WQAC LEADERS UNITE IN CHARLEVILLE: Pictured left to right: Cr Tony Rayner, RAPAD Chair and Longreach Mayor, Cr Jack Bawden, NWQROC Chair and Carpentaria Mayor, and Cr Samantha O’Toole, SWQROC Chair and Balonne Mayor.

“Out West Where the Stars are Brightest” was the theme of the 2022 Western Queensland Alliance of Councils (WQAC) Assembly where a record 205 delegates, sponsors, government and industry participants convened at the Charleville Town Hall from Wednesday 9th to Friday 11th March.

Officially opened by the Hon Dr Steven Miles MP, Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning and Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympics Infrastructure, the Deputy Premier congratulated WQAC on its collaborative approach, focused agenda and resolve to tackle the most pressing issues for Western Queensland. In recognition of our efforts, the Deputy Premier announced a partnership agreement with WQAC to financially support the development of Local Housing Action Plans as part of WQAC’s approach to address the housing challenges in Western Queensland.

The predominant focus of the Assembly was the forthcoming Federal Election where participants engaged with the Hon David Littleproud MP, Member for Maranoa, Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia and Deputy Leader of the National Party and Senator the Hon James McGrath, Senator for Queensland, Deputy Government Whip in the Senate on key issues critical to the further development and growth of Western Queensland. Minister Littleproud committed a re-elected Liberal-National Government to the continuation of existing local government funding programs for the regions; the continuation of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program and his desire to obtain veto powers over the granting of new carbon farming projects.

Minister Littleproud committed the National Party to continue pursuing Zonal Taxation Reform and the payment of the HELP debt for graduate doctors and nurses who commit to work in rural and remote Australia. Senator McGrath highlighted the uncertainty and impacts of the current geo-political upheaval in Europe and Russian attacks on Ukraine, which would see increases in the cost of living in Australia.

From a Labor perspective the Hon Catherine King MP, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development committed Labor to work with Councils and assured the Assembly that Western Queensland will not be left behind if elected. She indicated that Labor, when previously in Government, had supported the regions and would do so again. Senator Murray Watt, Shadow Minister for Northern Australia, Shadow Minister for Natural Disaster and Emergency Management, Shadow Minister for Queensland Resources, and Senator for Queensland, congratulated WQAC on its collaborative approach to the identification and advocacy on rural and remote issues. He indicated Labor is committed to fair funding to local government, local government membership of National Cabinet and the re-introduction of the Australian Council of Local Governments.

Senator Watt acknowledged the housing challenges in Western Queensland and spoke to Labor’s commitment to the introduction of a ‘Housing Australia Future Fund’. On digital connectivity, Senator Watt indicated that Labor would take on board WQAC’s Digital Connectivity Blueprint in the development of Labor’s digital connectivity policies. Further, he indicated Labor’s commitment to a Disaster Ready Fund of $200M per year for mitigation and resilience projects.

In the context of election commitments, the Assembly’s keynote speakers, Stephen Koukoulas, Managing Director - Market Economics and economics advisor to former Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Luke Myers, Communications and Engagement Strategist – Articulous Communications, provided advice on influencing the parties prior to the election as well as the Government of the day no matter who was elected. Elevating our pitch and differentiating our message from the multitude of others was key to securing outcomes. Being honest and presenting real facts including the dollar benefit to the region and nation, including jobs, were key elements in a successful pitch. Likewise, being bold, being clear and being consistent would help showcase how Western Queensland can be - “the answer”.

Cr Samantha O’Toole, Mayor of Balonne Shire Council and Chair of SWQROC highlighted in her presentation how WQAC was seeking to present answers through its body of work on housing, digital connectivity, financial sustainability and roads infrastructure. This was followed by a presentation from David Arnold, CEO of RAPAD on WQAC’s draft Federal Election Campaign which, among other things, is calling for a ‘Western Queensland Productivity Partnership’, a new Regional Home Guarantee Scheme, and funding for WQAC’s Digital Connectivity Blueprint.

Segueing to the State and National levels Alison Smith, CEO of the LGAQ spoke in detail about LGAQ and ALGA’s Federal Election Campaigns and the theme of “Don’t Leave Local Communities Behind”.

The Assembly received a presentation from Tony Wood AM, from the Grattan Institute in which he delivered a clear outline of the threats and opportunities for Western Queensland likely to arise from global and national commitments to Net Zero and this was subsequently reinforced in the presentation by Matthew Andrew, General Manager, Queensland Operations from Trade and Investment Queensland.

Attending Mayors and Deputy Mayors representing the 22 Councils of Western Queensland.

Other presentations received by the Assembly included:

New approaches to workforce management in a post pandemic world
Building and investing in community resilience as part of disaster management planning
An overview of the recommendations in the 2021 Regional Telecommunications Review and achieving digital by default for Western Queensland
Insights into the Queensland Government’s new Trade and Investment Strategy including case studies on successful and upcoming business investments in Western Queensland
Progress on addressing the housing challenge through WQAC led initiatives, and
Local community partnerships to address the age care crisis.

The Assembly was also addressed by Dr John Gerrard, Queensland Chief Health Officer who explained how the COVID-19 pandemic had taken us on an unexpected journey.

In recognition of the support received in Western Queensland from metropolitan and coastal councils in times of drought and flood, the Assembly proposed the 22 WQAC councils financially contribute to the Premier’s Flood Appeal for the 22 local government disaster declared areas from the Wide Bay to the South East Queensland corner – “Twenty-two for Twenty-Two!”.

Other key actions endorsed at the Assembly include:

Writing to both the Queensland Premier and Deputy Premier stating WQAC’s support for the revised Financial Assistance Grants allocations resulting from the 2021 Methodology Review, noting however, the decreased allocations to Bulloo Shire Council and Maranoa Regional Council which are unacceptable to these councils.
Writing to the Queensland Local Government Grants Commission seeking the release of the newly adopted methodology as soon as possible given the review’s stated objective of ‘transparency’.
Calling on the major parties contesting the 2022 Federal Election to protect all existing local government grant and subsidy programs recognising the tight fiscal environment over the next term of Government.
Supporting the ALGA campaign to commit to a progressive increase in Financial Assistance Grants to at least one percent of Commonwealth taxation revenue (at least $4.5 billion per year), and an initial injection of additional Financial Assistance Grants funding.
Formally thanking the Deputy Premier for the State Government’s financial support of WQAC’s housing initiatives, and
Calling on the State Government to increase Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDs) funding in the next State Budget to offset the recent losses experienced by some Western Queensland Regional Roads and Transport Groups as a result of the Department of Transport and Main Roads using new local government road length data reported by councils to the Queensland Local Government Grants Commission.

Delegates thanked Murweh Shire Council and Mayor Zoro Radnedge for hosting the Assembly and extending such warm South West Queensland hospitality to all involved, and the generous support of sponsors and exhibitors for the Assembly.

Delegates noted that the actions identified in this Communique will be actioned through the WQAC Leadership Group and where necessary individual councils and form the basis for ongoing advocacy and representation.

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11th March 2022

WQAC2022 Communique