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

地方政府通过提供受地方民主监督的基本服务，在几乎所有澳大利亚人的生活中发挥着核心作用。因此，它的顺利运行对国家利益至关重要。然而，许多地方当局财政拮据，服务减少，重要基础设施恶化。为解决这些问题，采取了各种地方治理的替代模式，其中往往涉及资源共享和区域联盟。不幸的是，几乎没有任何学术努力投入到这一领域。该项目旨在通过确定这些模式，评估其潜力，并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.