From: "Rohan McLeod"
Well referendums are usually to change the constitution; so I am interpreting "governmental recognition" as 'constitutional recognition'. Whether constitutional recognition of local government would necessarily increase their power, would seem to depend on the proposed change.
The local governments seem to work in a grey area now, as far as I understand it. It starts with the election process which is violating the most basic of all democratic rules, the "one man one vote" rule. "I want to have a say where I pay my taxes" does not cut it. If so, Coca Cola, Apple and Shell should be allowed to vote for the Australian Parliament. (Or they are getting exempt from paying taxes;-) Well, we already sell the position of the City of Melbourne Mayor to some Chinese property businesses. Welcome to the Chinese Democrazy! It works on the similar base over there, governments and business side by side for the great mutual benefit of the biggest and the best. A constitutional amendment to recognise the role of local governments could be good if it cuts back some of these irregularities. I wonder why they exist here and are not thrown out by now. Did nobody go to court to defend his democratic voting rights? Regards Peter