The Australian Parliament has passed a motion to establish a 12 member Joint Select Committee charged with considering constitutional recognition of local government in the country.

 

President of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), Felicity-ann Lewis, welcomed Parliament’s decision to support the association’s call for recognition.

 

"ALGA is seeking an amendment of 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'," Mayor Lewis said.

 

Polling commissioned by ALGA in 2011 found that 60 per cent of Australians believe that local government is important and up to 68 per cent of adults said that they might support financial recognition of local government in the Constitution.

 

"ALGA acknowledges the need for support from all sides of politics to ensure maximum success for a referendum proposal and we are seeking to ensure that all parties support direct funding of local government."