Craig Laundy (Reid, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This week in Canberra we have been joined by local government councillors from across the country as they attended the Australian Local Government Association conference. I am proud to a part of a government that recognises the important role that local government plays in our community and I am delighted that a number of measures announced in the budget reflect this.

In 2015-16 we are giving councils around the nation $700 million to spend on local projects under the $2.1 billion Roads to Recovery Program. The $500 million Black Spot Program will also deliver important road safety upgrades to my electorate of Reid—

An honourable member: And Lyne.

and Lyne. And we will continue to support local government through the Financial Assistance Grant program, which will provide an estimated $9.45 billion to all councils across the forward estimates. These funds will be untied, so many local councils can decide where best to spend the money.

I pay tribute to all the councillors from across my electorate, from all sides of politics, who do such outstanding work. You will forgive me, however, if I make particular reference to those who sit on my side of the fence: Mayors Ronney Oueik and Gulian Vaccari, from Auburn and Strathfield, and Councillors Ned Attie, Steve Yang, Michael Megna, Mirjana Cestar, Helen McCaffrey, Tanveer Ahmed, Sang Ok, Stephanie Kokkolis, Tony Doueihi, Justin Taunton, Julie Passas, Vittoria Raciti, Max Raiola and Adriano Raiola. Thank you all for the great work you do. It was a privilege to have you here this week, and I look forward to seeing you back in the electorate sometime soon.