The Rudd Labor Government today announced the funding allocation for each local council in Australia out of nearly $1.9 billion in financial assistance grants.

This is an increase of over $125 million since last year (2007-08). The funding includes:

• $1.3 billion in general purpose grants;


• $581 million for local road grants; and


• $14.3 million in supplementary local road funding for South Australia.

Around two-thirds of the grants – or $1.3 billion – of the grants will be delivered to rural and regional councils, which deliver jobs and services in local communities.

The 565 councils and shires across Australia will be able to spend these funds on a range of priorities including local roads, parks and pools, libraries, community centres, health and child care services, and water and sewerage services.

The grant allocation is determined independently and is untied so that councils can spend them in accordance with local priorities.

The $1.9 billion is in addition to the $355 million available to local councils this year from the Government’s Roads to Recovery program.

The Government is putting local government at the heart of our nation-building agenda.

Local councils are not only critical to maintaining vibrant local communities but make a vital contribution to the nation’s productivity.

We also understand how important the grants are for rural and regional councils, where these funds can comprise more than half of council revenue.

Grants to individual councils were recommended by state and territory Local Government Grants Commissions, bodies established under state and territory legislation.

Details of each council’s allocation are available at http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/local/assistance