The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport has launched a new inquiry into the funding and financial sustainability of local governments in Australia.
Chair of the Committee, Mrs Fiona Phillips, said 'the Committee wants to gain a deeper understanding of the financial relationship between local government and other levels of government in Australia, with a particular emphasis on funding mechanisms and fiscal sustainability.'
The inquiry aims to identify how funding arrangements affect local government's ability to deliver services and invest in local infrastructure by identifying all sources of government funding received by local governments. The Committee will also be exploring how to overcome barriers to infrastructure service delivery. It will consider trends in attracting and retaining a skilled workforce, impediments to security for local government workers and the impacts of labour hire practices.
The Committee will be considering whether existing funding mechanisms are addressing the evolving responsibilities of local governments.
