L 15 0
4 EMBARGO: UNTIL DELIVERY
( 2 p. m.)
.1,, AUSTHAL A~ I/
PRME MINISTER.
FOR PRESS 24 MARCH 1979
KU-RING-CAT MUNICIPAL COUNCIL LUNCHEON
It is a pleasure for me to be here in Ku-ring-gai today and
an honour for me to be present at this luncheon. Ku-ring-gai,
of course, contains some of the most beautiful areas on the
North Shore. And one of the finest and most popular national
parks in the State, and I've no doubt that the Ku-ring-gai
Council is also one of the finest and most popular councils
in the State.
As you are no doubt aware, His Royal Highness Prince Charles
is presently visiting Australia. His father, Prince Philip,
recently recounted a story about local government which, being
a farmer, I can't resist repeating. Prince Philip speaking
of his visit to New Zealand with Queen Elizabeth 25 years
ago said: " It was in the days before the widespread use of
milking machines. By the end of that visit I reckon
we had shaken hands with every local government
councillor in New Zealand.
As most of them appeared to be dairy farmers I can
only say I came away with a profound sympathy for
New Zeal-and cows."
But whatever the occupation of councillors, they always give
willingly of their time to their council duties. And they
certainly get plenty of recognition from their constituents
whenever a flat development, or a road widening proposal is
mooted. I have always admired the unstinting work performed by
councillors and I would like to speak briefly today about
my Government's Federalism policy, particularly as it relates
to local government and the Ku-ring-gai area. Our Federalism
policy aims for co-operation between governments rather than
conflict, for partnership, not domination. In recent years,
there has been a dramatic change in the relationship between
the Commonwealth, State and local government. The introduction
by my Government of the new tax sharing arrangements in 1976 has
given local government a greater degree of financial security
than it ever had previously. / 2
-2
The Whitlam Government had moved towards a limited funding
arrangement for local government. But this was based on a
compulsory grouping of councils into artificially created
regions as decreed by Canberra, and a distribution of funds
to them on an ad hoc basis each year.
The Liberal Party could not agree to that. Under this
Government the distribution of general revenue assistance to
individual councils is no longer determined in Canberra, but
by State Grants Commissions.
This year, the New South * Wales Grants Commission recommended
the distribution of over $ 65 million in tax sharing grants
to local authorities in the State. As you know, the special
virtue of these grants is that being untied, the purpose to
which they are applied is left to each council to decide.
This year the Ku-ring-gai Municipality received $ 454.000, so
that over the last three years the Ku-ring-gai Municipal
Council has received almost $ 1.3 million in untied Commonwealth
funds. Overall, assuming there is no reduction this year in the level
of road grants passed on to councils by the States, and that
seems a reasonable assumption, the total level of Commonwealth
assistance to local government provided in the three Budgets
since my Government took office is likely to be of the order
of $ 920 million. Of this considerable amount, the untied
tax sharing grants represent nearly $ 485 million. This record
is one of which I and-my Government are justifiably proud,
and I'm sure you prefer to have the right to decide how it
should be spent, rather than have the Commonwealth directing
you. At the moment, local government receives a 1.52%~ share of the
Commonwealth's net personal income tax receipts, and it is
part of our platform that we will increase the share to
two percent by 1980-81.
Speaking of platforms, you may be interested to know how it is
thought that te-rm came into political use. I'm told that in
one part of Ancient Greece it long was the custom that when
a man proposed a law in the popular assembly he did so. on~ oa
platform with a rope around his neck. If the law was passed,
they removed the rope; if it failed, they removed the platform.
I commend this idea to any council that wishes to limit the
number of speakers in a debate.
Mr Mayor, having said that, I think I should make this speech
a brief on. Thankyou once again for your warm welcome.
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