Election Special

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Details

Published: Wednesday, 25 March 2015 11:40

Question 2

Will the Government takes steps in the next term to compulsorily amalgamate councils?

Coalition Government response

The Fit for the Future program provides generous support to councils who choose to merge voluntarily – up to $22.5m for Sydney councils and up to $13.5m for councils in regional NSW.

The Fit for the Future process allows councils to design their future by developing a Proposal to address scale and capacity and performance improvement.

The Office of Local Government has developed the Fit for the Future criteria and benchmarks based on the work of Treasury Corporation (TCorp) and the Panel. The criteria and benchmarks have been reviewed by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).
IPART found that “…the four criteria reflect what the Review Panel considered to be the essential elements of an effective system of local government. We consider that if councils meet these four criteria they would be able to govern effectively, and have the capacity to both partner with the State and reduce red tape and bureaucracy for business”.

In terms of ‘recalibrating’ the criteria, the Ministerial Advisory Group has however agreed to establish a working group to provide advice on the assessment methodology.

The Fit for the Future package includes $258 million in direct assistance to support councils who decide to merge. This represents a significant investment – more than six times the assistance provided to merging councils in Queensland ($40m) and more than15 times the support to merging councils in metropolitan Perth ($15m).

Fit for the Future councils will have access to a range of benefits, such as access to cheaper borrowing and a streamlined rate variation process. Councils undertaking voluntary mergers are required to demonstrate in their Fit for the Future Proposal how their community has been involved in the process. It is a matter for each council to determine how best to undertake appropriate community consultation in relation to its proposal.

There is a mandatory 28 day exhibition period for voluntary merger proposals submitted as part of the Fit for the Future process.
The Baird Government is providing financial support to councils to undertake detailed analysis of the costs and benefits of potential mergers. We are providing a supported program for five groups of councils to establish and Pilot various models for Regional Joint Organisations. This will help to inform the final model for Joint Organisations, to be rolled out across NSW by September 2016, with funding of up to $5.3m. Each Pilot will received direct funding of $300,000 to support the establishment of the new organisation.

ALP response

No. We are opposed to force amalgamations of councils. We believe they put local jobs and services at risk, and they have not been proven to have any benefits for ratepayers.

3. The jurisdiction of the NSW IRC and protection for local government employees

Preface

Employees of the Crown and local government are the last areas serviced by the NSW IRC. All other areas have headed off to Fair Work Australia. Some States have ceded their IR powers to the Federal Government. The contraction in the jurisdiction of the NSW IRC has meant a significant reduction in members of the Commission (including redundancies of valuable and capable members) and there is general acceptance by employer and employee organisations left standing in the New South Wales jurisdiction that the organisation is under resourced and needs additional judges and Commissioners.

Question 3

Will the Government retain the IRC for local government employees or cede their IR powers to the Federal Government?

Coalition Government response

The Baird Government has no plans for any changes to IR arrangements for local government employees. Ceding IR powers to the Federal Government in respect of local government employees would require an act of the Parliament.

ALP response

Yes. We will retain the NSW Industrial Relations Commission for local government employees. We will not cede industrial relations powers to the Commonwealth.

Question 4

Will the Government increase resources and the number of Judges and Commissioners in the IRC? If so, when?

Coalition Government response

The Baird Government has already increased resources with the appointment of one justice and has announced the appointment of another two commissioners within the next 12 months.

ALP response

We are committed to maintaining the NSW industrial relations system. If we are elected, we will work to ensure that the IRC has the resources it needs to fulfil its functions.

Well, there you have it. Vote wisely.
 
Next month

depaNews in its usual format to bring you up to date on developments at Bankstown, Tamworth (maybe Clarence Valley) and report on the election result as well.