‘Doing more with less’: plea for fairer funding

The motions, backed at Council’s March 27 meeting, included calling on the Australian Government to restore the Financial Assistance Grant funding program to at least 1 per cent of Commonwealth Taxation revenue.

Local government currently collectively receives about 0.5 of a per cent of taxation revenue. Increasing this to 1 per cent, would result in about $12 million extra per year for our region.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said inadequate funding was an ongoing concern for local governments.

“That’s why we are submitting this motion - to make sure the push for fairer funding stays on the national agenda.’’

Mayor Natoli said the stance also aligned with Council’s 2025 Federal Election Priorities for the Sunshine Coast campaign and the Local Government Association of Queensland’s Don’t Leave us in the ‘70s campaign.

This motion also seeks to reset the payment cycle in the Commonwealth’s budget to deliver a full year’s Financial Assistance Grant in each year, with an additional one-off payment to address the practice of bringing forward payments.

Other motions included a call for expanded financial support for fire ant eradication and suppression and meeting general biosecurity obligations and increased funding for litter management programs that target roadside litter.

The Chief Executive Officer will now forward the approved motions to the Australian Local Government Association for consideration and inclusion in the National General Assembly’s Business Papers.