Councillor Anne Moran wants Adelaide City Council to separate itself from ‘out of touch’ LGA
OUTSPOKEN Adelaide City Councillor Anne Moran has come down heavily on the Local Government Association and wants the City Council to divorce itself from the LGA.
OUTSPOKEN Adelaide City Councillor Anne Moran has accused the Local Government Association of being totally out-of-touch and “divorced” from the struggles of everyday ratepayers.
Cr Moran will call on her council to consider breaking away from the LGA.
She said the public’s perception of councils was at an “all-time low” and not helped by the association’s behaviour”.
Cr Moran said the LGA had failed to protect councils when the State Government stripped back their planning responsibilities and “removed democracy from communities”.
“The conversation has to be had because it has been years since the LGA has been relevant,” Cr Moran, above, said.
“There has been no leadership from the LGA, their budgets have blown out, they are spending it on things like delegations overseas, sister city nonsense.
“It seems the LGA is now caught up in matters very divorced from the everyday problems and struggles of the ratepayer and of little help or support to the average council or councillor.”
Lord Mayor Martin Haese said he disagreed with Cr Moran, saying the council’s involvement with the LGA was “important for many reasons”.
The LGA fought to protect local heritage, hosted economic forums and secured local government representation on government boards.
“In particular, the LGA provides an effective conduit for mayors and councillors to collaborate on a wide range of matters affecting their communities,” Mr Haese said.
The LGA declined to comment.