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Fair Share Report welcomed in the NT with reservations.

LGANT Vice President, President Ray Wooldridge welcomed the Australian Government’s response to the October 2003 report “Rates and Taxes: A fair share for responsible local government” that identified cost shifting onto local government by State/Territory and Australian Governments as a significant problem confronting the 700 odd local councils in Australia.

President Wooldridge said the Government’s response released today, together with a joint media release by the Federal Minister for Local Government, the Hon Jim Lloyd MP and ALGA President Councillor Paul Bell, was a significant step in progressing a fair deal for local government across Australia.

“There are significant opportunities for Local Government in the response, including the opportunity to explore further partnership agreements with funding like the very successful Roads to Recovery program”, President Wooldridge said. “Formal recognition of local government by the Federal Parliament is a very strong acknowledgement of local government’s status as a sphere of government. It will hopefully be a first step to full Constitutional recognition”, said President Wooldridge.

“However, the Association is very disappointed that the Australian Government rejected the recommendation in the Fair Share Report that a new methodology be employed for the distribution of Federal assistance grants to local government on the basis of need. When you have a system where a single council interstate, with its significant rate base and revenue raising powers, can receive more in the way of financial assistance grants than all of the 63 Councils in the Northern Territory it is clearly unfair”, said President Wooldridge.

ENDS23 June 2005

Contact:LGANT Vice President Ray Wooldridge 0427 761 236

Manager Communications Phil Maynard8936 2890 0429 090 833