COUNCIL MOTIONS GAIN TRACTION AT 2025 NATIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Published on 30 June 2025

Glen Innes Severn Council has represented the region on the national stage, joining more than 1,200 delegates at the 2025 Australian Local Government Assembly (NGA) in Canberra last week.

Council was proud to have four motions accepted for debate at the Assembly, focusing on regional priorities critical to the community.

Two of the motions, calling for an increase to Financial Assistance Grants and for greater Federal support to deliver housing in the regions, were successfully carried.

Mayor Margot Davis said, “These outcomes are a strong endorsement of the issues we raised and a clear sign that regional councils are united in the call for more equitable funding and practical solutions to the housing crisis. We’re proud to have helped drive that conversation forward.”

The Mayor, Deputy Mayor and General Manager also met with Senator Tim Ayres, Minister for Industry and Innovation, and Science, who spent part of his early life in Glen Innes. Senator Ayres was briefed on key local projects, the region’s economic outlook and ongoing challenges in delivering services to a dispersed rural population.

“Our meeting with Senator Ayres was a valuable opportunity to put Glen Innes Severn on the radar,” Mayor Davis said. “He was genuinely interested in our projects and the potential they hold for local growth and innovation,” Cr Davis said.

A third motion—supporting the Sustainable Energy Association of Australia’s Biochar project—was not debated due to time constraints but will be reviewed by the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) Board.

The fourth motion, which sought additional Federal funding for essential community and social services, was not passed.

“This was a bold and ambitious ask, but one we felt was necessary to highlight the real funding needs of rural and regional communities,” said Cr Davis. “We received positive feedback from ALGA Board members on the intent, and while it may have been seen as too ambitious in the current financial climate, the conversation has started—and we’ll continue to push for fairer, more responsive funding models that reflect the reality on the ground.”

The NGA, hosted annually in Canberra, is the largest gathering of local government leaders in the country and a key platform for councils to influence national policy.

“By contributing to national discussions, we’re not only advocating for Glen Innes Severn—we’re helping to shape a better future for rural and regional communities across Australia,” Cr Davis said.

Read our previous media release on this topic: COUNCIL RAISES FOUR KEY MOTIONS TO LARGEST NATIONAL GATHERING

Image: General Manager Bernard Smith, Deputy Mayor Carol Sparks, Mayor Margot Davis, Senator Tim Ayres

Media Enquiries: (02) 6730 2314 | media@gisc.nsw.gov.au