This week saw community and Local Government priorities elevated to the Federal level in Prime Minister Malcolm Turbull's new Ministry with the appointment of the Hon Paul Fletcher MP as Minister for Territories, Local Government and Major Projects. Minister Fletcher will be working with the Hon Warren Truss who continues in his role as the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development and the senior Minister in the portfolio area.
This move illustrates the importance of preserving and strengthening the partnership between Federal and Local Government to ensure the sustainability of local communities. As the third tier of government, and the level of government closest to the community, a strong partnership with the Australian Government ensures the continued and consistent coordination of national policies at the local level to deliver positive outcomes for our communities.
I will be seeking Minister Fletcher's support for our call to end the freeze to the indexation of Financial Assistance Grants when I meet with him in the near future.
The cabinet reshuffle also saw the Hon Jamie Briggs appointed as the Minister for Cities and the Built Environment. Minister Briggs said that it is vital that our cities are well planned, serviced with world class digital and physical infrastructure and environmentally sustainable so they continue to grow as economic assets into the future. We welcome this view and the Commonwealth's intention to work in this policy area and engage on the challenges our cities face.
While Minister Briggs will work with Minister Hunt in the Environment Portfolio, securing the liveability and sustainability of our cities will require collaboration between all three levels of government and coordination across a range of areas including transport, infrastructure, housing as well as both the built and natural environments. On that front, I am excited by the opportunity to work with the Minister Briggs to make our cities more liveable, productive and sustainable.
Mayor Troy Pickard
ALGA President