The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) is continuing the push for constitutional recognition as it prepares to make its final case before the second public hearing of the Joint Select Committee charged with investigating the likelihood of Australians voting ‘yes’ in a possible referendum over the issue.

The second public hearing comes after the Joint Select Committee concluded that a financial recognition referendum should be held at the same time as the federal election, which is currently slated for 14 September.

ALGA President, Felicity Ann-Lewis, says that time is fast slipping away to prepare the necessary changes to the federal legislation required to recognise local government in the nation’s constitution.

"We are now less than seven months out from a referendum if one is to be held at the time of a federal election and we have previously raised concerns about the limited time available for making the necessary changes to the Commonwealth legislation which governs referendum processes," Mayor Lewis said.

 ALGA is seeking an amendment to Section 96 of the Constitution so that it would read: "Parliament may grant financial assistance to any state or local government body formed by or under a law of a state or territory on such terms and conditions as the Parliament sees fit."