Budget overlooks councils' financial woes

Was there enough funding to fix 'crumbling' rural roads in federal budget?

Victorian farmers and councils disappointed over inadequate road funding in the federal budget, despite boosts in other areas.

Fed Budget: councils win some, lose some

Image: EtiAmmos/stock.adobe.com  The 2025 Federal Budget has delivered gains and losses for councils in the year ahead, with funding increases to Financial Assistance Grants and Roads to Recovery funding, but no new funding programs to address the financial sustainability emergency in local government.  Starting with the good news, the Budget dedicated an additional $316 million to Australia’s councils, with a $144 million increase in Financial …

Budget overlooks councils' financial woes

The national peak for local government has expressed disappointment that the federal budget failed to address councils’ financial sustainability. “Once again, our councils – which are the most efficient level of government – and communities have been overlooked in the budget with no new programs to address our financial sustainability emergency,” said Matt Burnett – president of the Australian Local Government Association, which represents the c…

No new funding for councils in Federal Budget – Australian Local Government Association

Australia’s councils have been let down with no new local government programs announced in tonight’s 2025-26 Federal Budget. ALGA President Mayor Matt Burnett said a recent Parliamentary inquiry report confirmed many councils were at breaking point, after years of delivering more vital services to communities with less funding. Mayor Burnett said: “Once again, our councils – which are the most efficient level of government – and communities have…