Always the Bridesmaid — Constitutional Recognition of Local Government

Despite two failed referenda on the subject, local government bodies have been persistent in their campaign for the constitutional recognition of local government. It is not clear, however, what is really intended to be achieved by constitutional recognition and whether sufficient thought has been given to the potential ramifications of the proposal. This article seeks to place the claim for constitutional recognition of local government in its context, especially with regard to the funding of local government. It critically analyses the current proposals for constitutional recognition of local government and points to the potential unwanted consequences of success.