Murrindindi strengthens advocacy efforts at National General Assembly
Published on 10 July 2026
Murrindindi Shire Council has returned from the Australian Local Government Association National General Assembly 2026 having delivered one of its most significant advocacy programs in recent years, taking the experiences, challenges and aspirations of Murrindindi communities directly to national decision-makers and helping shape the national conversation on disaster recovery and resilience.
Mayor Damien Gallagher and Chief Executive Officer Livia Bonazzi represented the municipality in Canberra, meeting with senior Commonwealth representatives, participating in national policy discussions and working alongside neighbouring Strathbogie Shire Council to advocate for fairer recovery outcomes for regional communities affected by the January 2026 bushfires.
Council successfully presented two motions to the National General Assembly, with both receiving unanimous support from local governments across Australia. The motions focused on the growing impacts of disaster management fatigue on councils, volunteers and communities, and the need for more sustainable approaches to emergency recovery and resilience.
The delegation's advocacy focused on ensuring recovery support reflects the true scale of impact experienced by regional communities, improving telecommunications resilience, strengthening mental health support, addressing critical infrastructure challenges and securing long-term policy reform that reduces recovery burden on councils, volunteers and communities.
Mayor Gallagher said Murrindindi used every opportunity to advocate for the community and share the region's experiences following the devastating 2026 bushfires.
"In a crowded landscape of councils seeking support, Murrindindi ensured our community's story was heard at every opportunity," Cr Gallagher said.
" Our role was to ensure that the voices of affected residents, businesses, farmers and volunteers were heard by the people who influence national policy and funding decisions. We cannot expect our community's challenges to be understood if we are not prepared to take that story directly to Canberra."
During the conference, Council representatives met with the offices of key Federal Ministers to discuss a range of issues affecting Murrindindi, including disaster recovery funding, telecommunications resilience, regional mental health support and infrastructure challenges.
Discussions highlighted the need for stronger and more resilient telecommunications networks, including redundant connections and improved backup power arrangements to support communities during emergencies.
Council also reinforced concerns regarding the pace and proportionality of bushfire recovery funding and advocated for additional mental health support for communities experiencing ongoing recovery impacts.
The delegation also met directly with Her Excellency the Honourable Ms. Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of Australia, to discuss the realities of recovery in Murrindindi and Strathbogie, the extraordinary contribution of local volunteers and the ongoing challenges facing communities six months after the fires. Following the meeting, Council provided a formal recovery update and advocacy briefing to support continued engagement through relevant government channels.
A key theme of the visit was the strength of regional collaboration. Murrindindi and Strathbogie worked closely throughout the program, presenting a united case for communities affected by the January bushfires and demonstrating the value of neighbouring councils working together to advocate for shared regional priorities.
Cr Gallagher said the conference demonstrated the importance of building relationships and ensuring regional voices remain part of national conversations.
"Advocacy is most effective when it is built on strong relationships. Every interaction creates another opportunity to progress outcomes for our community," he said.
"While the formal sessions are important, the conversations between meetings are equally valuable. They allow us to learn from other councils, share our own experiences and better align our priorities with Commonwealth programs and initiatives."
Council also joined other local governments in supporting measures that would remove barriers to delivering key worker housing in regional communities, including calls to ensure councils are not disadvantaged through windfall gains taxation when rezoning land to address housing shortages.
Chief Executive Officer Livia Bonazzi said the visit highlighted the importance of local government having a strong and credible voice in national discussions.
"Good advocacy is about more than asking for funding. It is about building understanding, providing evidence and making sure the realities faced by rural communities are reflected in government policy and decision-making."
The National General Assembly provided an important platform to elevate Murrindindi's voice, build influential relationships and position the Shire strongly for future funding, policy reform and investment opportunities. Council will continue pursuing the advocacy priorities raised during the visit and working with all levels of government to secure better outcomes for residents, businesses and communities across Murrindindi.