular projects,
local government and community groups will be able to make
more informed decisions on%. ways to improve the lives of
their communities.
To a certain extent, many of the programs described rely
for their success on active community involvement. We hope
the existence of booklets like this will stimulate community
and local government groups to take new initiatives.
CANBERRA. A. C. T.
CANBERRA. A. C. T.