Regional QLD councils are coming together to lobby for a better deal.

Major peak bodies representing rural and remote Queensland have joined with the state’s councils to support a new agreement – the Bush Councils Compact.

The agreement is designed to establish a new level of collaboration between the State and bush councils to guarantee minimum standards of service delivery and infrastructure for rural and remote communities.

The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ), which put forth the proposal, says it wants the next Queensland Government to:

  • ensure special consideration is given to how every piece of legislation and every Cabinet decision will impact Queensland’s rural and remote communities
  • publish an annual report on the State of our Bush Communities, which includes an independent assessment of government programs and service delivery to rural and remote communities
  • introduce a ‘Bush Champions’ scheme for Directors-General including Key Performance Indicators to ensure government program provision and service delivery to rural and remote communities are top of mind

LGAQ President and Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson said the Compact was designed to ensure the State Government never failed to consider how every Cabinet submission, every piece of legislation and every policy decision might affect bush communities.

“Small populations, funding and policy uncertainty, the tyranny of distance and a high dependence on industries impacted by global fluctuations are combining to hurt our bush communities,” Cr Jamieson said.

“One-size-fits-all government policies only add to this frustration by ignoring any unique circumstances existing in rural and remote economies.

“We want a far greater understanding throughout government departments of the realities facing bush councils and their communities so they can make better decisions, provide greater revenue certainty and, of course, improve the quality of life of residents in rural and remote communities.”