Inquiry into local government funding visits Mid North Coast

THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport is holding hearings with more than 20 councils in Wodonga, Wagga Wagga and Taree this week as part of its inquiry into local government funding.

The Committee wants to “better understand the funding challenges faced by local governments across regional and rural Australia and its workers who provide infrastructure and deliver services to vast areas of Victoria and NSW”.

Committee Chair, Mrs Fiona Phillips MP said, “The Committee is looking forward to learning more about the fiscal sustainability of local government in both northern Victoria and regional NSW and potential solutions to current challenges for fast growing regional cities and geographically larger shires with fewer rate payers.”

Hearings began in Wodonga on Wednesday 6 May where the committee heard from shire and regional city councils such as Wodonga and Wangaratta.

The Committee explored a range of issues including grant distribution processes, bushfire and flood recovery, workforce issues, and labour market conditions in regional Victoria and across the border in the Riverina.

The Committee then travelled to Wagga Wagga for hearings on Thursday, hearing from city and shire councils in southern NSW and representatives of Regional Capitals Australia, NSW Country Mayors and NSW Farmers.

The committee travels north to Taree today, Friday 8 May, to hear from a local government representative body from the Hunter and a range of shire and city councils along the Mid North Coast and inland up to the Tweed River.

Discussions will cover financial sustainability, insurance and risk, workforce challenges, and broader pressures facing local government across New South Wales, especially for those councils contending with recovery from natural disasters.

Public hearings are broadcast live on the Australian Parliament House Streaming Portal.

Details for upcoming public hearings and more information about the inquiry, including the terms of reference, submissions and transcripts of previous hearings, is available on the inquiry webpage.