New MAV taskforce dedicated to designing a future-fit local government sector

The MAV today announced the formation of its 'Future is Local' Taskforce to co-design a sector-wide response to major forces of change rapidly reshaping the landscape of local government.

The establishment of the Taskforce follows the publication of MAV's The Future is Local Report (PDF - 5.4MB), which identifies key forces of change for the local government sector:

• New extremes of climate volatility – pricing in future risk and joining the dots between spatial, health and climate planning to support community resilience.
• Democratic shifts, peaks and cliffs – planning for rapid and uneven population growth, an aging population, lower birth rates, skills shortages and other shifts.
• The proliferation of digital technologies – harnessing the right governance, skills and collaboration to ensure local government is tech-enabled not tech-led.
• Social instability and fragmentation – fortifying active citizenship and combatting rising polarisation linked to misinformation and disinformation.
• Infrastructure resilience and risk – moving beyond 'building back better' to building to withstand increasingly frequent natural disasters and supporting the energy transition.

MAV CEO Kelly Grigsby said in our fast-changing world, councils have the capacity to be both aspirational and pragmatic leaders as our communities navigate the challenges and opportunities of the future.

“The taskforce is about bringing optimistic scenarios to life and finding the most powerful opportunities to support councils and communities through shared interventions, mitigations and solutions that allow councils and communities to shape the future – rather than be shaped by it," Ms Grigsby said.

The Future is Local Taskforce builds on the MAV's existing partnerships with councils, academics, industry, and other levels of government that are already delivering innovative programs and initiatives to respond to each of these challenge areas.

“The work of the Taskforce will consider international benchmarking and create a framework for action to maximise our impact, building a shared vision for the sector and galvanising support from thought leaders from both within and outside the sector.

Financial sustainability – the overarching and urgent force of change

The MAV’s recent submission to the Parliamentary Enquiry on Local Government Sustainability outlines the financial sustainability challenges underpinning councils’ ability to tackle the challenges of the future.

It paints a stark picture of councils increasingly reporting underlying deficits, reductions in unrestricted cash and working capital, and deteriorating asset renewal rates.

“When we consider the macro forces of change impacting councils and communities alongside the immediate and escalating challenges in financial sustainability for the sector, it is clear that we must act collectively and decisively – not only to respond but to anticipate and innovate,” Ms Grigsby said.

“The Australian system of government is built on an assumption of revenue sharing from higher levels of government to more localised ones. In reality, this has eroded over time and been exacerbated by cost shifting, with communities ultimately bearing the cost.

“This is the overarching and urgent force of change that is constraining our ability to support thriving, resilient and inclusive communities and making the work of this taskforce all the more urgent,” explained Ms Grigsby.

Introducing The Future is Local Taskforce

The Taskforce comprises a diverse group of experts from within and outside the local government sector working in partnership with a group of CEOs representing rural, regional and metro councils across the state.

Founding members of the Taskforce include:

• Tahlia Azaria, Executive Director, Young Mayors at the Foundation for Young Australians
• Peter Bean, Chief Executive Officer, Kingston City Council
• Sally Capp AO, Former Lord Mayor of Melbourne and CEO of Create Advisory
• Chris Carroll, Chief Executive Officer, Port Phillip City Council
• Elaine Chia, Chief Executive Officer, Naomi Milgrom Foundation
• Andrew Day, Chief Executive Officer, Manningham City Council
• Dr Andi Diamond, Chief Executive Officer, Monash City Council
• Dale Dickson, Chief Executive Officer, City of Stonnington
• Bruce Dobson, Chief Executive Officer, Knox City Council
• Celia Haddock, Chief Executive Officer, Maribyrnong City Council
• Professor Dan Hill, Director Melbourne School of Design, University of Melbourne
• Jane-Frances Kelly, Strategic Policy Consultant
• Chris Kotur AM, Principal Kotur Consulting
• Fiona Le Gassick, Chief Executive Officer, Greater Shepparton Council
• Rebecca McKenzie, Independent consultant to the local government sector
• Travers McLeod, Executive Director, Brotherhood of St Lawrence
• Terry Moran AC, Former Chancellor Federation University
• Margaret O’Rourke OAM, La Trobe University, Head of Campus – Bendigo and former Mayor City of Greater Bendigo
• Geoff Rollinson, Chief Executive Officer, Gannawarra Shire Council
• Professor Naomi Stead, ADVCE College of Design and Social Context, RMIT University
• Marcus Spiller, Principal and Partner, SGS Economics & Planning
• Jacqui Weatherill, Chief Executive Officer, City of Greater Dandenong.

“I’m excited to work with such a diverse group of talented experts on The Future is Local Taskforce to build the future-fitness of our sector. The challenges we face now are global in scale but they require strong local leadership and solutions will require collaboration both within and beyond the sector,” said Ms Grigsby.

The work of the Taskforce will be on the agenda at the MAV’s The Future is Local Conference to be held on 9 October.
Conference tickets are on sale now

For more information:
MEDIA: Sean Rogasch: 0497 808 421 | srogasch@mav.asn.au
WEBSITE: www.mav.asn.au/news-resources/campaigns/the-future-is-local