New South Wales councils have launched a new locally-led jobs plan.

The councils want stronger partnerships between State, Federal and local governments to drive employment and economic recovery for NSW.

Local Government NSW (LGNSW) President Linda Scott says councils have the strongest track record of creating jobs to support local communities.

“As the preferred partner for State and Federal governments, each day councils are demonstrating our ability to respond fast and effectively to support NSW communities by creating jobs,” Cr Scott said.

“This strong partnership approach has driven home a powerful lesson: when councils are empowered with the support they need, they well and truly deliver jobs and economic leadership in every corner of our great state – from Barangaroo to Broken Hill.

“Throughout COVID, councils averted the risk of significant local job losses in their communities, showing that in partnership with Federal and State governments they could create new jobs.

“Today, with the launch of our NSW Locally Led Jobs Plan, we want to build on this success and launch more local jobs for NSW into the future.”

The plan calls for;

  • increased Financial Assistance Grants to 1 per cent

  • immediate economic stimulus to support council employees, especially in early education and care. Many councils throughout the state – particularly in rural and regional NSW – are the biggest employer in their local community.

  • stimulus funding for projects that will boost local economies, including by increasing existing programs such as Roads to Recovery, and

  • increased access to TAFE, VET and other apprenticeship opportunities that council staff can undertake to address skill shortages, especially for staff in non-essential services who are unable to be redeployed.


More details are available here.