Sustainable State Government Free Governance for the 21^st Century

Clr. Terry Fogarty

Immediate-past Deputy Mayor, Willoughby City Council

Director, Northern Regional Organisation of Councils (NSCROC)

15^th October 2005

12th Shed a Tier Congress

Tumbi Umbi, NSW Central Coast

Before addressing you today I would like to point out that the views I am expressing are mine and mine alone. In no way are these views to be taken as representative of either the views of Willoughby Council or other member Councils of NSROC.

I am not, and never have been, a member of a political party. The only property I own is my family home.

In many ways I feel that by advocating for change I follow a long family tradition. Many of my paternal ancestors have a proud history of speaking out on behalf of their local communities. Patrick Fogarty, was transported as a convict to Australia in 1828 for the crime of `coining'. However, my family history research indicates that he was likely a political activist advocating relief from foreign rule. Morgan Power, transported in 1798 was present at both Vinegar Hill uprisings. James Gormly served the people of NSW for over forty years: first as the Mayor of Wagga Wagga then as the member for Riverina and in the NSW Upper House. He was `protectionist' and founded a political party that was the fore-runner of the Country Party in NSW.

I will have represented my local community for over twenty years, fourteen of these as a Willoughby City Councillor.

In my opinion, over the past twenty years, various NSW State Governments have lost the plot. There has been a distinct lack of planning in NSW, now evidenced by the rash of crazy decisions by Government in the face of impending infrastructure crisis. The health and hospital systems are in disarray. The trains never run on time and there are less of them. Buses fail to stop to pickup. We are running out of water. We face massive blackouts in summer. Our traffic is unsustainable and we are creating high rise cities which lack adequate open space.

The fact of the matter is that local communities are left to carry the can in the light of Government inaction or waste. Local Councils are experiencing an ever increasing demand for community services. We have had to start looking a local and regional transport initiatives. Regional solutions for sports. Affordable housing. Protecting our local schools from sell-off and decay. Funding police station and railway interchanges by unpaid S94 funds and providing development funding for infrastructure.

Local communities value local representation. Local government is the sphere of government closest to the people. By and large, much of local government is apolitical. When it comes down to deciding the best outcome for a local communities Councillors typically will place their political allegiance behind that of their local constituents. Councillors sit on School Councils, Community Boards. They organise and support community events and support. They will come visit you if you have a problem. The `local alderman' is likely the first point of call for most people - irrespective of what the problem or issue is.

State Member shave lost the respect and trust of most of the community. They have few sitting days. Regular overseas junkets. Retire to become consultants to the rich and famous. To take on lucrative paying Commercial Board Directorships or expect to get an overseas posting as part of the `jobs for the boys' network.

“Aldermen' represent `value for money' for local communities. Each State Member costs us about $500,000 per annum. A Councillor on the other hand costs on average about $10,000 per annum. Plus why duplicate?

The majority of State Departments are in fact already regionally organised: Education, Police, Health and Hospitals, Local Government (ROCs), tourism, agriculture and many others.

The Federal Government collects funds centrally. Runs into all sorts of difficulties in attempting to distribute these funds equitably to the State. The State's receive the funds then distribute them regionally. At the same time, the Feds also distribute some funds direct to local government (because the State's failure in funding). As well, Local Government is left to attempt to make up any funding shortfall. This pattern is becoming endemic with Local Government being asked to fund an increasing percentage of community services even though their ability to raise funds is capped.

Regional Organisations of Councils can offer a more sensible solution. ROCs have been around for years and cover most of the State. There is no structural reason why ROCs cannot better deliver where State Government has failed - they already match the regional services delivery infrastructure.

In the New Millennium, not evolve to a model which could retain a small regional House of Review and sub-regional ROC Conferences comprising elected local representatives.

Think about it. One election every four years providing `grass-roots' representation and singular accountability.

The benefits of such a model are enormous: true government of the people, by the people, for the people; costs reduced to one third; there can still be NSW Sporting Teams and we provide an synergistic environment for services delivery with minimal structural change.

How they stack up!

Currently there are around 100 State Politicians. They cost us, the people of NSW between $25 - $50 million per annum. That's about $500,000 (a half million) for each pollie. In comparison the current 1,500-odd Councillors cost around $10,000 per annum.

That's a BIG difference.

In our proposed 2-tier model. We start with local representatives. Community minded individuals, close to the communities they represent.

I don't want to get into a debate at this point of city vs country representation. If we assume a state population of around 6 million, we know that the vast majority will be living in cities. So let me speak from my first hand knowledge.

A local urban Councillor, in my opinion, can intimately know and understand an area likely to house between maybe 5,000 people in country areas and 10,000 folk in urban areas. That equates to around 800 local representatives costing about $6 Million p.a.

There are around twenty regions in NSW. One House of Review representative per region at say $250,000 p.a equates to a $5 million budget.

However, here's where the big savings come. Each ROC consists on average of around six sub-regional communities. Let's have the Mayor and Deputy of each of these regions to come together in Conference. That's around 240 delegates (compared to the 100 State Members) but with a $50,000 p.a allowance that will cost us $12 million.

All up $25 million per annum - saving over $40 million compared to the current model.

But heck, let's not get caught up with the finances. The real value is in the quality and commitment of the representation - priceless!

The quadruple bottom line

The proposed community-based governance model provides significant advantages over the current State-based system.

From an economic perspective it provides opportunities for significant annual savings of the order of $40 million.

From an environmental perspective it is based on community-stewardship and management of local places.

From a social perspective it empowers local communities to take ownership and commitment of the provision of local services.

Community governance IS the future for Australia.

We know it is right for us, now we just need to work out how to get there.