This week is NSW Local Government Week. It is an opportunity to recognise the significance of local government and the important contribution local government workers make to our community.

“I want to thank local council workers for all their hard work, and this week is a chance to acknowledge the contribution they make to our community every single day,” Meryl Swanson said.

“The workers from Port Stephens, Cessnock and Maitland Councils are providing essential services to our community. They will also play an important role in rebuilding our economy brick by brick, street by street and job by job.”

In responding to the COVID pandemic, local government is perfectly placed to create local jobs – fixing roads and building local infrastructure – but they need support from the Federal Government to do that.

Instead we have seen the Federal Government denying JobKeeper to local government workers. Local councils have also been locked out of National Cabinet despite being a member of COAG since its establishment.