Libby Coker (Corangamite, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories. After 10 years of local government not having a voice to government, how is the Albanese Labor government ensuring that they can have their voices heard?

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm going to hear from the Manager of Opposition Business.

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That question began with 'after 10 years of'. Practice is very clear. Speakers have ruled out of order questions or parts of questions about the policies of previous governments. I submit you should rule that part of the question out of order.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question was about a time period. She didn't mention the previous government.

Honourable members interjecting—

Order! I want to deal with this matter. If the question had said 'about the previous government'—I'm going to listen carefully to the minister to make sure her answer isn't all about the previous government, because that would not be in order. I'm going to listen to her policy announcement or policy topic. I call the minister.

Kristy McBain (Eden-Monaro, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Corangamite for her question and the way she works with her local councils across her electorate. I give a big hello and say thank you for coming to the mayors, councils and CEOs in the room, many of whom know their code of meeting practice better than those opposite.

I'm very proud that the Albanese Labor government is bringing back the Australian Council of Local Government after 10 years—an election commitment that we are delivering on. It's a big week for local government across the country.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Barker!

Kristy McBain (Eden-Monaro, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On this side of the House, we trust local government, as they are our local infrastructure and service delivery partners.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Barker will leave the chamber under standing order 94(a).

The member for Barker then left the chamber.

Kristy McBain (Eden-Monaro, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They know the communities they represent, and they know how to serve them best. That is why we've brought local government back to the table of National Cabinet. ALGA President Linda Scott attended National Cabinet in February of this year. I've also reinstated local government ministers meetings. We've held two in the last year, with a third one scheduled for August.

The National General Assembly of the ACLG started on Tuesday with the Regional and Rural Forum and continues until this afternoon. It's the largest ever turnout with 1,100 representatives from across the country. With the theme 'Our Communities, Our Future', the assembly will see local government representatives come together to build policies that will help them build stronger communities across the country. The reinstatement of the ACLG will be our opportunity to hear from local government representatives what they need from our policies—policies that support local councils to build the communities into the strong and resilient places they need to live and work. We are committed to providing funding to all councils in need because on this side of the House we value fair and equal treatment of our councils, not those based on colour-coded spreadsheets. In the May budget this year our government committed $3.1 billion through the Financial Assistance Grant program, $500 million to Roads to Recovery and $85 million to the Bridges Renewal Program. Our budget also delivers $22.3 million to councils to undertake engineering assessments of local roads because we know the pressures councils are under. The Financial Assistance Grant program—which was enshrined in legislation, thanks to the Whitlam government—provides local governments with long-term certainty, transparency and the flexibility to focus on their priority areas.

Shamefully, those opposite froze indexation on the important funding stream. This act has had an adverse impact on every town and village across the country—an impact that is still being felt today. On this side of the House, we take seriously the role that local government provides to our communities across the country. We'll continue to ensure that they have a voice at the table, and we will not forget them as a trusted delivery partner of the federal government.