Win! ALGA’s advocacy has delivered hundreds of millions of dollars for councils in last week’s Federal Budget, including a $250 million extension of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program and a new $200 million Disaster Ready Fund.
The Budget also included an extra $100 million in Financial Assistance Grants for councils, bringing the total for 2022-23 to $2.92 billion.
ALGA will continue to work with the Government on further increases to FA Grants, with the goal of restoring this funding to at least one percent of Commonwealth taxation revenue.
Another big win was the announcement of $1 billion in new regional grant funding programs, which local governments will be eligible to access.
A lack of affordable housing is one of the biggest issues councils and our communities are facing, and ALGA has agreed to sign up to the Government’s new Housing Accord to collaborate on solutions.
Including governments, investors and the construction sector, the Accord has set a stretch target of delivering one million new homes over five years.
As part of this work, we’ll be partnering with the Government in development the National Housing and Homelessness Plan, drawing on the experiences and expertise of Australia’s 537 councils.
Finally, congratulations to Naracoorte Lucindale Mayor Erika Vickery, who was this week elected as the next President of LGA South Australia.
I know she will be a wonderful advocate for South Australian councils, as their current President Mayor Angela Evans has been.