June 17, 2026
South Burnett councillors have drafted 11 motions which they will take to the Local Government Association of Queensland annual conference later this year.
Cr Danita Potter told Wednesday’s Council meeting that some of the motions were not really Council’s business but “if we don’t advocate for our community, there is no one else out there … and the State and Federal governments will just put more on to us”.
The 11 motions, adopted at the meeting, are:
That the LGAQ …
1. Lobby the Australian Government to restore the Federal Assistance program to 1 per cent of taxation revenue.
2. Lobby the Australian Government to keep the current Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements in place.
3. Advocate for funding for specialised accommodation for domestic and family violence.
4. Advocate to the Federal and State governments for local government to be included as a stakeholder in programs and funding allocations to community entities for local infrastructure, biosecurity and human and social programs.
5. Lobby to reduce costs for local government by extinguishing limitations on future acts and leases.
6. Lobby the Australian Government to reinstate the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program.
7. Lobby the Australian Government for Constitutional recognition of Local Government.
8. Lobby the Australian Government to meet the cost of operating the Bureau of Meteorology weather infrastructure in regional Queensland.
9. Lobby the State Government to fund the operation of CCTV networks used by the Queensland Police Service for community safety.
10. Advocate to the State Government to work with local governments on landfill fees and charges and continue with the landfill rebate.
11. Call on the State Government to reinstate the Small Communities Assistance Program for water and wastewater infrastructure.
Cr Jane Erkens said she was particularly supportive of the fourth motion as on many occasions, Council had discovered a group had already received funding for an issue that Council was exploring.
Being given a “seat at the table” would avoid duplication in areas such as biosecurity programs and homelessness.
After a discussion over damage to footpaths at Wondai, Councillors suggested a 12th motion that Telstra pay for updates to its own infrastructure, such as the upgrade of old Telstra asbestos phone pits in footpaths.
The intent of this motion, still to be drafted, would be that the financial burden for these upgrades remain with Telstra.
The 11 or 12 motions, if endorsed by other Councils at the LGAQ Conference, would be sent to the State and Federal governments for consideration.
The conference will be held in Cairns on October 19-21.
