The Federal Government has appointed Katherine King its new Minister for Local Government.

Ms King has previously worked in a number of roles related to regional communities and road safety. She has been sworn in with the new Cabinet under Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

The Australian Local Government Association has welcomed Ms King into her new role, saying it is keen to continue its good running relationship with the Department. The new Minister for Local Government will have to hit the ground running it seems, with the ALGA pushing for word on the state of the referendum to recognise regional councils in the constitution. The referendum had been set for the same day as the upcoming federal election on September 14, with word now that the election may be moved the ALGA wants to know what that would mean for the vote on councils.

ALGA President and Mayor of Marion in South Australia, Felicity-Ann Lewis, has written to the new Minister asking about the state of the referendum; “I have been advised that setting an earlier date for the federal election (prior to 14 September) may have adverse implications for holding the local government referendum, and that it may in fact not be possible to hold a referendum if the date is brought forward.  This would be of enormous concern to ALGA and the local government sector given that we have come so close to holding the referendum," Ms Lewis wrote, "I was greatly heartened by the Prime Minister's mention of the local government referendum as one of the issues to take into account when making a decision about the timing of the election."

The President of the ALGA has reportedly also written to the Prime Minister about the issue.