The figures don’t lie, Paul, councils are value for money

YOUR columnist, Paul Murray

(GCB, 30/6/18), rhetorically asked readers if they felt they get value from local government.

It is worth noting that Queensland’s 77 councils manage approximately $110 billion worth of infrastructure and spend up to $3 billion a year on capital works on behalf of their communities.

Consider also that, across the nation, councils collect, through their rates and charges, just 3 per cent of all public taxation revenue generated in Australia – with the other 97% going to Federal (82%) and State (15%) governments. Yet councils are obliged to manage 25% of all public infrastructure. It is pretty clear where communities are getting better value for money – through their local government.

The uninformed posturing by Mr Murray does nothing to advance public debate in this country. Focussing on job titles is purile behaviour – and let’s face it, the media that he represents, and the private sector, have their fair share of absurd job titles.

Perhaps Mr Murray needs to get out more and experience the realities of serving a community, planning for its future, providing a vast array of services, managing and preserving local environmental assets and pursuing opportunities that will deliver more for residents. That is where government and community connects and where a difference is actually made – not in the rarified atmosphere of the parliaments in any state capital. Or for that matter, the SKY newsroom. MAYOR MARK JAMIESON, PRESIDENT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION OF QLD