Third time's the charm? Or three strikes and you're out.

We've already rejected Stalinism, sorry local government, at two previous referendums.

If local government is not in the constitution, it shouldn't exist at all.
All their powers and assets should be immediately transferred to the state governments.
The Canberraphobes would then have nothing to fear (but the fear of state dissolutions)

Shockadelic - Third time's the charm? Or three strikes and you're out.

a politicians hunger for power is irrepressible

The use of the term 'Constitutional Recognition of Local Government' is a misnomer. The proposal relates to removing the possible constitutional impediment that may not allow the Federal Government to directly fund local government. This is designed to simply readdress this problem. The proposal this time is completely different to the two previous attempts.

A significant issue confronting our Federation is the current vertical fiscal imbalance where the Federal Government collects approximately some 82% of all taxation, the States 15% and Local Government 3%. If local government is to become sustainable this imbalance must be addressed.

This proposed Constitutional Amendment will move a step along the path of removing any legal barrier to improving this unsustainable situation.

It is also in the States' interest to review this imbalance as well.