Local government wants to be in National Cabinet back in the room where it happens – ABC Local

The body that represents more than 537 local councils says there has been continuing silence from the Prime Minister's office about whether it can have a role in National Cabinet.

The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) had been part of the cabinet's predecessor, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), for 28 years.

COAG was scrapped in March in favour of the National Cabinet, which was formed to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

ALGA president David O'Loughlin said local government should be in the meetings.

"We're not at all happy that we've been left off the list of people at that table," he said.

"We've only been left with an opportunity to speak once a year to the gathering of first ministers and treasurers."

He said while ALGA is on several councils and takes part in ministerial meetings below the National Cabinet level, many of those forums are under review.

He said the nation's councils had been severely impacted by the pandemic, having lost millions in revenue.

"We haven't been given a good reason why it's happened," he said.

"We do run aged care, primary health and public health offices, so there was certainly a strong interface that would have been helpful."

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Mr O'Loughlin said the councils will be an important part of economic recovery.

"We're exactly the right level of government to be able to run small scale, local, grassroots employment programs, including training programs to get the nation back on its feet," he said.

"Even with programs such as the building grant, wouldn't it be good if local government had known about it so that our planners could be ready for the influx."

The federal minister responsible for local government, Mark Coulton, said local councils would continue to have contact with the upper levels of government.

But he said it was unlikely they would get a seat in National Cabinet.

"National Cabinet is not just a replacement of COAG," he said.

"It's part of the reform process, and the decision not to have local government there was not only made by the Prime Minister but also by the state premiers."

The reform process is expected to be complete by September.

Mr Coulton said he understood the value of local councils in restarting the economy.

"Half a billion dollars went out the door last month to enable them to undertake projects that will stimulate the economies that have been impacted by COVID-19," the minister said.

"During the drought we made two rounds of $1 million each, as well as the bushfires last summer.

"The Federal Government goes to local government to have that ability to focus on local communities and put the assistance where it's needed most."

Councils themselves have voted to continue the push to be included in National Cabinet talks.

Hilltops Council has written to its local MP for the Riverina and the Deputy Prime Minister, Michael McCormack.

The Narromine Shire Council has also resolved to write to several state and federal MPs to express their disappointment that council is not included in National Cabinet.

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Local government wants to be in National Cabinet back in the room where it happens - ABC Local