LOCAL GOVERNMENT — COMMON-USE SERVICES
16. Hon CHARLES SMITH to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Local Government:
I refer to the Western Australian
Local Government Association providing common-use services to local
governments.
(1) Why does
the minister allow WALGA to provide common-use services and receive a commission
when common-use contracts might be better provided by the Department of
Finance?
(2) Considering
the financial pressure on ratepayers, why is the state government allowing
local governments to opt to pay for a service from WALGA that could be better
provided at little or no cost by the existing institutions of the state?
(3) Does the minister support this blatant rent-seeking by
WALGA at the expense of the ratepayers?
Hon SUE ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(3) The
Local Government Act 1995 establishes local governments as independent bodies
with the legislative authority to make decisions believed to be in the best
interests of the local government's community, including ratepayers.
WALGA's services are one option available for local governments. The
Local Government Act 1995 is also currently under review and procurement is
included in the review. Submissions are due by 31 March 2019.