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New local governments overdue
21 April 2007
The announcement this week that there is to be a rapid response Commission to finalise local government boundaries is overdue. It is inevitable because of the reluctance of councils to reform themselves in the absence of political statements interrogating and analysing different scenarios, and instead, taking short-term political positions, often reflecting a closed fortress mentality, Queensland is not organised to face the modern world.
The fact that 43 percent of the 157 councils are financially troubled makes for disturbing reading. Some are, apparently, struggling to serve their communities. Century-old boundaries are no longer sustainable, and this is also evident on the Sunshine Coast, where there has been an absence of a political appetite to initiate informed debate and clarify possible futures and efficiencies, as well as difficulties and traps.
Now, it seems, it will be done for us, with people like Terry Mackenroth and Bob Quinn covering the political spectrum on the Commission panel, and providing the statewide leadership that has been absent through voluntarism locally.
As a country, we are overgoverned and the boundaries between federal, state and local responsibilities become monthly, more confused and problematic. Water, health, education, regional planning, major infrastructure projects such as roads and employment, are well disputed territories, in a country entangled in red tape, politics and regulatory requirements.
At least with this Commission, there is a prospect for a start to be made in making sense of local government. Let’s hope that not only physical boundaries are considered, but also clarification of roles and their base funding is undertaken to enable sensible regional planning to be accomplished.
In recent years it is arguable that the Coast has become more competitive, and now, clarification is urgently needed for the future of the region, or much that we love here could be compromised.
Professor Paul Thomas AM is Vice-Chancellor of University of the Sunshine Coast.