Newly-elected Nationals Party leader, David Littleproud, has told a gathering of 1,000 mayors and councillors that excluding local government from Cabinet was a mistake by the Morrison Government.
Mr Littleproud addressed the National General Assembly (NGA) of Local Government in Canberra yesterday afternoon, saying later of the opportunity, “An honour to speak at ALGA’s National General Assembly in Canberra. Local councils have kept this country going through thick and thin. Your advocacy ensures decisions made here will have a real impact in your communities”.
Mr Littleproud defeated Barnaby Joyce and former minister, Darren Chester, in a three-way contest to lead the party at the first meeting of Nationals senators and MPs since the Coalition’s election loss.
ALGA President, City of Sydney Councillor, Linda Scott, said it was encouraging to see growing support for including local government in national decision-making.
“We welcomed the announcement by the Albanese Government last week that local government would be appointed to National Cabinet, as well as the Council on Federal Financial Relations,” Cr Scott said.
“This will initially be at one meeting per year, but we will be putting our ongoing membership of these forums on the agenda at the first meetings we attend and working towards securing full voting membership at all future meetings.
“Councils are the quiet achievers in our federation and shouldn’t be overlooked when it comes to decision making that impacts on all Australian communities.”
Other presenters on day one of the NGA included the Governor-General David Hurley; Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King, and Minister for Emergency Management, Senator Murray Watt.
