LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER, MR E. G. WHITLAM, QC, M. P.,
OPENING THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL OF
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATIONS, AT ALICE SPRINGS, ON MONDAY
11 NOVEMBER, 1974.
THERE IS A SYMBOLISM ABOUT THIS GATHERING WHICH
ONE MAY FIND FASCINATING OR FRIGHTENING ACCORDING TO ONE'S
PREJUDICESx AUSTRALIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAS AT LAST COME
TO THE CENTREX WHEN YOU CHOOSE NOT ONLY TO MEET IN THE
CENTRE, BUT HAVE THE LUCIFER OF CENTRALISM OPEN YOUR
CONFERENCE AND HAVE YOUR MEETING ON AN AUSTRALIAN TERRITORY
THEN THE PREMIER OF QUEENSLAND MIGHT WELL WONDER WHAT THE
WORLD IS COMING TOK I, NATURALLY AND BY CONTRAST, FIND
BOTH YOUR CHOICES THE VENUE AND THE OPENING SPEAKER
WELCOME AND GRATIFYINGX IN THE LIGHT OF THE NORTHERN
TERRITORY ELECTIONS IT MIGHT BE EXCESSIVE TO SAY THAT I MEET
YOU ON HOME TERRITORY; BUT IT IS AT LEAST NEUTRAL GROUND,
AND FOR ALL OF US AS FAR AS THE WARMTH OF THE WELCOME OF
THE PEOPLE OF ALICE SPRINGS ON THIS OCCASION IS CONCERNED
FRIENDLY GROUNDx
THIS CONFERENCE ITSELF IS ANOTHER LANDMARK ON
THE RAPID MARCH TO MATURITY TOWARDS PARTNERSHIP IN
THE FEDERAL SYSTEM WHICH LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAS MADE IN
RECENT YEARS VERY RECENT YEARSx IT HAPPENS TO BE JUST
TWO YEARS THIS WEEK THAT I DELIVERED THE POLICY SPEECH
ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY FOR THE 1972
ELECTIONSX IT WAS NO ACCIDENT THAT THE LENGTHIEST AND
MOST DETAILED SECTION OF THAT DOCUMENT DEALT DIRECTLY WITH
CITIES* CENTRES, REGIONS, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE
SOCIAL, FINANCIAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS ASSOCIATED
WITH THEMA IT WAS NO ACCIDENT IN EITHER PERSONAL OR
POLITICAL TERMS. FROM THE TIME I WAS ELECTED TO THE
NATIONAL PARLIAMENT TWENTY-TWO YEARS AGO AT THE END OF
THIS MONTH I REFUSED TO ACCEPT WHAT WAS THEN THE
CONVENTIONAL WISDOM THAT THE SOLE OR CHIEF CONCERNS OF THE
NATIONAL PARLIAMENT SHOULD BE FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE, THE
ANNUAL BUDGET AND THE LEVEL OF THE MAJOR SOCIAL WELFARE
PAYMENTSx POLITICALLY, IT SEEMED OBVIOUS THAT A PARTY OF
SOCIAL REFORM, SUCH AS OURS PROFESSED TO BE, EMASCULATED
ITSELF BY ACCEPTING THESE LIMITATIONS AND PREOCCUPATIONSX
IT COULD NEVER GET ANYWHERE UNLESS IT RECOGNISED, AS A
NATIONAL PARTY, THE NEED FOR NATIONAL INVOLVEMENT BY THE
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE NATIONAL PARLIAMENT IN
THE CONCERNS OF THE PEOPLE OVER THE WHOLE RANGE OF POLICY
THEIR SCHOOLS, THEIR CITIES, THEIR HOSPITALS, THEIR
CULTURE, THEIR RECREATION, THEIR IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT, AND
PROVIDING ACCESS TO JOBS, SHOPS AND RECREATIONS) ,3/
AND IN ALL THESE AREAS I SAW IT TO BE NECESSARY AND
INESCAPABLE THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT MUST PLAY A FULL
PART AS A FULL PARTNER WITHIN THE FEDERAL SYSTEM,
I FOUGHT TO HAVE THE VIEW ACCEPTED BY MY PARTY AND
INCORPORATED IN ITS PLATFORM I FOUGHT SUCCESSFULLY,
I THEN FOUGHT TO HAVE THAT: VIEW ACCEPTED BY THE
AUSTRALIAN ELECTORATEX I FOUGHT SUCCESSFULLY I HAVE
SINCE FOUGHT TO HAVE THAT VIEW INCORPORATED IN THE
LEGISLATION AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS NATIONA I
HAVE HAD SOME SUCCESSES AND SOME FAILURESX I HAVE NOT
YET FINISHED THAT FIGHT WHEN AS LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY
I BEGAN TO BRING LOCAL QUESTIONS TO THE CENTRE OF THE
NATIONAL DEBATE I CAME IN FOR SOME " CHIACKING" x I EVEN
HAD THE POOR TASTE TO SUGGEST THAT SEWERAGE WAS A
NATIONAL PROBLEM IN FACT A NATIONAL ISSUEX I REMEMBER
THE THEN PRIME MINISTER, JOHN GORTON, ACCUSED ME OF
TALKING LIKE A SHIRE PRESIDENTx I ACCEPTED THE SOFT
IMPEACHMENT I THOUGHT IT GOOD COMPANY TO BE INx I
FIND IT GOOD COMPANY TO BE IN TODAYx IRONICALLY
MR. GORTON HIMSELF IS NOW DEEMED AN EVEN MORE FEROCIOUS
CENTRALIST THAN IX THE FACT IS THAT THE APPROACH I TAKE
TO NATIONAL AFFAIRS OWES NOTHING TO ANY DOCTRINE CALLED
" CENTRALISM", IF SUCH A DOCTRINE THERE BEX
IT IS SCARCELY EVEN " SOCIALISM", IF SOCIALISM BE DEFINED
AS BERNARD SHAW AND THE WEBBS DID AND THEY WERE THE
PIONEERS OF MODERN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS " THE INEVITABILITY
OF GRADUALISM" K I AM RATHER ENTITLED TO DESCRIBE WHAT I
HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING, DEFINING, AND RE-DEFINING OVER A LONG
TWENTY-TWO YEARS AND MORE, AS HAVING BEEN THE GRADUALISM
OF INEVITABILITY, FOR IT IS INEVITABLE, GIVEN AUSTRALIA'S
NATURE AND SITUATION, THAT THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT MUST
ACCEPT GREATER INVOLVEMENT IN ALL THESE MATTERS WHICH WERE
ONCE DEEMED TO BE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STATES OR
OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTx THE RESULT OF THAT OLD APPROACH WAS
THAT THE FUNCTIONS WHICH A MODERN COMMUNITY REQUIRES SHOULD
BE PERFORMED THROUGH ITS ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES WERE EITHER
DONE INADEQUATELY OR NOT DONE AT ALL, WERE FINANCED
INADEQUATELY AND UNFAIRLY OR NOT FINANCED AT ALLx IT IS
INEVITABLE THAT THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT MUST ACCEPT INCREASING
RESPONSIBILITY TO FINANCE THESE FUNCTIONS FAIRLY AND
ADEQUATELYx WHAT I HAVE TRIED TO DO, WHAT THE AUSTRALIAN
GOVERNMENT HAS TRIED TO DO, IS TO CREATE THE INSTITUTIONS
AND MACHINERY AND TO APPOINT THE MEN AND WOMEN WHEREBY
THIS INEVITABLE RESPONSIBILITY CAN BE DISCHARGED
EFFICIENTLY AND FAIRLYx
TO THE EXTENT THAT THE POLICY SPEECH OF 1972
INCORPORATED THESE CONCEPTS IT MIGHT BE REGARDED AS
SOMETHING OF A POLITICAL TESTAMENTx
IT MAY BE THAT HAD WE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT THE ELECTIONS
BEFORE LAST, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MY LAST TESTAMENTX BUT
* IT IS USEFUL TO LOOK BACK ON THAT DOCUMENT AND SEE HOW FAR
THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE WHAT IT
SET OUT TO DO FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE FOR
WHOM LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAS SO GREAT A RESPONSIBILITYX
I EXPLAINED OUR GENERAL APPROACH IN THIS WAY:
" EVEN THE MOST ENLIGHTENED AND EQUAL APPROACH TO
SOCIAL WELFARE CAN ONLY SCRATCH THE SURFACE OF THE BASIC
PROBLEM OF EQUALITY AND WELL-BEING OF MOST OF OUR CITIZENSX
WE CAN DOUBLE AND TREBLE SOCIAL BENEFITS, BUT WE CAN NEVER
MAKE UP THROUGH CASH PAYMENTS FOR WHAT WE TAKE AWAY IN
MENTAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING AND SOCIAL COHESION THROUGH
THE BREAK-DOWN OF COMMUNITY LIFE AND COMMUNITY IDENTITY
INCREASINGLY, A CITIZEN'S REAL STANDARD OF LIVING, THE
HEALTH OF HIMSELF AND HIS FAMILY, HIS CHILDREN'S
OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATION AND SELF-IMPROVEMENT, HIS
ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, HIS ABILITY TO ENJOY
THE NATION'S RESOURCES FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, HIS
ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE-IN THE DECISIONS AND ACTIONS OF THE
COMMUNITY ARE DETERMINED NOT BY HIS INCOME, NOT BY THE
HOURS HE WORKS, BUT BY WHERE HE LIVESx THIS IS WHY
LABOR BELIEVES THAT THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT MUST INVOLVE
ITSELF DIRECTLY IN CITIES AND CENTRES WHERE MOST PEOPLE LIVEA
PRACTICALLY EVERY MAJOR NATIONAL PROBLEM RELATES TO
CITIEsx A NATIONAL GOVERNMENT WHICH CUTS ITSELF OFF
FROM RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE NATION'S CITIES IS CUTTING
ITSELF OFF FROM THE NATION'IS REAL LIFEx A NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT WHICH HAS NOTHING TO SAY ABOUT CITIES HAS
NOTHING RELEVANT OR ENDURING TO SAY ABOUT THE NATION
OR THE NATION'IS FUTUREy LABOR IS NOT A CITY-BASED
PARTYx IT IS A PEOPLE-BASED PARTY, AND THE OVERWHELMING
MAJORITY OF OUR PEOPLE LIVE IN CITIES AND TOWNS ACROSS
OUR NATIONX I ITHEN OUTLINED SPECIFIC PROPOSALsKr THEY WERE:
TO ESTABLISH A MINISTRY OR URBAN AND REGIONAL
DEVELOP ME N T
To SET UP LAND COMMISSIONS TO BUY SUBSTANTIAL
TRACTS OF LAND IN NEW AREAS BEING OPENED UP
FOR HOUSING AND TO LEASE OR SELL AT COST FULLY
SERVICED BLOCKS)(
To MAKE DIRECT GRANTS TO THE STATES FOR URBAN
PUBLIC TRANSPORTx
TO ASK THE PRINCIPAL WATER AND SEWERAGE AUTHORITIES
WHAT AUSTRALIAN GRANTS IN THAT FINANCIAL YEAR WOULD
ENABLE THEM TO EMBARK PROMPTLY AND ECONOMICALLY ON
AN UNINTERRUPTED PROGRAM TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO
THE PREMISES IN THEIR AREAS BY 1978, K 1 37/ 0
To MAKE DIRECT REPRESENTATION FOR LOCAL
GOVERNMENT A CONDITION OF PARTICIPATION
BY THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT AT THE
PROPOSED CONSTITUTION CONVENTION OF 1973A
TO AMEND THE GRANTS COMMISSION ACT TO
AUTHORISE THE COMMISSION TO INQUIRE INTO
AND REPORT UPON APPLICATION FOR AUSTRALIAN
GOVERNMENT GRANTS BY ANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT
AUTHORITY OR GROUP OF AUTHORITIES, PREFERABLY
ON A REGIONAL OR DISTRICT BASISX
To SECURE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT A VOICE AND
A VOTE ON THE LOAN COUNCIL,
WITH ONE NOTABLE EXCEPTION, THESE UNDERTAKINGS
HAVE ALL BEEN FULFILLED IN WHOLE OR PARTx IN HIS ANNUAL
REPORT YOUR PRESIDENT MR GUERIN REFERS VERY GENEROUSLY TO
THESE ACHIEVEMENTS,. PROPERLY, HE DESCRIBES THE AMENDED
GRANTS COMMISSION LEGISLATION, THE SUBSEQUENT REPORT OF
THE GRANTS COMMISSION AND THE ACCEPTANCE BY THE AUSTRALIAN
GOVERNMENT OF ITS RECOMMENDATIONS AS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT
ACHIEVEMENT THIS YEARA AS A RESULT OF THE FIRST REPORT
WE HAVE AUTHORISED PAYMENT OF NEARLY $ 56 MILLION ($ 56,3' 45,000)
TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODIESA THE 806 AUTHORITIES WHICH
BENEFIT COMPRISE 92 PER CENT OF ALL WHO APPLIED FOR
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCEA : 8' A
THE GRANTS RANGE FROM $ 3,000 TO $ 2 MILLION FOR THE
LARGEST AND MOST POPULOUS COUNCIL AREA IN AUSTRALIA
BRISBANEx I EMPHASISE THAT THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT
ACCEPTED THE COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION THAT THE
GRANTS ARE MADE WITHOUT CONDITIONS ON THE MANNER IN
WHICH THEY ARE SPENT BY THE RECEIVING AUTHORITYx I ALSO
EMPHASISE THAT THE NEW FUNDS SHOULD IN NO WAY BE A
SUBSTITUTE FOR REVENUE NORMALLY RAISED BY COUNCILS BY
LONG ESTABLISHED MEANS SUCH AS RATES AND CHARGES FOR
SERVICES NOR REPLACE ASSISTANCE NORMALLY PROVIDED BY
STATE GOVERNMENTSK As YOU WILL BE WELL AWARE, OUR CHIEF OBJECTIVE
IS EQUALISATION OF SERVICES WITHIN REGIONSx WE HAVE
LEGISLATED TO ENABLE THE GRANTS COMMISSION TO PROMOTE
STANDARDS AS BETWEEN REGIONS IN A WAY WHICH IT HAD ONLY
BEEN ABLE TO DO, FROM ITS CREATION IN 1933, AS BETWEEN
THE STATESY, THE GREAT INEQUALITIES IN AUSTRALIA NOW
LIE NOT BETWEEN THE STATES BUT BETWEEN REGIONS WITHIN
THE STATE BOUNDARIESX I BELIEVE THE NEW WORK OF THE GRANTS COMMISSION,
AS IT UNFOLDS, WILL PROMOTE ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT OF
PROFOUND SIGNIFANCE TO THE SHAPE, IMPORTANCE AND
EFFECTIVENESS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTX I REFER TO THE
CREATION OF REGIONS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF GENUINE
REGIONAL THINKINGX 9/,
THE CREATION OF APPROVED REGIONAL ORCANISATIONS FOR THE
PURPOSES OF THE GRANTS COMMISSION ACT IS NOW ALMOST
COMPLETEX So FAR THERE ARE 74 APPROVED REGIONAL
ORGANISATIONS) IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION OF THE
NEW ACT ONLY THIRTEEN LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES EITHER
DECLINED TO ACCEPT MEMBERSHIP OF ANY REGIONAL ORGANISATION
OR DID NOT SEEK ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE
GRANTS COMMISSION, THIS NUMBER HAS ALREADY BEEN REDUCED
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO A VIRTUAL 100 PER CENT PARTICIPATIONX
THE SPIRIT IN WHICH INDIVIDUAL LOCAL AUTHORITIES ENTER INFO
THE REGIONAL PROGRAM IS, OF COURSE, A MATTER FOR THEIR
DECISIONK I DO SUGGEST, HOWEVER, THAT AN IMAGINATIVE
APPROACH TO THE REGIONAL ORGANISATION, INVOLVING PARTICIPATION
NOT ONLY OF THE CONSTITUENT COUNCILS BUT OF THE REGIONAL
COMMUNITY, WILL PROVIDE A MAJOR STEP TOWARDS BETTER REGIONS,
BETTER LOCAL GOVERNMENT, BETTER COOPERATION BETWEEN FEDERAL
AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND BETTERo HAPPIER COMMUNITIESAAT-
PRESENT THE REGIONAL ORGANISATION$ CONSIST SOLELY OF
REPRESENTATIVES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTx THE FUTURE STRUCTURE
AND DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS IS NOT SOMETHING
THAT SHOULD BE FEARED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IT IS A
MATTER LARGELY FOR COMPONENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES
THEMSELVES TO DETERMINEx THEY CAN IF THEY CHOOSE LEAVE
THE REGIONAL ORGANISATION AS NOTHING MORE THAN A DEVICE FOR
MAKING APPLICATION TO THE GRANTS COMMISSIONX
I DO BELIEVE, HOWEVER, THAT EXPERIENQE WILL DEMONSTRATE
THE ADVANTAGES OF REGIONAL CONSULTATION AND COOPERATION
IN A NATION WHICH HAS HITHERTO HAD FAR ' 00 FEW GENUINE
REGIONS AND FAR TOO MANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODIES; FAR
TOO LITTLE REGIONALISM AND FAR TOO MUCH PAROCHIALISMX
I MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS ONE GREAT EXCEPTION
IN OUR EFFORTS TO FULFIL THE PROGRAM FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
OUTLINED TWO YEARS AGOx NOT, YOU WILL BELIEVE ME, FOR
WANT OF TRYINGX I REFER OF COURSE TO OUR EFFORTS TO
SECURE A VOICE AND A VOTE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ON THE
LOAN COUNCILx IN THE 1972 POLICY SPEECH I SAID: " LET
THERE BE NO MISTAKE ABOUT OUR DETERMINATION TO MAKE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT A GENUINE PARTNER IN THE FEDERAL SYSTEMX IN
1927 WHEN THE FIRST FINANCIAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE
COMMONWEALTH AND STATES ESTABLISHED THE LOAN COUNCIL
SEMI-GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT DEBTS WERE A MERE
FRACTION OF STATE DEBTSx Now SEMI-GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL
AUTHORITIES HAVE TO FIND AS LARGE SUMS AS THE STATE
GOVERNMENTS FOR THE REPAYMENT OF LOANS AND PAYMENT OF INTERESTJ
IT WOULD BE INCONCEIVABLE, IF THE FINANCIAL AGREEMENT WERE
BEING DRAWN UP NOW, FOR THE SEMI AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL
AUTHORITIES TO BE COMPLETELY IGNOREDA AT PRESENT ON THE
LOAN COUNCIL EACH STATE HAS ONE VOTE AND THE COMMONWEALTH
HAS TWO VOTES AND A CASTING VOTE)( WE PROPOSE THAT AT
NEXT YEARIS CONVENTION THE LOAN COUNCIL BE RESTRUCTURED TO
CONSIST OF ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH STATE GOVERNMENT,
ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ALDERMEN AND COUNCILLORS IN EACH
STATE CHOSEN PY THEM AND FOUR REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
COMMONWEALTH4
III
" IT WILL THEN BE POSSIBLE FOR THE COMMONWEALTH. ON
REQUEST. TO RAISE APPROVED LOANS QN BEHALF OF SEMIGOVERNMENT
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES* THUS
GIVING THEM TH9 ADVANTAGE OF THE LONGER PERIOD AND
LOWER INTEREST APPERTAINING TO THE LOANS RAISED BY
THE COMMONWEALTH ON BEHALF OF THE STATgS."
I DON'T SUPPOSE I HAVE TO FOLLOW THROUGH THE
STORY IN DETAIL% AT THE CONVENTION IN SYDNEY IN
SEPTEMBER 1973 1 DID SECURE SOME SORT OF AGREEMENT OR
AT LEAST I THOUGHT I HAD SECURED IT FROM THE PREMIERSX
AT LEAST THEY AGREED TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSAL AND WHEN
THEY CAME TO CANBERRA ON 11 OCTOBER 1973 1 EXPECTED TO
MAKE REAL PROGRESSK I HAVE TO SAY THAT WITH ONE
EXCEPTION THE PREMIERS DID LITTLE MORE THAN REINFORCE
EACH OTHERS I PREJUDICES IN FAVOUR OF THE STATUS QUOx
REGRETTABLY THE ONE EXCEPTION IS NO LONGER A PREMIER.
THEIR ARGUMENTS BOILED DOWN TO TWO: THAT THE PRESENCE
OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ON THE LOAN COUNCIL WOULD MAKE THAT
BODY UNWIELDY IF NOT UNWORKABL~ E, PARTICULARLY AS LOCAL
GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES WOULD LACK THE KNOW-HOW TO
GRAPPLE WITH THESE PROBLEMS OF BORROWINGS, DEBTS, INTEREST
AND FUNDING; AND SECONDLY, AL. L THAT WAS NECESSARY FOR
THE SOLUTION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROBLEMS WAS FOR THE
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE MORE MONEY FOR THE STATESg
IN OTHER WORDS, THE SAME SYSTEM1 THE SAME SET-UP# WHICH
HAS SO MANIFESTLY FAILED, SHOULD BE CONTINUEDX 12/.
12,
I DO NOT THINK ANY LXI" LIIENCE SINCE I UECAME PRIM
MINISTER HAS SO COMPLETELY UPHELD THE ASSERTION I USED
TO MAKE AS LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION THAT THE STATES
WHO COMPLAIN OF STARVATION FROM CANIERRA ARE INSENSITIVE
TO THE NEEDS OF THEIR OWN CREATIONSx I NEXTSOUGHT TO
ACHIEVE OUR OBJECT IN THE ONLY WAY OPEN BY REFERENDUM,
BY GOING TO THE PEOPLE OF AUSTRALIA, I DO NOT HIDE
FROM YOU MY DISAPPOINTMENT AT THE REJECTION OF THAT
REFERENDUMA IN A SENSE, I SUPPOSE IT MAY BE REGARDED
AS ONE OF THE CASUALITIES OF THE ELECTION FORCED UPON US
IN MAYX THE OFFICIAL CASE FOR NO WAS A MARVEL OF
MISREPRESENTATIONK THE PROPOSAL WAS TERMED A " MONEY
BRIBE" IT CLAIMED: " IMAGINE THE MACHINERY WHICH
WOULD BE NECESSARY TO EXAMINE THE AFFAIRS OF 1,000
MUNICIPALITIES AND TO DECIDE WHICH ONES WERE DOING WHAT,
WHY THEY WERE DOING IT, HOW THEY WERE DOING IT, WHETHER
THEY NEEDED ASSISTANCE, IF SO WHAT ASSISTANCE AND HOW
MUCH" IN OTHER WORDS, THE OFFICIAL CASE FOR No WAS
ACTUALLY ATTACKING THE WORK ALREADY UNDERTAKEN BY THE
GRANTS COMMISSION/., IT DELIBERATELY CONFUSED THE
LOAN COUNCIL AND THE GRANTS COMMISSIONA DESPITE THE
CONFUSION, DESPITE THE FIELD-DAY FOR ALL THE NAY-SAYERS1
THE PROPOSAL RECEIVED A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF PUBLIC SUPPORT4
THE INTERESTING FEATURE IS THAT THE SIZE OF THE YES VOTE WAS
IN DIRECT PROPORTION TO THE SIZE OF THE STATE THE LARGER
THE STATE THE LARGER THE YES VOTE. 131,
13.
BY STATES THE RESULTS WERE: yu N
N W SOUTH WALES 50-79 49.21
VICTORIA 47.38 52,62
QUEENSLAND 43.68 56.32
SOWTH AUSTRALIA 42.52 57.48
WESTERN AUSTRALIA 40.67 59.33
TASMANIA 40.00 60.00
AUSTRALIA 46.85 53,15
WHATEVER THE PRESENT OUTLOOK ON THIS OR ANY
OTHER MATTER AFFECTING LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AM
DETERMINED TO CARRY OUT THE FUNDAMENTAL PLEDGE I GAVE
IN 1972 THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT SHALL BE MADE A FULL
PARTNER IN OUR FEDERAL SYSTEMXk THE GRANTS COMMISSION
ACT. is OBVIOUSLY A BIG STEP FORWARDA., THE REJECTION SO
FAR OF OUR EFFORTS FOR REPRESENTATION ON THE LOAN
COUNCIL IS OBVIOUSLY A SET-BACK,~ YET WE ARE ACHIEVING
THE BASIC OBJECTIVE PARTNERSHIP IN THE FEDERAL SYSTEM
IN MANY WAYS)( WE ARE DOING THIS BY INVOLVING LOCAL
GOVERNMENT CLOSELY IN MANY OF OUR MOST SIGNIFICANT
PROGRAMS, IN 1973 WE INSTITUTED TRIAL AREA IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAMS INVOLVING SPENDING OF $ 8 MILLION IN THE SYDNEY
AND MELBOURNE WESTERN REGIONSx, THIS YEAR THERE WILL BE
THI. RTEEN AREA IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS OPERATING WITH A
SPENDING OF $ 14 MILLIONA& ? 1
14.
LAST YEAR WE PROVIDED $ 28 MILLION UNDER OUR
NATIONAL SEWERAGE PROGRAM, THIS YEAR THE ESTIMAIE IS
$ 105 MILLION AND THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO TOWNS
WITH A POPULATION OF MORE THAN 10,000
FOR THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE MADE URBAN LOCAL
ROADS ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT,
THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM AND RECREATION AND
OTHER AUSTRALIAN DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS DEPARTMENT OF
URBAN AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT ARE CONSULTING AT LOCAL
LEVEL ON THE RECREATIONAL NEEDS OF THE PEOPLEx OUR
GRANTS PROGRAM HAS MADE A START TOWARDS MEETING THOSE NEEDSA
WE HAVE THIS YEAR ALLOCATED $ 2.25 MILLION FOR GRANTS FOR
LOCAL TOURIST ATTRACTIONS AND FACILITIESx WE ARE
ESTABLISHING ADVISORY COMMITTEES FOR CONSULTATION WITH
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, REGIONAL TOURIST ORGANISATIONS AND
INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES TO PLAN REGIONAL TOURIST
DEVELOPMENTX WE HAVE EXPANDED THE PROGRAM OF LOCAL
OWNERSHIP OF AERODROMES.
LOCAL GOVERN4MENT HAS PARTICIPATED IN THE
INTERIM PROGRAM FOR PRE-SCHOOL AND CHILD-CARE
SERVICES,, ABOUT HALF OF THE 122 CAPITAL PROJECTS
UNDERTAKEN THROUGH OUR CHILD-CARE PROGRAM WERE
SPONSORED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODIES) PROJECTS DEVELOPED, PROGRESS PAYMENTS WERE MADE
DIRECT TO THESE AUTHORITIESx ONCE THE PROJECTS WERE
WELL UNDERWAY RECURRENT GRANTS WERE PAID TO THE
MANAGEMENT BODIES WHICH USUALLY INCLUDE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
REPRESENTAT IONX
WE HAVE MADE AVAILABLE MORE THAN MILLION
IN DIRECT GRANTS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES FOR
ABORIGINAL ADVANCEMENT IN THE PAST YEARX MOST OF THAT
WAS ALLOCATED UNDER THE SPECIAL WORK PROJECTS SCHEME
ADMINISTERED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIESX MAY SAY
THAT, IN GENERAL, WE HAVE BEEN VERY SATISFIED WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION OF THE GRANTS AND I APPRECIATE THE
SPIRIT IN WHICH LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAS ENTERED INTO THE
PROGRAMA WE HAVE COOPERATED CLOSELY WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT
THROUGH THE CREATION OF THE REGIONAL COUNCILS FOR SOCIAL
D EVELOPMENT IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AUSTRALIAN
ASSISTANCE PLANA
16.
THE LEGISLATION FOR THE -OSPITALS AND HEALTH
SERVICES COMMISSION PROVIDES FOR THE COMMISSION
MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO BE
MADE AVAILABLE BY THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT TO LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS AFTER CONSULTATIONS WITH THE STATESA THE
COMMUNITY HEALTH PROGRAM AND THE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEATHO
ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG DEPENDENCY PROGRAM, BOTH INTRODUCED
IN 1973, PROVIDE FOR DIRECT GRANTS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
ORGANISATIONS* LOCAL GOVERNMENT NOW HAS AN OPPORTUNIlY
TO PARTICIPATE DIRECTLY IN THE PROVISION OF A WIDE RANGE
OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES AND FACILITIES AT THE COMMUNITY
LEVEL, WHERE ITS PARTICIPATION CAN BE MOST EFFECTIVEA
WE HAVE BEEN GRATIFIED BY THE COOPERATION WE
HAVE RECEIVED FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN THE REGIONAL
EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT SCHEMEX So FAR, 350 PROJECTS
COSTING MORE THAN $ 8.5 MILLION HAVE BEEN APPROVED4 A
FURTHER 100 PROJECTS ARE UNDER CONSIDERATIONg A
PARTICULARLY ENCOURAGING FEATURE HAS BEEN THE WILLINGNESS
OF PROJECT SPONSORS, PREDOMINANTLY LOCAL GOVERNMENT
AUTHORITIES, TO CONTRIBUTE THEMSELVES TO THE COST OF
PROJECTS. 171,
174
THE ROLE WE ASSIGN TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS
THE REAL IANSWER TO CHARGES OF CENTRALISMxK UNDER A
VARIETY OF PROGRAMS WE HAVE PROVIDED LOCAL GOVERNMENT
WITH THE FUNDS TO UNDERTAKE A RANGE OF ACTIVITIES
PREVIOUSLY INADEQUATELY CARRIED OUT OR TOTALLY
NEGLECTEDyK WE DELIBERATELY HAVE MADE A ND SHALL MAKE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT A VEHICLE FOR OUR LEGISLATION ON AGED
PERSONS'I HOMES AND HOSTELS, SHELTERED EMPLOYMENT,
HANDICAPPED CHILDREN, MEALS ON WHEELS, HOME CARE AND
NURSING, NURSING HOMES AND HOMELESS MEN AND WOMENK
THESE ARE ALL ACTIVITIES WHICH CANNOT BE CLOSELY
REGULATED FROM THE NATIONAL OR STATE CAPITALS AND ARE
BEST PLANNED AND IMPLEMENTED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORKING
WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES), THEY JUSTIFY ASSISTANCE FROM
THE NATION'IS FINANCES BUT NOT INCREASES IN RATESX
LAST MONTH WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE
ABLE TO ANNOUNCE THAT MR JUSTICE ELSE-MITCHELL, JUDGE OF
THE LAND AND THE VALUATION COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES
SINCE 1962, HAD ACCEPTED APPOINTMENTr AS CHAIRMAN OF
THE GRANTS COMMISSION FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARSx HE IS
A MAN WITH A VERY DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROBLEMS
OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WHEN HE WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE ROYAL
COMMISSION INTO NEW SOUTH WALES' LAND VALUATION RATING
SYSTEMS IN 1965, HE SAID: am. 18/.
A
18,
" PRESENT CENTRALI$ ED POLICIES, WHICH HAVE REDUCED
LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO A STATE OF VASSALAGE AND
COUNCILS TO THE ROLE OF MENDICANTS, NEED DRASTIC
REAPPRAISEMENT, THOUGH I WONDER IF STATE
GOVERNMENTS ARE VERY ANXIOUS FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES
TO GAIN ANY SUBSTANTIAL MEASURE OF FINANCIAL
INDEPENDENCE OR TO DEVELOP QUALITIES OF STRONG LOCAL
AUTONOMYx" THE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS OF THE AUSTRALIAN
GOVERNMENT WILL, I BELIEVE, GO FAR TO END THAT
CONDITION OF VASSALAGE, THE PARADOX IS THAT MORE
DIRECT COOPERATION BETWEEN THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAN HELP END STATE CENTRALISM BY GIVING
THE CHANCE FOR THE GROWTH OF GENUINE REGIONALISMK OUR
AIM IS TO PROMOTE THE QUALITY OF THE REGIONS AND TO
PROMOTE EQUALITY BETWEEN THE REGIONSx IT CAN BE
ACHIEVED ONLY THROUGH COOPERATION BETWEEN THE NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTx THERE IS NO OTHER
WAYx THIS IS NOT JUST MY CHOICE; IT IS A CHOICE
IMPOSED UPON US BY NECESSITY, BY THE INEVITABILITY OF
AUSTRALIAN HISTORY, ( END)