Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has addressed local government leaders at a Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA)
gala dinner in Sydney.
Mr Albanese was the keynote speaker at the event last Thursday, telling the gathering of around 150 rural, remote and regional NSW Council leaders, “when it comes to the details that make up the communities of regional NSW, and right across our continent, no one is across them like their local councils.
“When we work together, we lift your communities. And when we lift them, we lift Australia,” said the Prime Minister.
“Mr Albanese spoke of the infrastructure funding announced in the Federal Budget and assured agricultural communities reliant on seasonal labour, that the Government is going to monitor the working holiday visa program and ensure it meets employer demand. There was some disappointed that the controversial water buyback issue was not covered,” said CMA Chairman, Rick Firman.
“The Prime Minister also indicated the Federation Compact was being teased out with State & Territory Local Government Associations. We need to continue to remind our Prime Minister, the Government as well as Opposition and Cross Benches that financial sustainability of Local Government is the number one issue for us, and we need their urgent help’.
“The Board, Members, Staff and I greatly appreciate that our Prime Minister took the time to address our function and join us for dinner. The vast majority of our CMA Members ensure party politics is left out of Local Government – it’s about our communities. The night cemented the NSW CMA as a significant representative of rural, remote and regional Councils, on both a State and National level,” he said.
NSW Local Government Minister, Ron Hoenig; Shadow Local Government Minister, Tim James; LGNSW President and Inner West Council Mayor, Darcy Byrne and Chairman Firman also spoke at the gala dinner.
“It was heartwarming to see our Prime Minister visibly moved when Parkes Shire Mayor Neil Westcott, played guitar and sang captivatingly stirring renditions of ‘Advance Australia Fair’ and ‘And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda’,” said Chair Firman.
“The roof nearly came off the building when we all joined with Mayor Westcott and sang our National Anthem together. That’s a moment our CMA Family and our Prime Minister will remember warmly,” he said.
