President’s column – 2 July 2021
We learned this week, via the latest Intergenerational Report, that there are now more people in work than before COVID-19, with a significantly higher participation rate.
Our sector can rightly hold its head high for helping engineer this remarkable jobs turnaround.
Local
governments supported communities through the worst of the pandemic before
quickly pivoting to provide economic stimulus and help create tens of thousands
of new jobs.
According
to the report, the economic recovery is now “now well underway” – attributable to
all governments having been able to “deliver stimulus and stability quickly and
effectively when needed”.
Elsewhere,
the 2021 Intergenerational Report examines COVID’s impacts on overseas
migration, making assertions that are highly relevant for local government’s
role in Australia’s future development.
Although
net overseas migration has dropped dramatically in 2020-21, levels are forecast
to reach 235,000 people a year by 2024-25.
If that’s
maintained, we’ll have a population of 38.8 million by 2060-61.
Among other
things, that will lead to higher demand for services, natural resources, urban
land, and infrastructure.
Managing
this growth effectively will require “transparency, consistent decision-making
and careful planning by all levels of government for governments”, the report
says.
It is yet another
powerful argument for including local government in National Cabinet, and one
your ALGA will reiterate in its federal election advocacy plans.
Staying on
matters political, the National Party leadership change last week will have
some bearing on ALGA’s working relationship with key federal government
ministers.
Changes in personnel are a fact of political life, and we have sent letters to the new Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Barnaby Joyce, the new Assistant Minister for Local Government, Kevin Hogan, and the new Minister for Regionalisation, Regional Communications and Regional Education, Bridget McKenzie, congratulating them on their appointments.
We’ve also written
to former Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and former Local Government
Minister Mark Coulton thanking them for their leadership, professionalism, and
guidance.
The $1.5 billion Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program, the first iteration of which was unveiled in 2020 was a testament to their belief in the capacity of local governments to advance their communities’ best interests.
On a final note, videos of presentations at last month’s 27th National General Assembly are now being edited and packaged for uploading on our dedicated NGA website very soon.
Even the most dedicated of #NGA21 delegates would have struggled to take in all our lively, informative, and engaging presentations and panel discussions, and these videos are a great way to catch up.
Linda Scott,
ALGA President