Ballina Shire Mayor Sharon Cadwallader has joined the growing chorus of regional leaders demanding urgent and sustainable funding commitments from Federal Election candidates.

In her role as Executive Board Member of the Country Mayors Association of NSW Inc. (CMA), Mayor Cadwallader has echoed the concerns raised by the Association’s Chair, Mayor Rick Firman OAM, about the declining financial support for local councils and the alarming lack of response from major political parties.

“Local councils like ours are being asked to do more with less, and quite frankly it’s unsustainable,” Mayor Cadwallader said. “We are delivering essential services, maintaining infrastructure, supporting disaster response, and meeting community expectations with funding that hasn’t kept pace with inflation or responsibilities.”

Commonwealth Financial Assistance Grants, once equating to 1% of federal tax revenue now hover around 0.5%, leaving regional and rural councils struggling to make ends meet. These grants make up over 70% of total revenue, with little room to increase income from rates or other sources.

“The funding model is broken,” Mayor Cadwallader said. “We urgently need a fairer share of national tax revenue to support our local communities. I’m calling on all candidates in the Richmond and Page electorates to publicly commit to restoring Financial Assistance Grants to at least 1% of tax revenue. Our communities deserve better.”

“Ballina Shire, like many regional councils, is being asked to take on responsibilities that were traditionally delivered by state and federal governments,” Mayor Cadwallader said. “Yet the funding isn’t following the function. Enough is enough.”

Mayor Cadwallader also stressed the impact of rate pegging, growing compliance burdens, and cost shifts, particularly in areas like roads, housing, and climate resilience, are hitting councils hard including Ballina Shire Council.

“Local government is the level of government closest to the people. We are best placed to deliver real outcomes, but we need genuine, long-term funding partnerships with the Australian Government to do that,” she said.

She urged residents across the Northern Rivers to demand better from their local candidates. “If your candidate isn’t backing stronger funding for councils, ask them why not and make your vote count for your community.”

For more information about the Country Mayors Association’s advocacy, visit: www.nswcountrymayors.com.au.