The Regional Australia Institute is preparing a submission to the Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure, and Transport, on the Inquiry into local government sustainability.

To inform the submission, the Institute seeks insights from regional, rural and remote LGAs across the country in response to the Inquiry’s terms of reference (as seen below).

We recommend the survey is completed by an elected representative (mayor or councillor), CEO or a senior executive member who may also be leading a response to the inquiry and/or in consultation with such parties.

One response per LGA is recommended.

The responses to this survey are private, unless your LGA would like to share further thoughts or experiences or make the response public.

As Australia’s only independent think-tank dedicated to research to inform positive regional policy, the Institute will develop an evidence-based submission to the Inquiry, that extends the RAI’s purpose; to empower regions to thrive.

To discuss this survey and submission, contact RAI Policy Officer, Angus Spencer (angus.spencer@regionalaustralia.org.au).

Terms of Reference:
The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport will inquire into and report on local government matters, with a particular focus on:
  • The financial sustainability and funding of local government
  • The changing infrastructure and service delivery obligations of local government
  • Any structural impediments to security for local government workers and infrastructure and service delivery
  • Trends in the attraction and retention of a skilled workforce in the local government sector, including impacts of labour hire practices
  • The role of the Australian Government in addressing issues raised in relation to the above
  • Other relevant issues.

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* 1. Are you a representative of a local government (e.g. Councillor, Mayor, CEO, senior member of the executive)?

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* 2. Please identify yourself, your LGA, and your position within that LGA and provide a contact email (optional). If you wish to remain anonymous, please leave this question blank.

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* 3. How confident are you in the short-term financial stability and viability of your local government's operations?

0 (Uncertain) 50 100 (Certain)
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i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

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* 4. How confident are you in the long-term financial stability and viability of your local government's operations?

0 (Uncertain) 50 100 (Certain)
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i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

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* 5. What issues can be linked to the current system of local government funding?

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* 6. Which (if any) newly introduced local government responsibilities have been the most difficult to manage (underfunded, burdensome, low staffing capacity)?

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* 7. What operations (if any) should no longer be a local government responsibility?

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* 8. Rank the following sources of income in order of the income composition of your local government.

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* 9. Rank the following sources of income in order of the income composition that you perceive to be the most sustainable and efficient for your local government.

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* 10. Which industries (if any) does your local government struggle to attract workers?

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* 11. Has your local government had difficulty in hiring/retaining/attracting particular occupations? If so, what have been the barriers?

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* 12. Describe specific workforce elements of your LGA. For example, does your LGA rely on a large FIFO/DIDO workforce, international migrant workforce, capital to regional internal migrants?

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* 13. Do you find the administrative component of grants to be too complicated/burdensome?

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* 14. How many grants does your local government apply for yearly (approximately)?

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* 15. How successful is your local government in being accepted for grants?

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* 16. Does your LGA have the required workforce capacity to manage and respond to grant opportunities?

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* 17. Are there any geographical barriers that impede your LGA's ability to succeed in grant applications?

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* 18. What do you hope to see as the outcomes of the Standing Committee Inquiry?

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* 19. Would you like to see a different Commonwealth Government organisation to conduct a review of financial sustainability of local government? e.g. updated Productivity Commission Report.

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* 20. What other comments/suggestions would you like to make the RAI aware of or potentially include within a submission?

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* 21. Do you have any case studies that may be relevant to this Inquiry?

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* 22. Is your LGA a member of the RAI’s Regional Activators Alliance?

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* 23. The RAI will host a follow up webinar during April to further inform our submission and to share RAI research. Please register your interest in attending.

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