A collection of Barnaby Joyce's seemingly random, always bizarre comments crowds the front pages, while we poor opinion writers are left struggling and finding ways of breaking it to Scott Morrison that the G7 actually isn't impressed by Australia's strategy to keep digging coal from the ground.

Labor may still exist, however if it does it's obviously decided the swiftest way to government is not disturbing the electorate with policies, particularly ones offering a sharp alternative to the incumbent.

The sensible alternative came, perhaps incredibly, from this year's meeting of the peak body of local governments. Not only were there more grown-up representatives from across the country, but they worked together across party lines to solve problems rather than exacerbate them. It came as a shock to hear (conservative) counsellors reflecting positively on the contribution of (Labor) association president Linda Scott, just as it was a surprise to listen to Greens (well, one, anyway) talking up the input of independents.

The problem, however, is that this critical part of our government structure is being denuded of money and resources at the very moment that its role is becoming more critical than ever before.

Not long ago, untied financial assistance grants from the federal government to councils and shires totalled approximately 1 per cent of national revenue. Today it's roughly half that, and yet burden-shifting has seen more and more responsibility shovelled across to local governments.

States are imposing rate caps preventing this sector of government raising money to meet its obligations, leaving many councils in dire straits. Incredibly, and based on no apparent logical reasoning, the federal government implemented specific measures to exclude any workers that councils laid off from claiming JobKeeper, furthered denuding already stretched resources.

It's conservatively estimated that something like one-third of councils are currently financially unsustainable, and their collapse is only being held off by extraordinary measures and the collective resolve to work together.

The answer is simple.

Local councils urgently need to regain their seat in federal cabinet. It's vital we restore them to receiving a guaranteed share of 1 per cent of national revenue. Councils are, after all, set up to deal with issues exactly like the recent challenges of providing disaster relief or distributing vaccines. Instead of being seen as the answer, their expertise has been ignored and their representatives are being dismissively pushed to the sidelines.

This vital role that this third tier of government plays is regularly dismissed as we focus on the so-called "main game" - that is, wondering if Barnaby has a new child or who will crash the PM's next bilateral meeting.

It's time to switch our attention to something more vital: the layer of government that provides the real services most of us use every day.