2004 Federal election
Introduction
The 2004 Federal election is expected to be an important one for the future of local government. Major parties are expected to release policy commitments reflecting their stand on the Fair Share report on local government cost shifting and financing released in November last year.
During the six week campaign, ALGA will monitor, assess and comment on the commitments and policies of the major parties as they affect local government.
On the first day of the formal election period, ALGA released its Blueprint for building better communities. This document calls on the major parties to give commitments to local government on a range of key issues, including local government financing and cost shifting, Constitutional recognition, transport, the environment, regional development and social issues.
ALGA encourages councils to use the Blueprint to lobby federal election candidates standing in their communities. ALGA will press the major parties for commitments on the issues set out in the Blueprint during the course of the campaign.
ALGA will post to this website documents of concern to local government released by major parties and interest groups.
ALGA election material
- Media release: ALGA applauds ALP's integrated transport plan
- Media release: ALGA welcomes Coalition's local government policy
- Media release: Emergency management plan a boost for community safety (30 September 2004)
- Media release: Anderson's commitment to help councils retain GPs welcomed by ALGA (24 September 2004)
- Media release: Coalition's new deal for local roads (15 September 2004)
- Local government feature by Paul Lewer: Give local government a fair go (14 September 2004)
- Report: Blueprint for building better communities (31 August)
- Media release: Major parties urged to focus on needs of local communities (31 August)
- Speech: Local government priorities for the Federal election (1 September)
Blueprint media kit
Party policy statements
Australian Labor Party
- Plan for telecommunications
- National information policy
- Regional arts policy
- Local government policy direction
- Policy on telephone towers
- Regional airport security
[PDF 262Kb] - Creating opportunities for Australian tourism
- Saving the Murray - $1bn plan
- Combating climate change
- $400 million plan to ease the housing crisis
- $50m for safer suburbs and stronger communities
- National information policy
- Opportunities for all Tasmanians
- Opportunity for all in Northern Australia
- Opportunity for all Western Australians
- Other Australian Labor Party policies can be found at:
- http://www.alp.org.au/policy/index.php
Coalition
- Local government policy
- Rural postal/banking services
- Emergency management - $33m to enhance councils capacity
- Sustaining our farm lands
- Investing in stronger regions - $15m to assist rural councils purchase surgeries
- Supporting access to broadband
- Home business deregulation - $50m incentive pool for local government [
PDF] - Bushfire funding [
PDF 92Kb] - Crime policy [
PDF 921Kb] - Transport policy [
PDF 1Mb] - Water policy [
PDF 935Kb] - Water wise communities [
PDF 860Kb] - Indigenous Australians [
PDF 1014Kb] - Supporting Kalgoorlie [
PDF 978Kb] - Supporting the NT [
PDF 995Kb] - Information Technology [
PDF 1017Kb]
- Other Coalition policies can found at:
- http://www.liberal.org.au/default.cfm?action=2004_policy
Australian Democrats
The Greens
- Greens policy on local government (31 August)
Other
Election links
- Australian Electoral Commission – Information Centre
- ABC: Anthony Green’s Federal election pages
- Caretaker period (Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet)
- Parliament of Australia
Contact
Amanda Lynch
Director, Government Relations
Australian Local Government Association
Phone: 02 6122 9434
Email: amanda.lynch@alga.asn.au
