Annual Update 2024-25
Guardians’ foreword
Following the hiatus from the caretaker period, an October State Election, subsequent change of government, and Machinery of Government changes, the Rural and Remote Councils Compact (Compact) has emerged with an elevated position within the State Government.
The signing of a new Compact agreement with Minister Ann Leahy in Blackall in August 2025 was a significant milestone; marking the commitment to meet in a rural or remote location at least once a year. Planning is already underway for another in-region meeting in 2026.
The Compact agreement signed in Blackall included several significant additions to the Compact, such as:
- Deputy Directors-General, as relevant to the priority issues identified by the Guardians, to attend each meeting.
- Roads – with the request to revise the Country Roads Connect guidelines for Round 2 to allocative and non-competitive; and to keep advocating for a fix to the quarries/gravel pits issue.
- Housing and Community Liveability – with the request to get new figures on take up of the Queensland Housing Finance Loan; to advocate for the inclusion of homes needing renovation to be eligible for the First Home Buyers Grant; and, to advocate for localised plans for social housing that takes onboard local knowledge and understanding from the relevant council about location, services available, and appropriateness of vouchers provided to social housing residents.
- Financial Sustainability of local governments.
Importantly, the Compact agreement has been revised to ensure it is solutions-focused, to enable issues to not only be raised, but also addressed in a timely manner as part of an ongoing collaboration. The new agreement also focuses on the need to address unintended consequences to ensure the growth and prosperity of rural and remote communities is not hindered.
The Compact successfully helped lobby, along with the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) and individual councils, for a quarries solution. The State Government announced the section 143 pathway – providing some additional flexibility for councils, while promising the State is working on opening further helpful pathways to councils.
A new topic of health was raised in 2025 by the Guardians – with Cloncurry Mayor Greg Campbell explaining the challenges in coordinating health outcomes in North West Queensland, for example, which is covered by three different Heath and Hospital Services, as well as issues concerning health service delivery arrangements in rural and remote communities. Following this discussion, it was agreed to invite Minister for Health, Hon Tim Nicholls MP to meet with the Guardians.
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Mayor Greg Campbell
Mayor Barry Hughes
Councillor Megan James
Mayor Andrew Martin
Mayor Samantha O'TooleBackground
The new Rural and Remote Councils Compact (Compact), signed on 14 August 2025, emphasises the Queensland Government’s and councils’ commitment to working more effectively together to address the challenges facing rural and remote communities.
The Compact is a sub-agreement to the Equal partners in government agreement, which establishes the key principles in the relationship between the State and local governments and provides a foundation for effective negotiation and meaningful engagement between both levels of governments.
The Compact promotes enhanced engagement with rural and remote councils to ensure the State Government’s legislation, policies and programs take account of the unique circumstances of their communities.
There are 45 Rural and Remote Councils identified by the LGAQ that are captured by the Compact.
The Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers is the lead agency for the implementation and operation of the Compact on behalf of the Queensland Government.
The Compact is overseen on behalf of the LGAQ by five rural and remote based Queensland local government elected members (Compact Guardians). Following the quadrennial council elections held in March 2024, the current Compact Guardians are:
- Councillor Greg Campbell, Mayor, Cloncurry Shire Council
- Councillor Barry Hughes, Mayor, Etheridge Shire Council
- Councillor Megan James, Western Downs Regional Council
- Councillor Andrew Martin, Mayor, Blackall-Tambo Regional Council, and
- Councillor Samantha O’Toole, Mayor, Balonne Shire Council.
Under the Compact, the LGAQ and Compact Guardians have identified the following three strategic priorities for this term:
- roads
- housing and community liveability
- local government sustainability.
Rural and Remote Councils Compact Committee
The Rural and Remote Councils Compact Committee (Compact Committee) is the primary governance structure for the implementation and operation of the Compact.
The Compact Committee brings together senior representatives of the Queensland Government, LGAQ and Compact Guardians. It provides a regular forum to develop solutions to promote the liveability and long-term sustainability of communities.
Committee meeting dates
This term, a reduced number of meetings could be scheduled due to the 2024 quadrennial local government elections and State elections. The Compact Committee met on:
- 18 October 2024
- 10 April 2025.
18 October 2024
The Compact Committee meeting on 18 October 2024 was the inaugural meeting of the renewed term and first meeting for the new Compact Guardians.
The Chair outlined the connection between the newly signed Equal partners in government agreement, the Compact and the Compact Committee, emphasising the importance of ensuring these frameworks remain fit for purpose. The Compact Committee agreed that the Compact and associated Terms of Reference should be reviewed and refreshed in consultation with the LGAQ and Compact Guardians.
The Compact Guardians considered new strategic priorities for the 2024–2028 local government term. While financial sustainability, roads, and housing remain key focus areas, other emerging priorities were considered including health, childcare, water security, and the renewable energy transition.
The topics of roads and transport were discussed, and an update was provided by the Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR) regarding procurement, DTMR’s Road Maintenance Performance Contract, and strategic freight issues.
An overview of the Queensland Housing Finance Loan program was provided to the Compact Committee by the former Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works (DHLGPPW). DHLGPPW also provided an update on the ongoing development and implementation of local housing action plans for each local government area.
The Committee endorsed that the Annual Update 2023-24 be published on the department’s website.
10 April 2025
At the 10 April 2025 Compact Committee meeting, topics were raised across the policy areas of transport infrastructure, regional development social housing, health, flood resilience infrastructure and the Red Tape Reduction Taskforce.
Several roads matters were discussed, and an update was provided to the Compact Committee by the DTMR regarding the new Country Road Connect program, Queensland Transport Roads and Investment Program and Road Maintenance Performance Contracts.
Regional councils’ need for reliable access to quarry materials was another topic of discussion. The LGAQ CEO emphasised the need for streamlined access to quarry materials for both routine and emergency use. Government representatives assured the Guardians that the Government was considering this matter carefully and regional councils would be kept informed.
The Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development advised that they are developing a 25-year blueprint for their portfolio, with local governments identified as key stakeholders.
Two presentations were delivered to the Compact Committee. One presentation concerned new Trunk infrastructure funding opportunities, and the other presentation provided an update on the Local Government red tape reduction taskforce.
The Guardians raised concerns about biosecurity, flood infrastructure and regional health services.
Last updated: 16 Oct 2026