Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he is looking forward to re-engaging with local government and will re-establish the Australian Council of Local Government as part of this.

Labor made a commitment to reconvene the body, created under the Rudd Government as a forum for Commonwealth-local issues, as part of its election campaign, but this is the first time Mr Albanese has announced it as Prime Minister.

During a Q&A session after his CEDA State of the Nation address in Canberra on Thursday, Mr Albanese was asked how the government would engage with councils to deliver economic and social reform.

Mr Albanese, a former local government minister, said he wanted direct re-engagement between national and local government.

“One of the things that we will do is re-engage directly between the national government and local government,” Mr Albanese said.

“One of the things that we will be re-establishing is the Australian Council of Local Government, a body that brings together every local government … in Australia, together with the national government to talk about how those priorities and programs can best be delivered.”

ALGA ‘delighted’

President of the Australian Local Government Association Linda Scott said she was delighted with the Prime Minister’s commitment.

“This announcement shows the respect our new federal government has for the hard work and commitment of Australia’s mayors, councillors and local government staff,” she told Government News.

Mr Albanese also said he wanted a ‘reframe’ of infrastructure funding arrangements, taking into consideration that local government is in a better position to make decisions about this than federal or state governments.

“I think across a range of funding programs the key dynamic or factor was an electoral map. We have rejected that approach,” he said.

“I believe, for example, that community infrastructure funding, whether it be for local roads or local facilities, things that will drive local jobs, should be determined at the local level.”

Delivering programs to local government was more efficient than other forms of government, the Prime Minister said.

“They employ day labour, they have suppliers who are locals as well, so it has a multiplier effect in local communities.

“When you look at where effective programs can be run, whether it’s in housing, in a range of areas as well, that direct engagement is so important.

“I really look forward to my government re-engaging with local government.”

Council of Australian Local Governments was instrumental in funding local government projects as a means of beating the Global Financial Crisis in 2008–09.