Closing Remarks to the Australian Council Of Local Government

MS01/2009
25 June 2009

Parliament House, Canberra

Thank you Ellen. 

How's everyone feeling?  Pumped up? Terrific.  I know, ladies and gentlemen, we've worked you very, very hard both last night and today and that followed on from your discussions within your own association ALGA.  But I think you'll all agree there's been tremendous energy coming out of this second meeting of the Australian Council of Local Government.

I'll just make a few comments before the Minister comes up to do the formal summing up. The thrill for me coming into this new job has been to hear from so many of you, and these comments particularly came through last night.  Many of you were saying to me, 'thank you for taking us seriously.'  I think that is the message that has powerfully come through from all of the State and Territory Local Government Associations that I've met with over the last couple of days and it's certainly come from you as individuals as well. 

It seems to me that you do have a genuine appreciation of how the Rudd Government is elevating your role and of how we see this new partnership.  I'm sure you saw that this morning with the Prime Minister opening today's proceedings.

I have to tell you something about the Prime Minister - one of his favourite activities, especially after a win by the Maroons, is to put on a slide show.  He loves this stuff - a slide show.  It's only gentle mockery because you could see from what the Prime Minister took us through this morning, what a great story Australia has to tell.  But it didn't just happen. 

We have a good story to tell in this most difficult of years because of leadership at the federal level but also because of what you are doing in your local communities.  You are doing this with us and together we are keeping Australians working.

I want to make a confession here as well.  When I took on this job a fortnight ago, I had certain expectations.  I thought many of you would be walking into my office and asking for a big bucket of money.  Well you have.  But you know what I didn't expect is what else I heard.  In all of my discussions I haven't heard a single whinger. Nobody has said 'what's the Commonwealth ever done for us?'  You know like that old joke you know 'what have the Romans ever done for us.'  No one's said that.  Instead I've heard some powerful ideas and some inspiring stories.  There is great energy and creativity and a can-do spirit in local government.

I sat in on the rural coastal councils group this morning.  No one was sitting on their hands.  No one had to be prompted to speak.  There were just so many stories of what is happening and what can happen.  Smaller councils were talking about how they are sharing their expertise, sharing a general manager, sharing planners, sharing engineers. 

Best of all, I heard stories of very gutsy decisions, stories of political courage where councils are treating their rate payers as grown ups.  Where, say local costs are increasing, those councils are engaging in an intelligent dialogue with their community.  They're saying 'this is the situation,' they're arguing the case and saying 'this is what it will require to maintain services like libraries,' other things like that.  So I applaud that.

We also heard about how everyone is helping each other, of how neighbouring councils come to the aid of their fellow councils in times of disaster and regional emergencies. 

I heard about councils who are all too aware of the change in demographics in their area and how that's forcing a re-think on so many levels.  How they attract expertise, how they link up with TAFEs and regional campuses of universities.  Importantly, how they see their senior citizens - many of the people who move to rural coastal communities for retirement - how they can see those for the golden gurus that they are.  Of course, part of that is engaging young people as well.  So no shortage of ideas - a rich abundance.

I will just finish by referring back to what the Prime Minister said this morning.  You might have heard him say that he sees this new role between the Commonwealth and local government as a tango and he said that you should see Albo as one of your dance partners.  I'm putting my hand up as one of your dance partners as well. 

I'll just come back to Albo.  Outside of the Chamber, where he's pretty good on his feet, I'm not too sure of his moves.  But we're about to find out. 

Some of you may recall from the 2007 campaign that on occasions I danced my way through that campaign.  The tango is seen as an elaborate, highly stylised, exotic dance.  The steps are complicated, it takes time to learn but what a great art it is to behold.

I'll see you all on the dance floor.