Local government is admired by people who know about it and often not fully recognised for its strengths by people with little exposure to it. There is something unique in local democracy where councillors from all walks of life strive to improve their communities.

Councils are good at solving problems and managers and staff have the best engagement and implementation skills in the public sector. Because of their autonomy, councils are accountable and innovative. No other part of the state could have taken the fiscal hit meted out since 2010 and yet no other part of the state is so badly treated by government.