August 25, 2016
South Burnett councillors and senior Council staff enjoyed an opportunity to “bend some ears in Canberra” when Senator Fiona Nash dropped by on Thursday, accompanied by Member for Maranoa David Littleproud.
Senator Nash is Deputy Leader of The Nationals, but – more importantly for the South Burnett and the other Maranoa councils that she has been visiting – Senator Nash is now also the Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Local Government and Territories, and Minister for Regional Communications.
Her portfolios cover many of the key items that councillors are concerned about, including regional infrastructure, mobile phone blackspots, economic development and Council grants.
Senator Nash has only been holding these portfolios for two weeks, so it is very early days for her in these roles, but there was a hint that there could be tweaks to the system of Federal Assistance Grants (FAGS) that councils rely upon so heavily.
“The key thing is working in partnership with local councils,” she said.
“There are many challenges across our regions, some similarities and some differences. But what there is though is a real need for government to work in partnership with local councils in terms of kick-starting their sustainability.
“It’s not about handouts. It’s not about a bucket of money. It’s about Local Government in their local areas, in their regions, coming up with a plan for their future and then working with government looking for ways where we can work together; where the investment needs to go to ensure there is a sustainable future.
“Regional communities make an enormous contribution to the nation. We generate real wealth from agriculture, mining. So, from my perspective, there is an economic case for investing in regional communities. It’s not about a handout, it’s about investing because there is an economic case to invest.”
Senator Nash said topics raised during the meeting included roads, FAGS and telecommunications.
She said FAGS grants were “definitely” on her radar.
“One of the keys things I’m talking to local councils about is whether they think the current arrangements are an appropriate distribution of the funding, and I am very conscious – again, it’s very early days – but I am very conscious of the burden that sits on our rural councils in terms of the service delivery they need to undertake at the same time often with quite a low rate base and even a declining rate base in a lot of these areas,” Senator Nash said.
“Those roads, out here in our rural areas are carrying the livestock, they’re carrying the cattle, they’re carrying the sheep, they’re carrying the grain that’s putting the contribution to the nation’s economy, so should we be looking at the way those FAGS grants are distributed, and I’ll certainly be having a look at that.”
She confirmed again that the freeze on indexation of FAGS would end on July 1 next year but ruled out any lump sum payment to Councils to make up for the revenue they had missed out on over the three-year freeze.
South Burnett Keith Campbell said the formula that was currently used to work out the distributions of FAGS was “very, very complex” and he hoped that Senator Nash would be able to work on that so rural councils would be able to get a better share.
However, he was heartened that she understood just how important these grants were as an income stream for councils.
He said other topics covered during the meeting included Roads To Recovery funding, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, and local economic development, particularly in regard to irrigation and agriculture.
