Australia's National Local Government Newspaper Online

Consultation phase for SA's review of LG Act

The South Australian Minister for Local Government, Mark Brindal MP, recently launched the Local Government Act Review Consultation Program, 'Consulting Councils and Communities'. He described the Consultation Program as a significant milestone in the development of new Local Government legislation.

The draft legislation has already involved much discussion between Councils and the Office of Local Government. This identifies major issues to be addressed, including easily understood legislation, clarification of roles, increased accountability and updating rates and charges provisions.

At the launch, the Minister said that the new legislation was one of the planks of the Government's vision for a competitive State with a sound and diverse regional economy which would prove attractive to interstate and international visitors and investors.

"This underpins the State's reform and accountability agenda," Mark Brindal said. "We aim to develop a stronger and more efficient Local Government, able to participate in regional development and interact with the other spheres of government."

The launch saw the release of a kit comprising three Consultation Draft Bills, a Local Government Bill, an Elections Bill and Lands Bill, and two additional Discussion Papers, Associated Repeals and Amendments and Competition Policy. The documents are being released only as discussion papers. The full kit also includes a Consultation Guide and poster.

The Minister said that an important feature of the Consultation Draft documents is that they have been issued without any policy endorsement either by the State Government or Local Government. He emphasised that he was primarily interested in receiving feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of the documents, the ultimate goal being the highest possible quality legislation. The next three months, May, June and July, will be the consultation phase.

Each Council in South Australia will receive two full kits in hard copy, and libraries will also receive the full kit. Electronic copies are included in the kits prepared for Local Government. The documents will also be available for downloading from the Internet.

Information sessions and workshops will be held throughout the State during May and June, scheduled in liaison with the Local Government Association of SA and regional organisations. It is anticipated that the month of July will be taken up with finalisation of submissions.

Further negotiations will occur on the basis of the consultations before the new legislation is finalised for Parliament, involving all party discussions. This will include the Local Government Association of SA.

Further information can be obtained from the Office of Local Government, telephone (08) 8207 0686, or freecall 1800 352 224. The documents are also available on the Internet at http://www.localgovt.sa.gov.au

The following articles are also included in this edition or go BACK to the main page: