Having a way to have a say

As we approach federal and state elections this year we will no doubt hear plenty of reference to the word ‘governance’.

In this context governance is an over-arching term that reflects the processes, structures and directives involved in organising society based on broad and accepted sensibilities.

It sounds a bit ‘heavy’. Perhaps a better way of explaining it might be to say it’s about having rules and directions in place to allow everyone to feel secure and confident they have a fair go – and leaders in place to ensure everyone then follows the rules.

Of course working towards getting formulas as right as possible in governance can be complicated, depending on everything from basic need to diversity in philosophy and people.

This is never more complicated than at federal and state levels where everyone seems to have a different idea about what’s good for everyone overall. This means hitting the perfect governance bullseye that leaves everyone happy is all but impossible.

It is worth remembering that a traditional counter-balance to help communities maintain some say in the heady world of governance, where establishing and presenting a collective community view is possible, is local government.

We have a terrible habit of underestimating this third-tier ‘whipping boy’ level of governance and as a result are often guilty of overlooking its importance – that is until something generates a community response. Local government, especially in regional areas in many cases unlike the higher tiers of government, has little option other than to respond to community sentiment – it is ‘walk down the street’ governance and can’t escape scrutiny and representation.

This is where, in the right circumstances, community solidarity can develop and grow, where a strong level of advocacy to influence higher levels of governance can form.

Some of us might occasionally believe local government is a ‘dead duck’ in Australian governance. Sure, local government these days is another level of State Government, but reality is that it is only as alive and as potent as we want it to be.

How we all vote will be important when we go to the federal and state polls this year. But there is a strong argument we should pay just as much attention, if not more, when we consider local government elections in 2024.