Temora Shire Council Backs National Call for Fairer Funding

Temora Shire Council Backs National Call for Fairer Funding

Published on 30 June 2026

Temora Shire Council has joined councils across Australia in backing an unprecedented national call for the Federal Government to restore Commonwealth Financial Assistance Grants to one per cent of Commonwealth taxation revenue.

The call was made last week at the National General Assembly of Local Government in Canberra, where local government associations from every state and territory united alongside unions representing the entire local government workforce to highlight the growing financial pressures facing councils across the country.

Mayor Rick Firman OAM said the national campaign reinforces the financial challenges that councils like Temora Shire are already working hard to address.

"Councils across Australia are all facing the same reality. The cost of delivering infrastructure and essential services continues to increase, while the level of funding available to local government has not kept pace," Mayor Firman said.

"Temora Shire Councillors and Staff are doing everything within our control to improve our long-term financial sustainability. We are reviewing our operations, identifying efficiencies, carefully managing expenditure and having open conversations with our shire community about the challenges we face.

"While we have a responsibility to make difficult decisions locally, we also have a responsibility to continue advocating for a fairer funding model from both the State and Federal Governments."

Mayor Firman said rural, regional and remote councils continue to face unique financial pressures, maintaining extensive road networks and critical community infrastructure across large geographic areas with relatively small ratepayer bases.

"Our shire community expects safe roads, reliable waste services, well-maintained parks and sporting facilities, libraries, swimming pools and many other essential services that contribute to the quality of life we enjoy in Temora Shire.

"These are services rural, regional and remote communities rely on every day, but they cannot continue to be delivered sustainably if funding continues to fall further behind rising costs."

The national campaign calls for an immediate increase of $3.5 billion in Commonwealth Financial Assistance Grants, restoring the program to one per cent of Commonwealth taxation revenue. Over the past three decades, these untied grants have declined from one per cent of Commonwealth taxation revenue to around half that level.

Mayor Firman said the campaign complements Council's own financial sustainability work and longstanding advocacy for a fairer funding model.

"Temora Shire Council has been actively supporting the Country Mayors Association of NSW's Invest in Us campaign, which is also calling for Commonwealth Financial Assistance Grants to be restored to one per cent of Commonwealth taxation revenue."

"Our financial sustainability work isn't unique to Temora Shire-it reflects a challenge being experienced by councils right across Australia."

"The message is consistent whether it comes from rural councils, metropolitan councils, local government associations or the workforce that delivers these essential services - councils need a fairer share of funding if we are to continue meeting the needs of our communities."

"Councils are doing everything they can to improve efficiency, plan responsibly and make difficult decisions locally, but lasting financial sustainability also requires governments to work with us."

"Restoring Commonwealth Financial Assistance Grants to one per cent of Commonwealth taxation revenue would give councils greater certainty to invest in infrastructure, maintain essential services and continue supporting the communities we serve," Mayor Firman concluded.

Temora Shire Council will continue to advocate through the Australian Local Government Association, Local Government NSW and the Country Mayors Association of NSW for long-term, sustainable funding that enables councils to continue delivering the essential infrastructure and services their communities depend on.

---ENDS---

Temora Shire Council Media Enquires

Corporate Communications Officer - Elise Hawthorn

E: [email protected]

P: 6980 1127

Related Information

• MEDIA-RELEASE-Temora-Shire-Council-Backs-National-Call-for-Fairer-Funding-for-Local-Government.pdf(PDF, 91KB)

• Media Releases