Challenges and risks facing local government sustainability

LOCAL government associations from Queensland, Tasmania and New South Wales will appear before the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport as part of an ongoing inquiry into local government sustainability.

The virtual public hearing on July 25 continues the committee’s in-depth examination of the financial sustainability challenges and risks facing local government.

The committee will also hear from the Australian Services Union, the Northern and Yorke Local Government Association, Torrens University Australia, Always Thinking Advisory, and the United Services Union and Local Government Engineers Association.

Committee Chair, Luke Gosling OAM, MP, said, "The hearing will provide an opportunity to delve deeper into the particular risks threatening the financial sustainability of local governments. Local governments are facing both escalating cost pressures and increasing community expectations. The committee is interested in further exploring the key financial pressures, including the extent to which councils rely on Commonwealth and State and Territory program and grant funding to meet expanding service delivery obligations.

"The hearing also provides an opportunity to gather additional evidence concerning current and future workforce skills, attraction, and retention challenges, along with labour hire practices and job security issues affecting the local government workforce.

"The committee is also interested in exploring the local government financial sustainability drivers underlying critical workforce issues across states and territories," Mr Gosling said.

Public hearing details

Canberra, Australian Parliament House and via videoconference

Date:      Thursday, 25 July 2024

Venue:   Committee Room 1R3 and via videoconference

Time:     9.30am to 2pm (AEST)

The committee will hold further public hearings during 2024. Further information on the inquiry, including the terms of reference and how to contribute, is available on the committee’s website.

 

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