Local Government

Hansard ID: HANSARD-1323879322-106924

Hansard session: Fifty-Seventh Parliament, First Session (57-1)

Local Government

Mr MARK COURE (Oatley) (15:02:00):

My question is directed to the Minister for Local Government. Can the Minister update the House on how the Government is supporting local councils across New South Wales?

Mrs SHELLEY HANCOCK (South CoastMinister for Local Government) (15:02:15):

— I thank the member for Oatley for his fantastic question and I congratulate him on being the best member that Oatley has ever had, without a doubt. I also congratulate him on the recent birth of his beautiful second baby boy. Like me and many other members of this House, the member for Oatley understands the importance of local government. We all try to develop really good relationships with our councils. Obviously, every council is different because every council has different challenges and issues. I have to say that I am sure that we all support emergency services personnel within our own council boundaries.

Maybe the member for Cessnock does not—I do not know, but I presume he does. That is why last year we all supported legislation, which was the Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment (Firefighters) Bill 2018, in which we looked at ways to set up a well‑funded workers compensation scheme to assist firefighters, whether they be emergency services personnel, from Fire and Rescue or national parks firefighters, to assist them if they developed any one of a list of 12 cancers. In order to fund that workers compensation scheme, the decision was made that it would come through the emergency services levy [ESL]. That levy was set up in 2008 by those opposite—well done. It is a responsibility that we all share in terms of funding the ESL. In 2008—

Mr Clayton Barr:

It wasn't 2008.

Mrs SHELLEY HANCOCK:

Yes, it was, member for Cessnock.

The SPEAKER:

The member for Cessnock will come to order.

Mrs SHELLEY HANCOCK:

The member for Cessnock made a fantastic contribution to the debate on the legislation. What happened then was that, to set up the workers compensation scheme and assist emergency services workers and, in particular, firefighters, there would be an increase in the ESL. Unfortunately, that was bad timing for the Government. Invoices were sent out after the budget had been decided and councils were obviously very concerned about that. With the assistance of the Premier, the Treasurer and, in particular, the Deputy Premier, we advocated that we find a way to fund the first year of the increase in the emergency services levy.

Ms Jodi McKay:

You stuffed up, Shelley.

Mrs SHELLEY HANCOCK:

That is pretty poor language. I do not know whether you accept that, Mr Speaker.

The SPEAKER:

The Leader of the Opposition will come to order.

Mrs SHELLEY HANCOCK:

We decided then that we would pick up the increase in the emergency services levy because local councils were obviously struggling. I am sure that every member of this House who came to me with a concern, or every general manager, now knows that we have picked up that funding increase for the first year. I assure the shadow Minister, the member for Campbelltown, that next year we will look at ways to try to relieve the pressure on local councils whenever we can. As a government, we want to make sure that our local councils continue to thrive, succeed and contribute to this State, as we contribute to their wellbeing.

Mr Greg Warren:

Point of order: I refer to Standing Order 130.

The SPEAKER:

What is the substance of the member's point of order?

Mr Greg Warren:

The Minister clearly wants to debate the FESL and the imposition that her Government has put on the 128 councils across this State.

The SPEAKER:

I am satisfied that the Minister may continue.

Mrs SHELLEY HANCOCK:

I thank the member for Campbelltown for his erudite comments. I do not want to debate this issue; I want to inform the House what steps the Government has taken to relieve the pressure on local councils—and I thought he would be interested. He is travelling the State, meeting with various councils. I praise him for doing a great job travelling—not announcing any particular policies. I look forward to him meeting with me perhaps to talk about what solutions we might have.

Mr Greg Warren:

Point of order—

The SPEAKER:

The Clerk will stop the clock. This had better be good.

Mr Greg Warren:

I refer to Standing Order 59. I am very happy to meet with the Minister when she becomes relevant, but the reality is the imposition that she has put on councils has had a serious effect. If she wants to meet with me she can explain how her Government is having a band-aid effect—

The SPEAKER:

The member is not speaking to the standing order he has raised.

Mr Greg Warren:

—and making councils pay for her incompetence—

The SPEAKER:

That is enough.

Mr Greg Warren:

—and the Government's inability.

The SPEAKER:

Order! The member for Campbelltown will resume his seat. I place the member for Campbelltown on three calls to order. That was a total abuse of the standing orders. If he makes another comment like that he will be removed from the Chamber.

Mrs SHELLEY HANCOCK:Extension of time

I will refer to some of the positive comments by stakeholders throughout the State about the Government's decision. []

The chair of Namoi Unlimited and Mayor of Gunnedah, James Chaffey—whom many members will know—stated:

… this outcome truly reflects your willingness to engage, listen and act according to the needs of local councils that rely on your strong leadership, especially rural councils during this time of continuous drought. Your investment of $13.6 million will greatly assist in easing the pressure on councils this financial year.

Local Government NSW President Councillor Linda Scott, whom many members opposite will know very well, welcomed the Government's funding announcement, and said:

Local government strongly supports fairer workers' compensation for paid and volunteer firefighters. In many areas, especially in regional NSW, mayors, councillors and council staff are the core volunteers that make up our State's rural fire brigades.

The Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia President stated:

We are really appreciative to you and the NSW Government for listening and responding so positively to the concerns of councils …

They are just some of the comments that I have received not only from stakeholders but also local councils almost daily. They are managing, and attempting to manage, their budgets; we need to help them. The 65 staff of the Office of Local Government in Nowra continually reach out to our rural and regional councils offering good advice. Their jobs are intact. In contrast to some of the comments from those opposite that the Office of Local Government does not exist, it certainly exists in Nowra. I thank sincerely those members who come to me with representatives from their local councils. I have named many today. The member for Miranda came to see me today with the Sutherland Shire Council general manager and the mayor. It is a fantastic council doing wonderful things—particularly in the companion animals space, where it is a leader. I congratulate the council officers and the member for Miranda on having a really good discussion about what the council is doing. My door is always open to members who want to talk to me about issues and challenges facing their councils.