ALGA has launched a new campaign website to restore indexation of Financial Assistance Grants (FAGs).  

The website endthefreeze.com allows councils to join ALGA’s campaign by contacting their local Federal MPs via the site.

ALGA President Mayor David O’Loughlin has urged all councils to get behind the campaign.

“We welcomed the indication of a return of FAGs indexation in last year’s Budget outyears. However, to date, our sector has received no firm guarantee that the Government will indeed restore indexation to FAGs in the upcoming 2017-18 Federal Budget,” he says. 

“ALGA’s number one advocacy priority over the next two months is to ensure that the Government honours its commitment to restore indexation to FAGs in this year’s Federal Budget. With Budget preparations and discussions already well underway, now is the time to remind the Commonwealth of its commitments to local government.

“It is important that your council actively engages in supporting ALGA in this national campaign. ALGA can make the national arguments and make the national representations at the Federal level, but nothing gets the attention of politicians, the party room or party leadership better than local stories from the front line of local community governance – you.

“Write, phone or speak up – it's your community and your call.”

The website also has a council advocacy kit – available at endthefreeze.com – that includes templates, background information and talking points to assist councils with their campaigns at the local level to ensure the government keeps its promise to restore indexation to FAGs in this year’s Federal Budget.