Community & Business
1 September, 2026
PM speaks to the Leaders of NSW Country Councils
Australia’s Prime Minister, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP attended the Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) dinner in Sydney last Thursday night (August 27).
The Prime Minister was the Keynote speaker at the event and Members were pleased to hear his recognition of the financial constraints many councils across Australia face and his commitment to the recent resolution passed at the National Labor Conference to implement the Federation Compact.
“Mr Albanese spoke of the infrastructure funding announced in the Federal Budget and assured agricultural communities reliant on seasonal labour, that the Government is going to monitor the working holiday visa program and ensure it meets employer demand. There was some disappointed that the controversial water buyback issue was not covered,” said Mayor Firman. “The Prime Minister also indicated the Federation Compact was being teased out with State & Territory Local Government Associations. We need to continue to remind our Prime Minister, the Government as well as Opposition and Cross Benches that financial sustainability of Local Government is the number one issue for us, and we need their urgent help’.
“The Board, Members, Staff and I greatly appreciate that our Prime Minister took the time to address our function and join us for dinner. The vast majority of our CMA Members ensure party politics is left out of Local Government – it’s about our communities. The night cemented the NSW CMA as a significant representative of rural, remote and regional Councils, on both a State and National level,” Mayor Firman said.
NSW Local Government Minister, The Hon Ron Hoenig MP and Shadow Local Government Minister Mr Tim James MP, LGNSW President Mayor Darcy Byrne and CMA Chairman, Mayor Rick Firman OAM also addressed the 150 rural, remote and regional NSW Council leaders at the gala event.
“It was heartwarming to see our Prime Minister visibly moved when Parkes Shire Mayor Neil Westcott, played guitar and sang captivatingly stirring renditions of ‘Advance Australia Fair’ and ‘And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda’. The roof nearly came off the building when we all joined with Mayor Westcott and sang our National Anthem together. That’s a moment our CMA Family and our Prime Minister will remember warmly,” Mayor Firman added.
