Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Thank you to those who submitted feedback.

To: The Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland

The petition of citizens of Queensland draws to the attention of the House the grave inequities which currently exist for Local Governments to deliver services, and in particular the capacity of the North Burnett Regional Council (NBRC) to deliver, what would be considered by a Queenslander, an adequate level of services.

It is the petitioners’ concern in the pursuit of financial sustainability, NBRC will leave an unsustainable community in its wake.

The current financial system which expects councils to balance their costs with revenue earnt from rates, fees, charges, and levies is unfair, unequal, and socially unjust.

The North Burnett community deserves to know within the next 12 months where the future of its region is headed. Residents deserve answers which may define if they choose to continue to live in the area and tolerate inadequate service delivery standards which have resulted in job losses, impacted liveability, and increased levels of risk to the community.

Your petitioners therefore request the House to define and cost an acceptable Queensland standard of service delivery with regards to water, wastewater, roads, and waste and make the financial sustainability of Queensland Local Government a priority.

We also alert the State to one in three Queensland Local Government areas who may share our concerns.

An online petition will be available soon, in the mean time please sign this petition at your local Customer Service Office or contact your local Councillor.

Download a paper copy of the petition here.

Click to download:

• Report of the Local Government Reform Commission Volume 1
• Forecasting long-term sustainability of local government Report 2: 2016–17
• Local Government Reform Commission
• “QLD State schools in Prep to Year 6, are required to offer a water safety and swimming program.” 2020
• Inquiry into the indicators of, and impact of, regional inequality in Australia
• Local Government Audit Report 18/19
• QTC’s Local Government Credit Rating and Outlook Definitions
• NBRC 2019/20 Annual Report
• Creating ‘A Plan for Generations’ | North Burnett Regional Council
• Local Government 2020 Queensland Audit Office

Links to information on the Federal Assistance Grant program:

• Financial Assistance Grant to Local Government (Federal Government Information)
• Queensland Local Government Grants Commission (Local Governments in Queensland receive a Financial Assistance Grant allocation, as determined by the Grants Commission.)
• 2021 Methodology Review (The Commission sets the distribution, of which North Burnett Regional Council are one of 35% of councils that will receive a reduced allocation.)
• Queensland Local Government Grants Commission – Methodology Review Discussion Paper

Ignite your civic duty and help us (Council), help us (Community). Download one of these templates to advocate on behalf of our community to State and Federal Ministers.

• Template Letter to State Education Minister – Pools
• Template Letter to Federal Minister – Federal Assistance Grants
• Template Letter to Deputy Premier

Here are some letters that we have sent to State and Federal ministers:

• Deputy Premier – Support to achieve sustainable community
• Grace Grace MP – North Burnett Water Safety and Swimming Pools
• Mark Coulton MP – Federal Assistance Grants’s to Local Government
• Nikki Boyd MP – Thank you letter from Mayor Chambers

Responses received:

• Response to Cr Chambers from the Hon Grace Grace MP
• Response to Cr Chambers from the Hon Mark Coulton MP
• Response to Cr Chambers from Deputy Premier Steven Miles MP
• Response to Cr Chambers from Assistant Minister Nikki Boyd

Community Questions and Responses – Between a Rock and a Hard Place – August 2021