Funding
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CONTARY to suggestions in Rosita Gallasch’s story (The Examiner, February 18), local government is receiving no less in Federal Government funding now than it did under the former Labor Government.
In fact, the three-year freeze on the indexation of Financial Assistance Grants mentioned in the story is more than offset by increases in other federal government funding to councils.
Figures from the Infrastructure and Regional Development Department for the current financial year show local governments across Australia will receive $30 million more than in 2013-14.
Councils in Bass will receive $17.9 million, which is $619,367 more than in the previous financial year.
The average increase across the six councils in Bass is 3.58 per cent, with Dorset Council and West Tamar Council receiving increases above the average.
Councils also know they have access to additional funding under several Government programs including the National Stronger Regions Fund, the Infrastructure Growth Package and Community Development Grants as well as the Bridges Renewal and Black Spot road repair programs.
I have worked hard with councils to promote these opportunities and am advocating strongly to ensure Bass gets its fair share.
I know councils would like more resources and we’d like to give them more. But that can only be achieved if we bring the national accounts into order.
_ ANDREW NIKOLIC, Bass Liberal MHR.