Australian Local Government Association

27 August 2010

The independents and local government

As counting continues in the wake of the 2010 federal election, it is almost certain that at least three non-aligned independent MPs will hold the balance of power in the House of Representatives - Tony Windsor (New England, NSW), Robert Oakeshott (Lyne, NSW) and Bob Katter (Kennedy, Queensland).

Migrant settlement stretches council resources

Local government continues to be hit with cost-shifting by the other two levels of government in the settlement of new migrants and refugees, ALGA President Cr Geoff Lake said last night.

Reforming Australia's Federation

Last Friday, ALGA lodged its submission to the Senate Select Committee on the Reform of the Australian Federation. Submissions closed on 20 August 2010.

20 August 2010

Final announcements from major parties

The three major parties made announcements this week of interest to local government. Labor announced an $80 million Low Carbon Communities initiative to help local councils and communities to cut pollution and reduce their energy costs through energy efficient upgrades to street lighting, community facilities and council buildings.

Policy implications for housing trends

The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI)'s most recent research seminar presentation was delivered in Canberra last week on 'Older People and Housing: the latest evidence' to an audience of some 50 people representing government agencies, NGOs, housing providers, researchers and interested individuals.

Sustainable House Day

Sustainable House Day on Sunday September 12 has seen a dramatic growth in the past 2 years, largely due to the increase demand by people for more information on what they can do to save energy and water in their homes.

13 August 2010

Active transport could save 16 000 lives

Major political parties have been urged to embrace active transport as part of the policy cure for the challenges of chronic disease, climate change, congestion and pollution.

ALGA President outlines priorities for local government

ALGA President Cr Geoff Lake outlined the issues facing local government over the next 12 months in an address to the West Australian Local Government Association conference in Perth on Saturday.

Communication the key to community connection

NSW Council initiatives and projects that encourage open and transparent communication between councils and communities were recognised at the R H Dougherty Awards Local Government Week Awards Evening in Sydney recently.

06 August 2010

National Local Roads and Transport Congress - book by 8 August and save

There is still time to take advantage of the super early bird registrations and make very significant savings.

Women urged to stand for council elections

ALGA's 'Women in Politics' booklet launched recently as part of the Year of Women in Local Government has proven to be a big hit, with copies literally walking out of our store-room.

Infrastructure flavour for election campaign

The Minister for Local Government Anthony Albanese and the Federal Leader of the Nationals, Warren Truss (pictured), both delivered major election speeches this week on infrastructure.

30 July 2010

Contentious Audit Report of the Strategic Projects Component of the Regional and Local community Infrastructure Program

The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) released its audit of the Strategic Projects Component of the Regional and Local community Infrastructure Program (RLCIP) on 27 July.

Recycling for Keep Australia Beautiful Week

Keep Australia Beautiful Week starts on Monday 23rd August, and, with over 11 billion beverage containers being consumed in Australia each year, this year's campaign aims to help increase the recycling rate of beverage containers in public places.

The Australian Journey - Muslim Communities

Australia is a parliamentary democracy, which means that all Australian citizens can participate in how their country is governed and how their society is represented.

23 July 2010

Election called for 21 August

Last Saturday Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced that the next federal election will be on 21 August. She said that a re-elected Labor Government would boost housing in regional cities, in order to take pressure off the capital cities. Ms Gillard reiterated her plan "to build a sustainable Australia, not a big Australia".

AusCivics Film Festivals

The AusCivics Film Festivals - 'Celebrating the Australian Way' is a ten year initiative under the umbrella of the Constitution Education Fund Australia (CEFA).

Carbon pricing and greenhouse emissions reduction forum

Australia21, Universities Australia and the National Business Leaders Forum on Sustainable Development held an all-day forum on Monday 12 July, where delegates discussed carbon pricing and greenhouse emission reductions in Australia.

16 July 2010

Government announces guidelines to Promote Livable Housing Design

The Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities, the Hon Bill Shorten, launched national guidelines to promote disability-friendly livable housing design in Sydney on 13 July 2010.

ALGA President advocates NBN principles

This week, the ALGA President Cr Geoff Lake expressed concerns that unless permits are streamlined for the NBN, local councils could be swamped.

Broad consensus needed for successful referendum

Prime Minister Julia Gillard spoke about the need for a strong groundswell of public support before Constitutional change was able to be achieved in the context of the Australian republic.

09 July 2010

Environment Ministers Make Progress on ALGA Priorities

The Environment Protection and Heritage Ministers Council met in Darwin on Monday 5 July and made progress on a number of issues of interest to local government, including waste management policy.

Arts funding for regional communities

The Australian Government is supporting home-grown arts activities in regional Australia with more than $660,000 for 68 new regional arts projects. Arts Minister Peter Garrett said the funding supports innovative and exciting cultural projects created by local artists living in regional Australia.

Can you get to the top and stay nice?

Do nice girls finish second? With Australia's first female Prime Minister now in charge this was a particularly hot topic for close to 1,000 women and men who attended the 12th annual Women in Management Great Debate in Canberra on Friday. As for the verdict, keep reading.

02 July 2010

The Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program (Round 3) - applications open 5 July

The Australian Government is providing an additional $100m (Round 3) for the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program (RLCIP). Each council has been allocated a similar amount of funding as the last round of RLCIP.

National awards recognise Queensland's record investment in cycling

The Bicycling Achievement Awards have been held by the Cycling Promotion Fund annually since 2002 and recognise innovation, commitment and achievement in making Australia more bicycle friendly.

Australian Conservation Foundation Sustainable Cities Index

Given that our cities generate 75 per cent of our employment and 80 per cent of our GDP, they are the key to Australia's long term economic prosperity and will form the basis for whether we can create a healthier and more sustainable future for all Australians during this century.

25 June 2010

Women in Politics

With the startling recent news about Julia Gillard being sworn in by the Governor General, Ms Quentin Bryce, as Australia's new Prime Minister, ALGA needs to update its publication Women in Politics, launched by Geoff Lake just last week at the National General Assembly. The booklet was ALGA's contribution to the Year of Women in Local Government campaign, and written with the aim of encouraging more women into politics.

"It's time our Constitution was modernised"

The President of the Australian Local Government Association, Cr Geoff Lake, launched a new website and resource material last week as part of local government's campaign for a referendum on the inclusion of local government in the Australian Constitution.

Feedback on the NGA requested

This year the NGA was perfectly timed to capitalise on the opportunities created by an imminent federal election, and to push strongly on issues which are important to local government. It also further strengthened the growing relationship between the national and local levels of government.

21 June 2010

Australian Council of Local Government

More than 400 of the nation's 565 mayors met the Prime Minister and senior ministers, including the Hon Anthony Albanese (pictured), at Parliament House in a meeting of the Australian Council of Local Government (ACLG).

State of the Regions launched

ALGA President, Geoff Lake, launched the 2010-2011 State of the Regions Report at the National General Assembly last Wednesday. The State of the Regions Report is the most important annual analysis of Australia's regional economic development.

Roads and bridges

Cr Lake welcomed the announcement late last week at the National General Assembly of Local Government by Warren Truss, the Leader of the Nationals, that if the Coalition was elected at the Federal election it would create a $600m program to fund the replacement of decaying and ageing bridges.

11 June 2010

National General Assembly

Only four days to go until the National General Assembly! If you have not already done so, it is not too late to register. At the NGA, leaders of the major parties and a panel of leading journalists will comment on their past election experiences and their thoughts on how the election and the leaders will play out later this year.

Sports without Borders

Several barriers sometimes prevent young people from newly arrived migrant and refugee families from participating in community sport and recreation activities.

Regional Arts Australia

Regional Arts Australia is the key national body representing the interests of those working with and for the arts in regional, rural and remote Australia. As an advocate, the body has won better recognition and support for the vast contribution that regional arts make to the cultural, economic and social well-being of the nation.

4 June 2010

Productivity Commission on planning, zoning and development

The Australian Government has requested that the Productivity Commission (PC) undertake a benchmarking study into Planning, Zoning and Development Assessments.

Housing Ministers' reforms

Housing Ministers from the Commonwealth, States and Territories and the Australian Local Government Association recently met in Sydney to make progress on their extensive work program on housing supply and affordability, social housing and homelessness.

Poised for the NGA

There is still just over a week to register for the National General Assembly on 14-17 June, where you will hear from the most impressive line-up of political leaders - the leaders of all the major parties will be attending in the lead up to a federal election, and we are optimistic that the Prime Minister will attend this year.

28 May 2010

Minister's Praise for Delivery of Community Infrastructure

The Minister for infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Anthony Albanese, has praised local councils for delivery of the Regional and Local Infrastructure Program funded under the Federal Government's two Stimulus packages.

The NGA is only two weeks away

Be sure to register for the National General Assembly (NGA) coming up on 14-17 June, if you haven't already done so.

Navy, Army and Air Force Reservists

Navy, Army and Air Force Reservists are a vital component of Australia's Defence Force. Major General Greg Melick is Australia's senior Defence Reservist and he oversees the organisation that liaises between Defence, Reservists and their civilian employers.

21 May 2010

Coming soon! - The 2010 National General Assembly

Registrations are rolling in each day for the 2010 National General Assembly of Local Government (NGA) in Canberra. If you have not registered yet, it's time to do so.

NBN Co to address the National General Assembly, and other NBN developments

One of the presenters at the National General Assembly is Mike Kaiser, Principal, Government Relations and External Affairs, NBN Co. so it is timely to update readers on the considerable braches of work being performed in respect of the NBN.

Helping Torres Strait communities with climate change

Indigenous communities in the tropical north of Australia are amongst the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, a new report has found.

14 May 2010

Local government calls for community infrastructure boost

Future investment in local community infrastructure should be on the Government's agenda as the budget is restored to surplus in the next two years, according to the president of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), Cr Geoff Lake.

Rural National Broadband Network Coordinators sought

On 6 May 2010 the Australian Government called for applications for up to eight Rural NBN Coordinators to work with regional, rural and remote communities in priority backbone blackspot regions to take full advantage of the opportunities of broadband.

National Compact welcomes 150 Partners

The National Compact welcomes Neurofibromatosis Association of Australia Inc. (NFAA) as the 150th organisation to sign up as a Compact Partner.

07 May 2010

Dr Henry's tax review

On Sunday 2 May 2010, the Australian Government released the Australia's Future Taxation System Review Report (the Report).

More infrastructure examples needed by ALGA

The Berrigan Shire Council's new Sports ground Function Centre is an example of community infrastructure, which has been funded with part of the $1 billion Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program (RLCIP).

National Broadband Network Implementation Study released

On 6 May 2010 the Australian Government released the National Broadband Network Implementation Study.

30 April 2010

Audit of the Roads to recovery Program

The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) released the report of the audit of the Roads to Recovery Program that commenced in July 2005 and the AusLink R2R Supplementary Program on 22 April.

Overseas Trip Opens Window on ADF Reserves

Heading towards the end of his four month deployment to the Solomon Islands with the Australian Army, the first familiar face Greater Taree City Council employee, John Connell, saw recently was that of his boss, Ian Potter.

Beechworth wins

Beechworth, in Victoria, was announced the Overall Winner of the Keep Australia Beautiful/Tidy Towns awards for 2009-2010 at Government House last Friday.

23 April 2010

COAG Health Outcome Good for Local Government

Local government's interests have been acknowledged and accommodated as part of the historic agreement on health reform reached at this week's meeting of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG).

COAG Agrees to ALGA Input on Housing Affordability Agenda

ALGA made substantial progress in advancing local government's interests in the housing affordability debate at this week's COAG Meeting.

No tenders yet for first NBN sites

The five National Broadband Network first release sites are due to commence construction by July; however, in a sign of the complexities that lie ahead, NBN Co is still determining how it should issue tenders for the project.

16 April 2010

Victorian Premier Backs Local Government Aged Care Concerns about Proposed Health reforms

Victorian Premier John Brumby highlighted local government concerns about aged care as part of his address to the National press Club on 14 April.

Wanted: Photos of Community Infrastructure!

It is now almost three years since ALGA launched its Community Infrastructure Ideas Register which attracted over 1000 projects submitted by councils across Australia.

A Further $1 Million to Fix Local Black Spots

Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese and Member for Canberra Annette Ellis today announced the Rudd Labor Government will provide just over $1 million to fix ten dangerous black spots on local roads.

09 April 2010

National Broadband Network has seven years to go

This week, the first anniversary of the Australian Government's announcement to build a National Broadband Network (NBN) over eight years was the subject of a progress update released by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy.

Australia's population debate

The Government has estimated that by 2050 Australia's population will be 36 million. The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has created a Minister for Population, and entrusted Labor frontbencher, Tony Burke, with the responsibility "to develop Australia's first comprehensive population strategy".

Heart Foundation Local Government Awards now open!

Are you leading the way in creating healthy communities? Are you building a sense of community, encouraging people to be active, be smoke free or make healthy food choices? If your answer is yes, then the Heart Foundation wants to hear from you.

01 April 2010

The President's Address

On Wednesday 31 March, the President of ALGA, Cr Geoff Lake, addressed the National Press Club with his speech, 'Strengthening Democracy in Australia'.

Healthier local and regional communities

Earlier this week, the Australian Government announced the first 12 Local Government Areas that will receive funding under its $72 million Healthy Communities Initiative.

Easter driving

Please drive safely over the Easter holidays. Remember to keep within the speed limit and to take enough breaks from driving.

26 March 2010

National General Assembly - put 30 April in your diary

In addition to this year's National General Assembly being held in an election year, and following Dr Ken Henry's review of the tax system, the themes of NGA reflect the government's focus on economic reform workforce participation, population and productivity or "the 3 Ps". An election year offers opportunities for local government to seek commitments from the major parties on these issues as the parties look for initiatives to include in their election platforms.

Earth Hour Saturday 27 March

There will be a family event on Sydney's Goat Island, celebrity cooks will host an event in Brisbane and at Queensland's Sanctuary Cove it will be possible to dine by the light of 100 metres of candle light.

2010 MobileMuster Local Government Awards

Councils are to be recognised for their mobile phone recycling efforts. The call for nominations for the 2010 MobileMuster Local Government Awards is on now.

19 March 2010

Steve Mcgregor: Army Reservist and Senior Parking Patrol Officer/Ordinance inspector with Holroyd City Council

Corporal Steve Mcgregor is one of 40,000 Australian Reservists living a double life. Just like many Local Council employees, Steve is employed in a civilian role while also serving in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Reserve.

Prime Minister launches National Compact with the Third Sector

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd launched the National Compact with the Third Sector, or Not-for-Profit Sector, on 17 March, after a two year consultation process. He described the Compact as a natural partnership - joining what government should be doing in this area, with what the Third Sector can deliver in partnership with government.

Harmony Day events

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship's Kerri Eckhardt has helped to distribute over one million Harmony Day products to all parts of Australia.

12 March 2010

President's Address to Urban Transport World

The ALGA President, Geoff Lake, made a presentation to Urban Transport World international conference in Sydney on 23 February.

Councils giving communities a sporting chance

With Harmony Day on 21 March, councils across the country are being urged to join sporting codes and clubs to encourage people from diverse cultural backgrounds to participate in local sport.

Women ending poverty

On 8 March we celebrated International Women's Day with women's breakfasts, speeches, activities and more, on and around that date.

05 March 2010

Call for Motions open for the 2010 National General Assembly

The 2010 National General Assembly of Local Government (NGA) will be held in Canberra from 14 to 17 June 2010.

Australian cities performing well but not sustainably

The Federal Government has released a major report into the state of Australian cities, which shows that the nation's 17 largest cities are doing reasonably well, compared with similar cities overseas, but also reveals that they face sustainability challenges in terms of congestion, affordability, water usage and energy.

Free Diversity Resource for Council Trainers

From today, Local Government training officers can access a free resource to help them conduct cultural diversity training for staff and management.

26 February 2010

President to address National Press Club

On Wednesday 31 March, ALGA President Cr Geoff Lake will address the National Press Club (NPC) in Canberra from 11.45am-1.30pm.

Over $1 million in community grants

In the lead-up to Harmony Day on March 21, councils and other community organisations across Australia are sharing more than $1.2 million of funding. Three categories of funding exist: Small Scale, Major and Funded.

Release of a new National Compact

After two years of consultation, a National Compact between the Third Sector and the Australian Government has been finalised and will be formally launched in Parliament on 17 March.

19 February 2010

ALGA Board Members meet to map out strategy

Members of the Board of ALGA met for two days in Canberra over 17-18 February to determine the Association's strategic policy priorities and outcomes for 2010.

Councils issue 21 March diversity challenge

This Harmony Day, Local Governments can challenge younger Australians to understand and respect the cultural diversity in their communities.

Railway level crossing safety

This week sees the launch of a new National Railway Level Crossing Safety Strategy (2010-2020) that will be seeking to deliver a nationally coordinated action plan to reduce deaths and near misses at Australian Railway Level Crossings.

12 February 2010

Focus on Affordable Housing

Later today, in a busy schedule of meetings, Local Government and Planning Ministers (LGPMC) will conduct a joint meeting with the Housing Ministers Conferences (HMC).

Progress report on Nation Building

The Australian Government has completed the latest Progress Report on the Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan (the Plan).

Councils concerned about potential planning power abuse

Premier Kristina Keneally has indicated that she will extend and make permanent special planning arrangements introduced as part of the federal government's stimulus package.

05 February 2010

The Third Intergenerational Report

The Treasurer, Wayne Swan released this week the 2010 Intergenerational Report - Australia to 2050 future challenges. The report builds on an analytical framework looking at the three key drivers of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). These drivers are: population, participation and productivity.

Coastal councils and climate change

The need for a national planning framework to protect local councils from litigation was highlighted again this week with a recent Byron Shire Council matter considered by the NSW Land and Environment Court.

Local Council and Southern Cross University initiative

The Coffs Coast will be among the first places to benefit from the Australian Government's $43 billion National Broadband Network if a Southern Cross University-led campaign is successful.