Western Australian Local Government Minister David Templeman.
The new Local Government Minister for Western Australia, David Templeman has received the welcome mat from the local government sector after securing the position on the new state government’s front bench.
Mr Templeman’s new role has come following the Labor Party’s historic victory the week before, which ousted the Colin Barnett government, which left a legacy of unpopular amalgamations in the Perth metropolitan area.
Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) President Lynne Craigie said she was pleased to see Mr Templeman appointed as Minister for Local Government, and she looked forward to working closely with him across the sector’s portfolio.
“Minister Templeman has committed to establishing a quality relationship with the sector framed within an environment of mutual respect, honesty and trust including the establishment of a Partnership Agreement between the spheres of government,” Ms Craigie said.
She said a Partnership Agreement will set an agenda for business between the two sectors and helps to establish time frames and processes for achieving common goals.
“The agreement is critical to establishing a joint approach to our shared responsibilities and is something we’ve been requesting since the previous agreement lapsed in 2006,” Ms Craigie said.
She said Mr Templeman’s background as a Deputy Mayor at the City of Mandurah and previous role as Shadow Minister meant he was familiar with the sector and the challenges it faced.
“Minister Templeman has spent a lot of time with our members and has been exposed to many of the issues and challenges we’re experiencing,” she said.
“I congratulate him on the appointment and am looking forward to working together across the many areas in which Local Government contributes to the amenity and wellbeing of local communities.”
Ms Craigie thanked both Tony Simpson and Paul Miles for their contributions to the sector during their time as Local Government Minister.
