WYNDHAM council will donate $15,000 to the Municipal Association of Victoria to help encourage Victorians to vote “yes” at September’s referendum on constitutional recognition of local government.
Prime Minister and Lalor MP Julia Gillard announced earlier this month that Australians will also vote in a referendum when they go to the polls on September 14. The referendum is to decide whether the constitution should include financial recognition of local government.
The MAV has asked Victorian councils to raise $2 million to help fund a $10 million national campaign to promote the “yes” vote.
Based on Wyndham’s population and the council’s revenue, the MAV asked the municipality to contribute $62,000 to the campaign. The council rejected the request, offering $15,000 instead.
In a report to Monday’s council meeting, corporate services director Steven Lambert said that given Wyndham’s previous support of the ‘‘yes’’ campaign, $15,000 was a more reasonable contribution. The $15,000 will be added to council’s budget, now out for public comment.
While councils such as Hume and Moorabool have supported the referendum, they have knocked back requests for a campaign donation, saying it was not appropriate for them to fund the campaign.
Wyndham’s Cr Bob Fairclough said councils should support the campaign because a “yes” vote would allow the federal government to continue to directly fund projects like the Roads to Recovery program and services like childcare.
“This proposal would potentially reduce large fluctuations in funding grants that councils receive from the federal and state governments. These fluctuations make it difficult for councils to manage their budgets.”
