If you’ve been in local government in much of Australia, in New Zealand or in England over the past few years, you’ve got used to turmoil, and the widely differing views between local government and higher tiers of government about the place of local government, and who should set its objectives.

This paper presents reflections from a number of years of observing and quite often participating in different initiatives for local government reform. Although its title uses the word rethinking, its theme is the need for action on the part of local government.

Its argument is the world which gave us our current government structures, with the subsidiary ‘creature of statute’ place of local government, is now passing. Its belief is if governments at all levels cannot adapt to the new realities, societies will be unable to deal with the challenges they now face. Its conviction is the lead will need to be taken by local government.

This paper covers:

• A brief overview of what’s been happening with local government reform in each of the three jurisdictions of England and Wales, NSW and New Zealand coupled with an explanation of what seems to drive the key difference in perspective between local government and higher tiers of government in each jurisdiction.
•  A discussion of the pressures for change that are now bearing down on all tiers of government and the communities they serve, and the potential consequences if governments and communities cannot adapt.
• A way ahead, positioning local government as potentially the key lead sector in the changes which the societies this paper considers now need to embrace.

Rethinking the Role of Local Government