PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Ms ROBERTS (Pearce) (18:22): The incorporated speech read as follows— I would like to speak against this motion. I do so not just as a member of this House but as someone who spent six years as a councillor and two years as a deputy mayor, culminating in nearly 12 years as Mayor of the City of Wanneroo in my electorate of Pearce, working for 20 years at the very coalface of local government.

I do agree with parts of this motion. Local government is indeed a critical tier of government. It is closest to the community.

It builds and maintains our roads, manages our waste and water, cares for our parks and public spaces, and plans for the growth of our suburbs and regions. It employs hundreds of thousands of Australians and delivers the services people rely on every single day. But, if we are going to stand here and acknowledge the importance of local government, then we also need to be honest about how it has been treated, because this motion tells only half the story.

It speaks about trust and recognition but it ignores the reality that, under the coalition, local government funding was cut and councils were left to do more with less. The coalition's 2014 decision to freeze indexation on financial assistance grants for three years reduced funding by an estimated 13 per cent—around $925 million taken out of local communities—and, when indexation returned, it was from a lower base, locking in that loss.

That is not trust. That is not partnership. The consequences are still being felt, particularly in regional and outer suburban councils.

Now compare that with what we are seeing under the Albanese Labor government. We are delivering record investment in local government because we understand the role councils play in building strong, connected communities. Since coming to office, financial assistance grants have grown by five per cent in the last year alone and by 35 per cent since 2021-22.

That is an increase from $2.6 billion to $3.6 billion in 2026-27. Across our first term, more than $16 billion will have flowed directly to local councils. That is not rhetoric; that is real support on the ground.

It does not stop there. In 2023-24 alone, almost $6 billion flowed from the Commonwealth to local government, supporting local jobs, local infrastructure, and local services every single day. We have doubled funding for Roads to Recovery to $4.4 billion over five years, ensuring councils can continue to maintain and upgrade the roads their communities depend on.

We are investing in enabling infrastructure through the $2 billion Local Infrastructure Fund. We are supporting safer roads, active transport, and growing communities through long-term, predictable funding streams. And, critically, we are listening.

By restoring the Australian Council of Local Government, we have ensured councils once again have a seat at the table. Respect for local government is not just about words; it is about partnership. This motion points to individual programs and funding lines, but it ignores the bigger picture.

Overall investment in local government is increasing substantially. Financial assistance grants alone are growing at more than 2½ times the rate seen under the coalition, and they are projected to exceed $4 billion annually by the end of the decade, providing the certainty councils need to plan, invest, and deliver. As someone who has sat in the mayor's chair for many years, I can say this with certainty: what councils value most is stability, respect, and a genuine partnership with the Commonwealth.

That is exactly what this government is delivering. So yes, local government matters. But, if we are serious about backing councils, then we must also be honest about the record.

Under the coalition, funding was cut and councils were left behind. Under Labor, funding is growing, engagement has been restored, and communities are seeing the benefit. For those reasons, I oppose this motion.