There will be some big jobs for removalists in Canberra after Tony Abbott’s consolidation of the federal cabinet – including his decision to cut the Local Government ministry and bury the portfolio in the Department of Infrastructure.

The new Prime Minister’s decisions will see public servants shuffled across all departments, tasked with dismantling and destroying the hard work they had put in for the previous regime.

Just a few months ago a constitutional referendum to boost the rights and abilities of local government bodies was on the way, with millions spent on campaigns in favour of the push for greater autonomy. There is now speculation that the Local Government portfolio’s intermingling with the Infrastructure ministry could shorten the pathway for funding from federal to regional levels.

An alternative view has been raised stating that Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s intention to give more sway back to state authorities could leave local governments in a subordinate position.

With no concrete information as yet, members of local governments will only be able to wait and see what happens under the newly formed federal reign. There was some hope before yesterday’s swearing-in that vocal defender of regional governments and Nationals party member Barnaby Joyce would gain control of the portfolio. Mr Joyce has been made the Minister for Agriculture in the new government, leaving the portfolio most important to thousands living outside of metropolitan areas to Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals leader Warren Truss’ portfolio of Infrastructure and Regional Development.

Further questions are being asked over the fate of the National Broadband Network for rural and regional areas, with speculators stating that the new government will seek to avoid installing widespread services to the bush due to the increased cost and fewer customers. The Coalition government has planned a series of audits into the telecommunications project to probe for inefficiencies and costs to be cut – likely from rural regions first.

Finally, the future of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) seems in a state of flux. ALGA President Felicity-ann Lewis has written to the new Prime and Deputy Mininsters, requesting meetings to discuss the Coalition's policies concerning local government and the current policies facing communities.

“We are concerned that funding promises made under the former program may not be honoured. We are also concerned that the National Strong Regions Fund will not be established until 2015,” Lewis says.

“I am also keen to discuss... the status of existing funding allocations of at least $150 million for community projects under the former Regional Development Australia Fund.”