The Council, made up of Lord Mayors and a Minister from all eight States and Territories, has signed-off on an initiative that calls on the Commonwealth to invest in joint programs across five key fronts:
The Council’s Chair, John So, Lord Mayor of Melbourne, said: “This is the first time that Capital City Lord Mayors have come together in a collaborative way to seek an alliance with the Australian Government as partners in national prosperity.
“Australia’s ability to be more competitive, innovative and productive is increasingly dependent on the success of our capital cities. It is not just a question of infrastructure priorities, more money or more secure money flows. Cities need a new working arrangement with the Federal and State governments as national and local priorities converge.
“As a group we feel that Australia needs an overriding capital city policy under which the various tiers of government can work together for the long term. If our capital cities can realise their potential, Australia will prosper.”
The Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore MP, said:
“The fact is, capital cities are the nation’s economic and creative engine rooms, responsible for more than 78 per cent of Australia’s economic growth in the past five years, with 64 per cent of the total population.
“The eight cities already spend $3 billion a year between them to enhance the liveability of our cities. This is a direct investment in linking urban quality of life and global competitiveness.
“It’s important that we all recognise the need to recapitalise our cities to continue to improve competitiveness, social cohesion and environmental sustainability – the staples of a prosperous national future.
“The partnership proposed by the CCCLM is a genuine, sustainable, credible and bankable initiative.”
The CCCLM will present a comprehensive policy to the Federal Government in August.
The CCCLM comprises:
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Rt Hon Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Michael Harbison
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The Rt Hon Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Cr Campbell Newman
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Mr John Hargreaves MLA, ACT Minister for Territory and Municipal Services
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Mr Peter Adamson, Lord Mayor of Darwin
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The Rt Hon Lord Mayor of Hobart, Alderman Rob Valentine
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The Rt Hon Lord Mayor of Melbourne, John So
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The Rt Hon Lord Mayor of Perth, Dr Peter Nattrass
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Cr Clover Moore MP, Lord Mayor of Sydney
SNAPSHOT
The eight Capital Cities are home to:
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64 per cent of the total population
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63 per cent of small, medium and large businesses
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78 per cent of economic growth (2001-06)
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70 per cent of Gross Domestic Product
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66 per cent of total jobs
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70 per cent of total international visits (6 million plus visitors a year)
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$1Trillion in managed funds (the fourth largest in the world)
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$3 billion a year investment by capital city councils
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Administration by capital city councils of more than $25 billion in assets