Regional councils call for more federal funding

THE mayors of Ballina and Byron shires have joined calls for stronger federal funding commitments, warning regional councils are being asked to do more with less.

Ballina Shire mayor Sharon Cadwallader echoed concerns raised by Country Mayors Association chair Rick Firman about the decline in financial support for local governments.

“Quite frankly, it’s unsustainable,” Cr Cadwallader said.

“We are delivering essential services, maintaining infrastructure, supporting disaster response, and meeting community expectations with funding that hasn’t kept pace with inflation or responsibilities.”

Commonwealth Financial Assistance Grants, once one per cent of federal tax revenue, now sit at just 0.5 per cent, leaving regional and rural councils struggling to make ends meet.

The grants account for more than 70 per cent of total revenue for some councils, with limited ability to increase income from rates or other sources.

“The funding model is broken, and we urgently need a fairer share of national tax revenue to support our local communities,” Cr Cadwallader said.

“I’m calling on all candidates in the Richmond and Page electorates to publicly commit to restoring Financial Assistance Grants to at least one per cent of tax revenue. Our communities deserve better.

“Ballina Shire, like many regional councils, is being asked to take on responsibilities that were traditionally delivered by state and federal governments, yet the funding isn’t following the function. Enough is enough.”

Byron Shire Mayor Sarah Ndiaye said local governments were facing increasing pressures to provide more services while managing growing infrastructure demands and making proper investments.

“Local governments are now expected to manage more services than ever before, from roads and rubbish to libraries, parks, childcare, airports, cemeteries, and some health services,” Cr Ndiaye said.

“We are the safety net for our communities and the services of last resort for the most vulnerable.

“Local governments employ over 200,000 people across more than 400 occupations, and we manage assets worth $640 billion with an annual operating spend of $38 billion.

“It’s a disgrace that successive Australian governments have allowed the only untied source of annual funding for local governments to flatline at such an embarrassingly low level for so long, while per capita expenditure from both state and commonwealth governments has soared.”

For more information about the Country Mayors Association’s advocacy, visit nswcountrymayors.com.au