Roads, rates and rubbish' illustrate the traditional property service tasks of local government, but there are very few councils which restrict themselves to property services. Many now undertake business ventures and many provide human services. Australian local government is very diverse in its activities. I suggest, however, that its conservative ideological climate, is less diverse, although one has to acknowledge that some councils in both rural and urban areas have taken and continue to take a more radical stance. To understand the general conservatism of local government, one has to appreciate how ideologies about locality and local government have developed, and how they foster stereotyped decision- making.
Local ideologies are more important to rural local government than broader political ideologies.
One should not make the mistake of assuming that the beliefs which constitute local ideologies are necessarily wrong, nor should one assume that they are merely the product of local politicians and their ideas. Put simply, local people believe that the local interest should be defended, that politics should not enter the arena of local government and that the interests of ratepayers should prevail over all else. Given the decline and loss of autonomy suffered by many rural communities, people quire reasonably identify a local community interest. As ratepayers want their council to run efficiently, one can understand how political rivalry appear to be contrary to their interests. Rates are a very blunt form of taxation.