Published on:
Monday, 29 June, 2026_png_1280_300.webp)
Last week, more than 115 WA delegates from across 41 WA Local Governments came together over three days at the Australian Local Government Association’s (ALGA) National General Assembly (NGA).
A WALGA cohort alongside President Mark Irwin AM and Deputy President Chris Antonio headed to Canberra to represent and support Members and their communities
More than 240 motions were debated across a range of important policy areas including emergency management, governance, climate resilience, transport and infrastructure and health.
As ALGA Board Members, President Irwin AM and Deputy President Antonio welcomed the opportunity to meet with national colleagues and the Hon Kristy McBain MP, Federal Minister for Local Government.
In a powerful show of unity, delegates endorsed an emergency motion calling for fairer funding for local government and backed a joint letter to be tabled with every Member of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The letter, signed by the presidents of state and territory local government associations, calls for a multi-partisan commitment to a stronger funding partnership with councils.
“Maintaining untied direct funding through Financial Assistance Grants is critical and ensures Local Governments can direct resources where they are needed most, reflecting their unique conditions and priorities," WALGA President Mark Irwin AM said.
“WALGA will continue to seek ongoing, formula-based and targeted funding for WA Local Governments — delivering the certainty required for long-term planning and enabling Councils to meet the growing and evolving needs of their communities.”
The workshop, held on Monday 22 June, was convened by the Local Government Rural Health Funding Alliance. It brought together over 30 councils from Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia, in person and online, alongside the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA), Local Government NSW, the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), the National Rural Health Alliance and the Rural Doctors Association of Australia.
WALGA President Mark Irwin AM said while primary healthcare was traditionally a State and Federal responsibility, Local Governments were often the ones responding to community needs, with WA Local Government’s spending more than $9.5 million to support GP services in 2024-25 alone.
“Local Government is often told to stay in its lane with rates, roads and rubbish, however Local Governments are now playing a critical role in funding medical centre operations to retain essential healthcare services throughout the State,” President Irwin AM said.
“We are committed to working towards a practical solution, that provides sensible funding and support for Local Governments and their communities.”
A WALGA cohort alongside President Mark Irwin AM and Deputy President Chris Antonio headed to Canberra to represent and support Members and their communities
More than 240 motions were debated across a range of important policy areas including emergency management, governance, climate resilience, transport and infrastructure and health.
As ALGA Board Members, President Irwin AM and Deputy President Antonio welcomed the opportunity to meet with national colleagues and the Hon Kristy McBain MP, Federal Minister for Local Government.
Financial Assistance grants
Australia’s 538 local councils united at the National General Assembly to call on the Australian Parliament to deliver an immediate increase in untied funding, warning the financial sustainability of councils and the services communities rely on are increasingly at risk.In a powerful show of unity, delegates endorsed an emergency motion calling for fairer funding for local government and backed a joint letter to be tabled with every Member of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The letter, signed by the presidents of state and territory local government associations, calls for a multi-partisan commitment to a stronger funding partnership with councils.
“Maintaining untied direct funding through Financial Assistance Grants is critical and ensures Local Governments can direct resources where they are needed most, reflecting their unique conditions and priorities," WALGA President Mark Irwin AM said.
“WALGA will continue to seek ongoing, formula-based and targeted funding for WA Local Governments — delivering the certainty required for long-term planning and enabling Councils to meet the growing and evolving needs of their communities.”
Primary healthcare
Local Governments from across Australia also met in Canberra week to call on the Australian Government to take responsibility for funding the attraction and retention of general practitioners in rural and remote communities, a cost that is increasingly falling on councils and their ratepayers.The workshop, held on Monday 22 June, was convened by the Local Government Rural Health Funding Alliance. It brought together over 30 councils from Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia, in person and online, alongside the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA), Local Government NSW, the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), the National Rural Health Alliance and the Rural Doctors Association of Australia.
WALGA President Mark Irwin AM said while primary healthcare was traditionally a State and Federal responsibility, Local Governments were often the ones responding to community needs, with WA Local Government’s spending more than $9.5 million to support GP services in 2024-25 alone.
“Local Government is often told to stay in its lane with rates, roads and rubbish, however Local Governments are now playing a critical role in funding medical centre operations to retain essential healthcare services throughout the State,” President Irwin AM said.
“We are committed to working towards a practical solution, that provides sensible funding and support for Local Governments and their communities.”
