Publications

Books & Publications

Three books, multiple book chapters, peer-reviewed journal articles, working papers and consultancies on Australian local government.

Australian Local Government Economics
Excellence in Governance
Reshaping Australian Local Government
Perspectives on Australian Local Government Reform

Books

Dollery, B. E., Crase, L. and Johnson, A.K. Australian Local Government Economics, Sydney, University of New South Wales Press, 2006, viii + 322.

Australian Local Government Economics is the first book devoted exclusively to the economic dimensions of local government in Australia. The book considers the development of the present crisis in council funding, the consequences of this crisis, and the current place of councils in the broad context of Australian fiscal federalism. It discusses the economic foundations of local government, including fees and charges, property taxation and intergovernmental grants. It also covers many contemporary policy questions: alternative models for local governance, structural reform and amalgamations, scale economies and efficiency measurement, the purchaser–provider split, cost shifting, public-private partnerships, and local economic development.

Johnson, A.K. 2003 ‘Financing Local Government in Australia’, in Dollery, B. E., Marshall, N. A. and Worthington, A. C. (eds.), Reshaping Australian Local Government: Finance, Governance and Reform, UNSW Press, Sydney.

Dr Johnson was invited to contribute a chapter in this 2003 update to the highly cited 1997 book Australian Local Government: Change and Renewal. The 2003 edition is used as the authoritative text on local government in Australia and is taught at university level. The book examines the major changes that took place in Australian local government during the previous decade.

Johnson, A.K. 2015 ‘Intergovernmental Relations Reform: A South Australian Perspective’, in Dollery, B.E. & Tiley, I., Perspectives on Australian Local Government Reform, The Federation Press, Sydney.

Papers & Publications

  • Dollery, B. E., Marshall, N. A., Johnson, A.K. and Witherby, A. “Regional Capacity Building: How Effective is REROC?” Wagga Wagga, Riverina Eastern Regional Organisation of Councils, 2004.
  • Centre for Local Government, “Report on the Proposal for the Creation of Peel Regional Council and Gwydir Shire Council”, UNE Armidale, January 2004.
  • Centre for Local Government, “Report on Local Government Amalgamation encompassing Albury, Hume Corowa, Holbrook and Culcairn Councils”, UNE Armidale, March 2004.
  • Dollery, B. E. and Johnson, A.K. “Enhancing Efficiency in Australian Local Government: An Evaluation of Alternative Models of Municipal Governance”, Urban Policy and Research, 23(1), 73–86, 2005.
  • CPA Australia, Excellence in Governance for Local Government, CPA Australia Melbourne, 2005.
  • Dollery, B. E., Johnson, A.K., Marshall, N. and Witherby, A. “ROCs Governing Frameworks for Sustainable Regional Economic Development: A Case Study”, Sustaining Regions, 4(3), 15–21, 2005.
  • Dollery, B. E., Burns, S. and Johnson, A.K. “Structural Reform in Australian Local Government: The Armidale Dumaresq-Guyra-Uralla-Walcha Strategic Alliance Model”, Sustaining Regions, 5(1), 5–13, 2005.
  • Dollery, B. E. and Johnson, A.K. “Size, Shape and Sustainability: A Report on the Mirani Shire Council”, University of New England, Armidale, 2006.
  • Johnson, A.K. “Unfunded Intergovernmental Mandates in Australia”, PhD Thesis, University of New England, Armidale, 2006.
  • Dollery, B. E. and Johnson, A.K. “RAPAD Report: Sustaining Outback Communities”, University of New England, Armidale, 2007.
  • Dollery, B. E., Johnson, A. and Byrnes, J. “Cost Shifting in Australian Local Government: An Analysis of the Spatial Impact of Pensioner Rate Concession Rebates in New South Wales”, Australian Geographer, 39(4), 467–478, 2008.
  • Dollery, B. E. and Johnson, A.K. “Rising to the Challenge: Reform Options for the Western Suburbs of Perth”, University of New England, Armidale, 2008.
  • Dollery, B. and Johnson, A. “When will they ever learn? The financial implications of water ‘regionalisation’ for non-metropolitan New South Wales local councils”, International Journal of Public Policy, 7(4–5), 301–319, 2011.

Working Papers

  • Dollery, B. E., Johnson, A. and Byrnes, J. “An Assessment of Pensioner Rebates in New South Wales”, Working Paper 03-2007, Centre for Local Government, UNE, 2007.
  • Dollery, B. E., Burns, S. and Johnson, A. “Structural Reform in Australian Local Government: the Armidale Dumaresq-Guyra-Uralla-Walcha Strategic Alliance Model”, UNE Working Paper 2005-2.
  • Dollery, B. E. and Johnson, A. “Enhancing Efficiency in Australian Local Government”, UNE Working Paper 2005-1.
  • Dollery, B. E. and Johnson, A. “An Analysis of the Joint Board or Country Model as the Structural Basis for Effective Australian Local Governance”, UNE Working Paper 2004-13.

Selected Presentations

  • “Managing Community Expectation”, Cutting Edge of Change – Shaping Local Government for the 21st Century, UNE Armidale, 2002.
  • “Strengthening Financial Governance in Councils for Long Term Sustainability”, CPA Local Government Congress 2006, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
  • “Creating Long Term Sustainable Growth in Small Towns: the Guyra Experience”, SEGRA National Conference, Wollongong 2007.
  • “Port Pirie Investment Opportunities”, China Mining 2011, Tianjin, China.
  • “Port Pirie Regional Council and Social Media”, Local Government Association AGM Show Case, Adelaide, April 2012.
  • “The Transformation of Port Pirie”, MainStreet SA State Conference, Adelaide, April 2015.
  • “Transformation of Port Pirie”, 2016 LGA Showcase, Adelaide.
  • “Essential ingredients for financial sustainability”, Local Government Financial Sustainability Conference, Sydney 2016 (Chaired Conference).
  • “Asset management and financial sustainability as two pillars of success”, Local Government Asset Management & Financial Sustainability Conference, Melbourne 2016.
  • “Case Study: Delivering sustainable community infrastructure in Port Pirie”, Social Infrastructure, Planning, Funding & Delivery, Melbourne 2017.
  • “Positive community outcomes from affordable housing projects”, The Affordable Housing Development Summit, Melbourne 2017.
  • “Redeveloping Port Pirie”, 2017 LGA Roads and Works Conference, Port Pirie.
  • “Pushing the boundaries”, Business Improvement in Local Government, Sydney 2017.

Selected Consultancies

Regional Capacity Building: How Effective is REROC?

Undertaken as part of the Centre for Local Government (UNE), this project reviewed REROC’s operations, quantified savings generated for member councils, and identified opportunities to expand the organisation’s activities to deliver economies of scope and scale while preserving local control, employment and services.

Size, Shape & Sustainability: A Report on Mirani Shire Council

Mirani Shire Council engaged Professor Brian Dollery and Dr Andrew Johnson to undertake a thorough investigation of the Council and prepare a full report on its present state, future prospects, and the various reform options available.

RAPAD Report: Sustaining Outback Communities

Engaged by the Remote Area Planning and Development Board (RAPAD) in Central Western Queensland to consider member councils’ sustainability and their reform & governance options.

Rising to the Challenge: Reform Options for the Western Suburbs of Perth

Prepared on behalf of New England Education and Research Pty Ltd for the WESROC group of councils. Provided a thorough analysis of the WESROC group against the background of structural reform in Australian local government, and recommendations for enhancing the role of WESROC.

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