Alternative Models of Governance for Australian Local Government: Classification, Evaluation and Policy

地方政府在几乎所有澳大利亚人的生活中发挥着核心作用，提供受地方民主监督的基本服务。因此，它的顺利运行对国家利益至关重要。然而，许多地方政府都陷入了严重的财政困境，服务减少，重要的基础设施日益恶化。解决这些问题的办法采用了各种不同的地方治理模式，这些模式往往涉及资源共享和区域联盟。不幸的是，在这一领域几乎没有学术投入。本项目旨在通过识别这些模型、评估其潜力以及促进政策讨论和发展来克服这种忽视。

Local government plays a central role in the lives of almost all Australians by providing essential services subject to local democratic oversight. Its smooth running is thus critical to the national interest. However, many local authorities are in dire financial straits, with services curtailed, and vital infrastructure deteriorating. Various alternative models of local governance, often involving resource sharing and regional alliances, have been adopted as solutions to these problems. Unfortunately, almost no scholarly effort has been invested in this area. This project seeks overcome this neglect by identifying these models, evaluating their potential, and contributing to policy discussion and development.