End the freeze on financial assistance grants
| 4 April 2017 |
Commonwealth must honour its promise to Wakefield Regional Council community
Wakefield Regional Council has urged the Australian Government to honour its promise to restore indexation to the local government Financial Assistance Grants (FAGs) payments in the upcoming 2017-18 Federal Budget.
Mayor Reid said the funds have played an important role in helping Wakefield Regional Council provide vital services and infrastructure for the community.
“The untied FAGs are an important part of our revenue base, allowing us to provide and maintain Wakefield Regional Council’s local community infrastructure and deliver on capital projects.” Mayor Reid said.
“The Commonwealth’s decision in the 2014 Federal Budget to freeze indexation of this valued funding means Wakefield Regional Council has received a reduced level of FAGs for the past three years, putting a noticeable dent to our budget, in excess of $180,000 and impacting on the services we’re able to provide to our community.”
“The Australian Government committed to restore indexation in this year’s Federal Budget and the Wakefield Regional Council and community will join with other communities in holding them to their promise.
“Politicians in Canberra must restore indexation of FAGs so that Wakefield Regional Council can meet our community's need for services and provide the level and quality of service that they deserve.”
Wakefield Regional Council has joined other councils nationwide on a campaign to ensure the Federal Government honours its promise to restore indexation to FAGs in the 2017-18 Federal Budget.