Mayor Matt Burnett continues call for local governments to have a voice
Mayor Matt Burnett has urged Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and her State and Territory counterparts to advocate for councils to continue to have a voice should they decide to replace COAG.
Gladstone Region Mayor Matt Burnett has urged Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and her State and Territory counterparts to advocate for councils to continue to have a voice should they decide to replace COAG (Council of Australian Governments) with a permanent National Cabinet.
The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) currently sits at the COAG table and Mayor Burnett said they must be handed a permanent seat at National Cabinet should it be made permanent.
It comes as National Cabinet meets today to discuss the issue. Mayor Burnett, who is a Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) representative to the ALGA Board, said now was not the time to diminish the ability of local government to represent their communities.
“If there is a consideration in moving away from COAG, then we need to know what is being put in place to ensure local government continues to have a voice,” Mayor Burnett said.
“In the midst of a global pandemic, there has never been a more important time for all three levels of government to work together, nor has there been a more important time to ensure all voices are being heard.
“Councils must not be excluded.”
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