Abstract
For decades, sustainability and, especially, long-term financial sustainability and transformation, primarily through structural and other modes of reform, have constituted major concerns and problems for the ‘grass roots’ Australian government. Usually the catalyst for change in these areas has emanated from state and territory jurisdictions which have imposed reforms, often with little regard for local councils or the communities they serve.
 Since August 2011, in New South Wales, a structured process of dialogue and consultation has been ongoing in the local government sector with the objective of implementing beneficial reform. The paper briefly explains this transformation initiative and particularly the NSW Government Fit for the Future (F4F) process and the current 35 council merger proposals.
 The process is considered from the perspective of a long-term local government practitioner, elected representative, Mayor, and former member of the NSW Local Government Acts Taskforce (LGAT).
Highlights
Local government transformation in Australia is not new
The most important recommendations were to: establish an integrated fiscal responsibility program to address the Treasury Corporation (TCorp) findings referred to in section three; place local government audits under control of the New South Wales (NSW) Auditor General; replace rate-pegging with a system of rate benchmarking or by removing complexity, costs and constraints to sound financial management; establish a borrowing facility to encourage increased use of debt where appropriate; adopt a uniform core set of performance indicators for councils linked to integrated planning and reporting (IP&R) requirements; provide additional options for structures such as joint regional organisations, rural councils and community boards; and encourage voluntary council mergers
Opposition to mergers, by councils, and community fear of change and loss of local democracy has been prevalent in NSW for a long time
Summary
Australian local government sustainability and transformation: Structural reform and the fit for the future (F4F) reform initiative in New South Wales ― forced council mergers
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have