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LGANT Comment on Release of Cost Shifting Report

"The long-awaited report to do with cost shifting onto Local Government by other spheres of Government was tabled in Federal Parliament yesterday" the President Cecil Black said, "and in general I think most Northern Territory Councils will be in favour of its recommendations".

"Perhaps the most significant recommendation is number 16, which calls for a new funding methodology based on the needs of Councils, something both the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory and the Northern Territory Government have been advocating for some time" the President said.

"As part of this recommendation there is support for Indigenous Councils to receive a weighted factor to ensure a level of disadvantage is taken into account. This is good news considering most of our Councils in the Northern Territory are Indigenous."

"The report also recommends the development of an intergovernmental agreement between the three spheres of government will deal with both the functions Local Government will undertake and the roles and responsibilities that all spheres will play. It has got to be a better way of doing things amongst the three spheres" the President said.

"The Association will follow progress with the report particularly over the next twelve months" the President said. "The report is about change and from our early look at it the proposals appear favourable for Local Government. I guess it now remains to be seen how the Territory Government and State Governments, along with the Commonwealth, are going to respond to it" the President said.

Ends

Contact: Cecil Black 0414898836

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