August 31, 2020
The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) – the peak body representing all Queensland councils – has unveiled its wishlist for the upcoming State Election.
The LGAQ is calling for more State Government support for councils to help ease the burden on ratepayers and provide more support to help communities weather COVID-19 and its aftermath .
It says its State Election priorities will create or support about 29,000 jobs and generate more than $4.6 billion in economic activity over the next four years.
“We want them to commit to continuing successful programs like Works for Queensland and Building Our Regions,” CEO Greg Hallam said.
Other programs and policies on the LGAQ wishlist include:
- $144 million over four years to provide multi-year wage subsidies for 800 apprenticeship and traineeship positions to address public and private sector skills shortages
- $50 million per year for tourism infrastructure to enhance tourism offerings and attract domestic tourists and – once global travel resumes – international visitors
- Increasing Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS) funding to $80 million in 2021-22 and to $100 million a year by 2024
- $30 million per year for four years to extend the Indigenous Councils Critical Infrastructure Program to assist First Nations Councils to build new infrastructure including critical water infrastructure
- A guarantee that 70 per cent of the revenue generated from the waste levy will be used to fund sustainable resource recovery, recycling infrastructure and programs to build a circular economy and that current advance payments to councils will continue, in order to ensure Queensland households are not negatively impacted by the Waste Levy
- $100 million per year for five years to fix ageing water and wastewater infrastructure to ensure rural towns have access to safe and reliable drinking water into the future
- $25 million per year for a Western Roads Upgrade Program
“We will be issuing report cards throughout the campaign and grading the parties on their commitment to our platform, just as we did during the Federal election campaign last year,” Mr Hallam said.
“We will also be asking Queensland communities to ‘Vote for Local’ and support the parties that support our councils and their local communities.”
Mr Hallam said the LGAQ had advocated successfully with its Battleplan for Queensland Local Communities.
“Now is the time to do it again,” he said.
“We want to make sure political leaders are listening and know exactly what we want them to do should they secure the state’s first fixed four-year term.
“This next term of government is not going to be easy.
“We need to ensure whoever is in power puts the needs of Queensland’s local communities first.”
The 2020 Queensland State Election will be held on Saturday, October 31.
