LOCAL government is a step closer to being recognised in the constitution, but Wyndham Council has not decided if it will ask residents to vote “yes” at an election day referendum.
The federal government has announced that Australians will vote in a referendum when they go to the polls on September 14 to decide whether local government should be recognised in the constitution.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard said a “yes” vote would guarantee the federal government’s ability to directly fund local government projects such as the Roads to Recovery program and services like childcare.
“In just the last five years, the Commonwealth has partnered with local government to deliver over 6000 community projects such as libraries, indoor and outdoor sporting facilities, pools, walking trails, roads and bridges, in every single community,” Ms Gillard said.
“We are proposing a modest and commonsense change to our constitution that simply reflects the modern reality in our local communities.”
Wyndham mayor Heather Marcus said the council would wait and see how the push progressed before deciding whether to urge voter support of the referendum.
“We’re at the coalface, we’re available to residents, and people are showing more and more interest to ensure they have a say in what’s going on in the city they live in.”
Opposition leader Tony Abbott said it was a “bit rich” of the government to claim bipartisanship when it had not confirmed what the wording of the referendum would be.
Similar referendums to recognise local government in 1974 and 1988 were unsuccessful.
