MAYOR LEADS NATIONAL ADVOCACY FOR COUNCIL AS ALL SIX MOTIONS ADOPTED

Published on 26 June 2026

Mayor Margot Davis has successfully led national advocacy for Glen Innes Severn at the 2026 National General Assembly (NGA) of Local Government, with all six motions that Glen Innes Severn Council led or co-sponsored receiving the support of councils from across Australia.

The NGA, convened by the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), is Australia's peak local government policy forum where councils debate issues of national significance and help shape ALGA's advocacy to the Australian Government.

Councillor Davis said securing support for every Glen Innes Severn motion was a significant outcome for the community, ensuring the priorities of Glen Innes Severn are now part of the national local government advocacy agenda.

"One of the most important parts of being Mayor is making sure Glen Innes Severn has a strong voice beyond our local government area," she said.

"Every motion we led or co-sponsored was adopted. That means the issues affecting our community are now being advocated nationally through ALGA on behalf of councils across Australia."

"These weren't abstract policy discussions. They were practical solutions aimed at strengthening Glen Innes Severn and ensuring communities like ours continue to thrive," Cr Davis said.

Fairer Funding That Reflects Regional Reality

Council successfully secured support for a new place-based funding framework that recognises the higher cost and complexity of delivering services across regional, rural and remote communities.

Cr Davis said funding models based largely on population no longer reflected the realities faced by councils like Glen Innes Severn.

"Regional councils maintain extensive road networks, deliver services across large geographic areas and increasingly respond to challenges that simply don't exist in metropolitan areas," she said.

"This motion is about ensuring funding better reflects the realities of communities like Glen Innes Severn so we can continue delivering the services our residents rely on."

Recognising the Growing Role of Local Government in Essential Services

Council also secured support for a new place-based approach to funding essential services, recognising the increasing role councils are playing where market failure or service shortages occur.

The motion acknowledges that councils are increasingly involved in supporting childcare, community transport, health access, disability services, aged care and community wellbeing.

Cr Davis said the motion recognised the reality facing many regional councils.

"When services become difficult to access, local government is often the organisation communities turn to first," she said.

"This motion is about ensuring funding and policy settings keep pace with the expectations increasingly being placed on councils."

Building a Stronger Workforce Through Childcare

Recognising that childcare has become one of the biggest barriers to workforce attraction and retention, Council successfully advocated for stronger national support for the Early Childhood Education and Care workforce.

Cr Davis said solving workforce shortages required more than simply filling vacancies.

"Families need access to childcare if they are going to relocate, remain employed and build their future in communities like Glen Innes Severn," she said.

"Supporting childcare means supporting our businesses, our schools, our health services and our local economy."

Strengthening Regional Healthcare

Council also secured national support for practical measures to strengthen regional healthcare workforce attraction and retention, including improved pathways from locum services to permanent healthcare professionals.

Cr Davis said healthcare remained one of the most important issues facing the Glen Innes Severn community.

"Every community deserves reliable access to healthcare. This motion is about attracting health professionals who choose to build long-term careers and lives in regional communities, providing greater continuity of care for our residents," she said.

Housing That Supports Growth

As a co-sponsor of a national housing and planning motion, Glen Innes Severn also supported reforms aimed at improving housing delivery to support workforce attraction, economic development and sustainable regional growth.

Cr Davis said housing had become one of the biggest constraints on attracting workers.

"Without housing we cannot grow our workforce, attract healthcare professionals, support local businesses or create opportunities for future generations," she said.

"Housing is no longer simply a planning issue, it underpins the future growth and prosperity of our community."

Creating New Regional Industries Through Biochar

One of the more contested motions put forward by Glen Innes Severn Council called on the Australian Government to implement the Australian Biochar Industry 2030 Roadmap and support nationally consistent regulation and markets for organic waste-derived circular-carbon products.

The motion attracted debate during the Assembly, with opposition expressed by delegates aligned with the Greens. Following debate, the motion was adopted with the support of more than 70 per cent of delegates.

Cr Davis said the outcome demonstrated the value of building strong relationships and working collaboratively across councils from all political backgrounds.

"Good advocacy is about building consensus around practical outcomes, not politics," she said.

"I spent considerable time throughout the Assembly speaking with mayors and delegates from across Australia about the opportunities biochar presents for regional communities. It was encouraging to see that support translate into a strong majority vote."

Cr Davis said Glen Innes Severn was well placed to benefit from an emerging biochar industry.

"Biochar presents an exciting opportunity to create regional jobs, reduce waste, improve soil productivity, strengthen agriculture and contribute to emissions reduction," she said.

"These are exactly the kinds of innovative industries that can diversify our economy while building on the strengths of our agricultural sector."

Continuing to Advocate for Glen Innes Severn

Mayor Davis said the successful motions demonstrated that Glen Innes Severn was not simply participating in the national conversation but helping shape it.

"Advocacy doesn't stop when the conference finishes. These motions now form part of ALGA's national advocacy to the Australian Government, but our work doesn't end here. I will continue working with mayors, parliamentarians and governments of all persuasions to ensure the priorities of Glen Innes Severn translate into real outcomes for our community," she said.

"Strong communities don't happen by chance. They are built through good planning, strong partnerships and persistent advocacy. That is exactly what Council will continue to deliver for the people of Glen Innes Severn."

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