In his address to the Australian Local Government Association’s conference today, Bill Shorten told local mayors and councillors that Labor wants to hear their ideas on local infrastructure projects.  

Labor values local government.

Local governments deserve respect and certainty from Canberra – and they deserve to be heard.

The people who know what’s best for the suburbs and regional town of Australia are in local communities, not in Canberra.

Our Shadow Minister for local government, Stephen Jones, has set a goal of meeting with every local council in Australia before the next election.

Labor’s commitment to hear from every local council is already paying dividends for communities.

Labor’s consultations with locals in Rockhampton led us to announce that a Shorten Labor Government would invest $25 million to build the South Rockhampton Flood Levee to better protect homes and businesses from devastating flood waters.

After hearing from people in Nowra about their local infrastructure needs, Labor committed $50 million for a new bridge over the Shoalhaven river to help tackle traffic congestion.  

Today, Labor is asking local councils to advise Labor on their top three local infrastructure projects that:

• Create jobs and boost productivity;
• Ease congestion and help local businesses; and
• Improve local amenity and sense of community.

We’re not waiting for government to hear your ideas – we want to hear from the local experts right now.

We want your ideas now so that a Shorten Labor Government can start delivering better infrastructure and more jobs for local communities from day one.

Local councils are encouraged to send their best ideas to [email protected].

TUESDAY, 20 JUNE 2017