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27 Jun 2008
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ALGA President meets with Local Government Minister

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ALGA President Cr Paul Bell met with the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Anthony Albanese, at Parliament House last week.

Minister Albanese was unable to attend the recent National Local Roads and Transport Congress in Shepparton due to his parliamentary commitments and was represented by the Member for Corio, Richard Marles, who delivered a speech ranging across issues of interest to local government, including Roads to Recovery, AusLink 2, the Council of Australian Local Governments, and Constitutional Recognition. In Question Time this week, Minister Albanese drew a link between a strong Budget surplus and investment in local government infrastructure, saying the Government has 'put local government at the heart of its nation-building agenda.'

Cr Bell presented Minister Albanese with a copy of the Roads Congress Communique. At the meeting, Cr Bell and Minister Albanese discussed the Council of Australian Local Governments, Regional Development Australia, infrastructure funding, a timetable for Constitutional Recognition, and outlined ALGA's position on fair funding which will be detailed in its submission to the Taxation Review.

Cr Bell said he was pleased with the talks and felt that significant progress had been made in a range of policy areas. "I look forward to an ongoing dialogue with the Minister's office which can only further strengthen the relationship between our two spheres of government," he said. "There is much work before us to achieve the goals local government has set itself for the next 12 months and this can only be done by working closely with the Minister's office and the government as a whole."

Meeting with Housing Minister Tanya Plibersek

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ALGA President Cr Paul met with Housing Minister Tanya Plibersek last Thursday at Parliament House to discuss the Government's Housing Affordability Fund and electronic Development Assessment initiative to flag local government's views on implementation.

"I strongly welcome the Housing Affordability Fund (HAF) and gave the Minister our support and full cooperation," Cr Bell said. "However, I also took the opportunity from a local government perspective to raise our concerns relating to how the Government will prioritise funding proposals, assess the responsibilities of various stakeholders such as developers, unions and State Government agencies, the threat of cost-shifting in the post-HAF environment, and timelines associated with assessment and funding."

Cr Bell also briefed the Minister on local government's continued interest in electronic Development Assessment (eDA) and how the $30 million will be distributed." State and Territory Associations and ALGA have played an active role in championing eDA through their participation in the Development Assessment Forum," he said. "We are looking for a national commitment to interoperability across systems, including those involving the Commonnwealth."

Minister Plibersek expressed interest in ALGA's views and said the points raised by Cr Bell were informative in the context of the development of the HAF and eDA processes.

Meeting with Senator Alan Eggleston

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Cr Bell met with Senator Alan Eggleston, the former Mayor of Pt Hedland, last week in his Parliament House office.

"I am delighted at the number of former mayors and councillors in Parliament, such as Dr Eggleston, and especially appreciate the depth of their understanding of the issues facing local government," Cr Bell said.

Cr Bell briefed the Senator on planning for ALGA's Constitutional Summit in Melbourne in December and the council conversations which are currently taking place around Australia. Further details at constitutional website.

They also discussed the recent National Local Roads and Transport Congress and Senator Eggleston's strong support for the Outback Highway upgrade between Laverton, WA, and Winton, Qld, via Alice Springs, spearheaded by the Outback Highway Development Council headed by Cr Patrick Hill.
From the President

Home ownership has always been the great Australian dream. Perhaps it stems from our history as a migration destination. From the first convicts, to free settlers, migrants escaping political and religious persecution, and the large waves of post-war migration, it is perfectly understandable that peace and prosperity are highly prized and reach their zenith in the safety and security of bricks and mortar. One thing is for sure, the recent Emerald floods showed how precarious this security is in the face of a natural disaster and how families and communities can pull together, but that's another story.

In recent years, we have seen home ownership slip out of the grasp of many Australians, particularly the young. With our increasing population, demand for suitable land and housing has intensified. This together with previous avenues for ready finance has meant that many borrowers are now starting to find themselves over their heads given the successive interest rate increases and fuel and food prices galloping ahead.

The election finally saw both sides of politics come up with policies to try and address these difficulties. However, it seems that some of these solutions could hurt those they are trying to help. Commentary, including the recent Senate Committee report into housing affordability, suggests the first home owners grant is actually driving up prices, or even that large-scale releases of Commonwealth land could reduce home values in surrounding areas.

Housing policy and housing affordability is a conundrum that ALGA has been giving much thought to. ALGA is on the COAG Housing Affordability Working Group and has taken part in discussions on ways forward among Federal and State and Territory Ministers on this issue.

Last week I met with the Housing Minister Tanya Plibersek at her Parliament House office to discuss the $512 million Housing Affordability Fund. ALGA's view is that we are very supportive of any initiative such as this savings derived by improved planning process and/or subsidies to developers are quantified and passed on by developers to genuine home purchasers, rather than speculators. I took the opportunity to brief the Minister on our support for the Fund tempered by the caveat that in a post-Housing Affordability Fund climate there should be no cost-shifting by other spheres of government or property developers on to local councils. Some of our members are understandably sensitive about this issue because of past experiences.

At the meeting, the Minister confirmed that local governments would be able to apply for grants available through the Housing Affordability Fund from mid-August.

The Federal Government has released a consultation paper outlining the proposed design of the fund, including the process for selecting suitable projects. The government is seeking comments on the fund from all interested parties and the deadline for submissions is July 17. The consultation paper can be found here.

Up to $30 million of the Housing Affordability Fund has been allocated to develop IT infrastructure and software needed to implement electronic Development Assessment (eDA) systems and online tracking services to assist with streamlining planning processes. Applications for the eDA funding will not be accepted under the general funding rounds of the Housing Affordability Fund. Details of how and when the eDA funding will be made available to councils have yet to be released by the Federal Government, although an announcement is expected in the relatively near future.

I am aware that some councils are already having preliminary discussions with developers, including NGOs, to prepare funding proposals. Some are small-scale developments in cities such as Melbourne and others are envisioning larger greenfield concepts.

The important thing is that there are trade-offs as long as they lead to a reduction in prices which are passed on. Minister Plibersek told me the Government was looking for 'good ideas that are good value for money and that will make tangible savings.' She was also hoping that better practices would be highlighted that would lead to further inroads towards meeting the challenges of delivering more affordable housing in the longer-term. The Minister has set a clear challenge for local government but it is one I believe we can more than meet. I look forward to hearing in greater detail about the innovative proposals councils come up with.

Cr Paul Bell AM
ALGA President

Bill to overturn solar rebate decision

The Federal Opposition has introduced legislation aimed at protecting the solar panel rebate.

The government introduced a means test in last month's budget limiting eligibility for a rebate of up to $8,000 to those households earning no more than $100,000 a year.

Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt has introduced a private member's bill which he said was designed to reverse what was a disastrous decision on the part of the Rudd government.

Bill passed waters down 99-year leases

The controversial 99-year Aboriginal township lease scheme will be watered down under a bill passed by federal parliament.

The Coalition introduced the 99-year lease scheme to stimulate economic development in Northern Territory townships.

But Nguiu in the Tiwi Islands was the only community to sign one before Labor won office.

The Senate's passed an amended bill this week allowing for township leases as short as 40 years.

NT Labor Senator Trish Crossin says the changes allow indigenous landowners to negotiate much more flexible lease arrangements. The legislation also amends NT intervention laws to allow for streamlined compensation payments to landholders whose land is compulsorily acquired under five-year leases.

Transport pocket guide

The Australian Transport Statistics 2008 pocket guide produced by the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) provides an extremely useful up-to-date snapshot of the scope, scale and performance of the Australian transport sector.

The publication's key findings include:

  • Transport specific businesses contributed 4.63 per cent of total GDP in 2006/07. This amounts to $46.2 billion, an increase of nearly six per cent on 2005/06 - a significant contribution to our economy and national wellbeing;
  • Employment in the transport sector was up six per cent to nearly half a million jobs in the twelve months to August 2007. This constituted 4.7 per cent of total employment.

The Australian Transport Statistics 2008 is available at www.bitre.gov.au or by emailing the Department media@infrastructure.gov.au.

New laws recognise significant war memorials outside ACT

War memorials outside Canberra could be recognised as "nationally significant" under legislation passed by the House of Representatives today.

The bill acts on Labor's election commitment to recognise the Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial in Ballarat as a national memorial.

It also allows memorials that meet specified criteria, including scale and design, to be recognised as a Military Memorial of National Significance.

Previously war memorials of national significance had been restricted to those within the Australian Capital Territory.

Ocean levels rising - new evidence

Increased scientific confidence that ocean observations are accurately reflecting rising global temperatures is central to new Australian research published today in the journal, 'Nature.'

The team of Australian and US climate researchers found the world's oceans warmed and rose at a rate 50 per cent faster in the last four decades of the 20th century than documented in the 2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report (IPCC AR4). The research gives significantly greater credibility to the way climate models simulate the degree of warming in the world?s oceans - a key indicator of sea-level rise and climate change. The results were added to other recent estimates of contributions to sea-level rise, including glaciers, ice caps, Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, and thermal expansion changes in the deep ocean. The sum of all contributions is more consistent with observed sea-level rise than earlier studies.

CSIRO Wealth from Oceans National Research Flagship scientist, Dr Catia Domingues, from the Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research, said: "Our results are important for the climate modelling community because they boost confidence in the climate models used for projections of global sea-level rise resulting from the accumulation of heat in the oceans. These projections will, in turn, assist in planning to minimise the impacts and in developing adaptation strategies."

Prediction carbon emissions trading scheme will cost the Fed Govt $1.8b in compensation

A report for the Climate Institute is predicting that a carbon emissions trading scheme would cost the Federal Government $1.8b in compensation to households. Researchers from the CSIRO and the Australian National University have found that five years into a scheme, an average household could be $200 a year worse off.

Speaking on ABC Radio this week, Climate Institute's Irwin Jackson says the government should find compensation affordable: "In 2020, the government would be generating between you know, $18b to $21b of revenue from the Emissions Trading system. So while the individual numbers sound large, it's actually a relatively small proportion of the revenue that the government will generate from the Emissions Trading System."

Disabled parking cheats targeted

New South Wales council rangers will be able to confiscate disabled parking cards and pass holders can be banned for lending cards out to family and friends.

The measures are part of a government crackdown on abusers of disability parking.

Roads Minister Eric Roozendaal says the reforms of the Mobility Parking Scheme come into force in November.

They include a three-strikes-and-you're-out system, targeting those who lend passes to family and friends.

The three-strikes policy will also ban people reapplying for the card once it's been revoked for a third time because of misuse.

State Opposition leader Barry O'Farrell has condemned the changes, saying the government's offloaded to local government a problem created by the Roads and Traffic Authority. (AAP)

Water Management Conference

Registration is now open for the 2008 LGSA Water Management Conference, Ballina, 13-15 August at www.waterconference.lgsa.org.au

The conference is a unique annual event providing an accessible forum for debate and discussion on water supply, sewerage, and broader water management issues affecting local government. Hosted by Ballina Shire Council, the event is sponsored by Country Energy and the Department of Water and Energy.

Inquiry into a New Regional Development Funding Program deadline extended

The closing date for submissions has been extended to Monday 14 July 2008. ALGA is lodging a submission and councils and State and Territory Local Government Associations are also encouraged to have their say. You are encouraged to read the information in our brochure called preparing a submission before lodging your submission. In order to facilitate electronic publishing of submissions, the Committee would prefer them to be emailed to itrdlg.reps@aph.gov.au or sent on disk or CD-ROM to the Committee Secretariat in Microsoft Word or Portable Document Format (PDF).

State of the Regions report 2006-07
Financial Assistance Grants

Details of financial assistance grants (FAG) funding are available here.

The $441 million in FAGs to local government is the final quarterly instalment of the $1.8 billion provided to councils in 2007-08.

Urban planning motion

On Monday 23 June, the House of Representatives discussed a motion on urban planning. The motion by Labor MP Bernie Ripoll interestingly noted that 'urban planning requires broad participation from all tiers of government and various sectors to help shape future directions and developments.' For a copy of the Hansard go to www.aph.gov.au

New reports show challenge of reducing greenhouse emissions

The Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, has released Australia's greenhouse emission results for 2006 and a preliminary result for 2007.

Australia's greenhouse emissions in 2007 were estimated to be 585 million tonnes or 106 per cent of 1990 levels. This is an increase of 1.6 per cent from 2006.

The Federal Government is committed to reducing emissions by 60 per cent of 2000 levels by 2050.

"Our emissions results identify some challenges," Minister Wong said. "...These results highlight how we need to change the way the economy works, to move it from a high emissions economy of the past to the low emissions economy of the future."

The Rudd Government will release a Green Paper on the design of the emissions trading scheme in July this year.

For more information, to access the online database - Australia's Greenhouse Emissions Information System - or for a copy of the reports, visit www.climatechange.gov.au/inventory

ATUG Roadshow visits Orange

Local government is invited to ATUG's upcoming Regional Communications Roadshow which will visit Orange over the 1-2 July. ATUG will be providing the local area with an evening and breakfast event over the two days which is completely free for local community, government and business to attend. A highlight will be presentations on WiMAX and 3G technologies.

Evening Presentation Tuesday 1 July 5.30pm for 6.00pm till 8.00pm Orange
Ex-Services Club
231-243 Anson St, ORANGE Free Community Event

Breakfast Presentation Wednesday 2 July 7.00am for 7.30am till 9.15am
Orange Ex-Services Club
231-243 Anson St, ORANGE Free Community Event

ATUG is an independent, not-for-profit membership-based organisation of Australian communications users. and has been working for better choice, value and services in the sector since 1981. For more information, contact: Patrick Sinclair on 02 9495 8905 or email patrick.sinclair@atug.org.au

New report on Australia's Constitution - local government mentioned

A new report, Reforming our Constitution: a roundtable discussion was released on Monday by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs.

The report advocates greater public debate on constitutional reform. Of interest to local government's aspiration for constitutional recognition, is a gem from Professor George Williams (p.45 of the transcript).

He states: 'The final thing is on local government; that really is the missing element in a lot of these debates. I simply make the point that thinking on this issue is somewhat impoverished when the best idea that people consistently come up with is that the Constitution should merely recognise local government, which was the subject of the 1988 referendum and which failed dismally. We need to go far beyond that to look seriously at what the role of local government is. In my view, a mere symbolic recognition achieves very little, and if we had a referendum based around that idea, which is the Rudd government's policy, it would be largely a waste of time, because it would have no meaningful constitutional consequences while at the same time entrenching something that appears to give little but carte blanche to the High Court to determine the meaning of what such a provision would achieve."

For background information on the roundtable and copies of the report click here or contact the Committee Secretariat on (02) 6277 2358.

Complacency about talent migration

Manpower Australia has released the results of its Borderless Workforce survey to determine employer views about the outward migration of talent. The findings reveal that only 15 percent of employers in Australia think government and businesses are doing enough to slow the outward migration of talent and attract these people back to Australia. There were 28,000 people surveyed globally in 27 individual countries and territories including Australia.

24 percent of employers in Australia expressed concerns about the potential negative impact on the labour market from talent leaving the country to work abroad. The largest number of professionals is coming from China, the US, India, the UK and Germany.

The complete results of Manpower's Borderless Workforce survey can be downloaded at www.manpower.com.au

Code of conduct for political donations

A new code of conduct will force local councils to keep a close eye on the source of political donations, the NSW government says.

After 18 months of review, the revised Model Code of Conduct for local councils will help local councillors act honestly, ethically and accountably, NSW Local Government Minister Paul Lynch said.

"The code will require councillors to take all reasonable steps to ascertain the source of any political donations that directly benefit their election campaign," Mr Lynch said in a statement. "They must then declare a conflict of interest in relation to donations over $1,000 and manage that conflict in accordance with the conflict of interest provisions in the code."

Conduct review committees that do not include the mayor or the general manager will be established to undertake inquiries into alleged breaches of conduct, he said. (AAP)

Review of accessible parking

In the lead-up to the last Federal election, Labor committed to undertaking a review of accessible parking arrangements with a view to harmonizing arrangements between jurisdictions. This work is now being progressed by Disability Ministers.

A working Group of Commonwealth and State and Territory officials has been established. The Australian Local Government Association has accepted an invitation to join this group.

Three areas of difference between jurisdictions where commonality of arrangements could be developed have been identified:

  1. Permit design;
  2. Eligibility criteria; and
  3. Entitlements.

A further area that could be considered is the administrative differences for the issuing of permits.

Proposals are being developed during the course of 2008. Consultation will take place during 2009 with implementation planned for 2010.

Council bills mount up during first 100 days of mergers

The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) estimates the costs of the March 15 mergers, which were initiated by the state government, at $200 million.

President Paul Bell said the bills had been mounting up for councils over the first 100 days of the new regime.

"Councils are facing big wages bills as unions seek to have all employees placed on the highest rate of pay of the previous unmerged councils," Mr Bell said.

"On top of that, there is the cost of new computer systems, merged town plans and local laws and covering much more dispersed population centres."

"When coupled with exploding infrastructure costs and record fuel prices, double-digit rate rises are well and truly on the cards," he said.

Compulsory voting in Tas local government elections

Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett has announced his intention to implement compulsory voting in Tasmanian council elections.

Speaking at the recent Local Government Association of Tasmania conference in Launceston, Mr Bartlett said he believed it was important for all Tasmanians to have their views recorded in the third tier of government.

New Infrastructure Coordinator

The Federal Government has announced the appointment of Mr Michael Deegan as the inaugural Infrastructure Coordinator. The Infrastructure Coordinator is charged with overseeing the day-to-day operations of Infrastructure Australia. Mr Deegan is Chair of the National Transport Commission. He will take up the position on 1 July this year.

Quote of the week

"It's about as probable I reckon as having John Howard and Paul Keating team up for a dual number in the Eurovision song contest. And probably about as likely of taking the prize."
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd asked whether Paul Keating will become the new face of Australian tourism.

International news  

British bureaucrats have been warned to sue no more jargon and to drop words and phrases like 'synergy,' 'stakeholder' or 'sustainable communities.'

The Local Government Association, whose members include hundreds of district, town and county councils in England and Wales, has sent out a list of 100 non-words that are to be avoided, saying management buzz words prevent residents from understanding what local governments do.

The list includes the popular but vague term 'empowerment,' 'coterminosity' - a situation in which two organisations oversee the same geographical area - and 'synergies.' Councils have also been told to stop referring to local residents as 'customers' or 'stakeholders.'
Forthcoming events

For a full listing of forthcoming events, see ALGA's Events calendar.
ALGA News can be read online each week at www.alga.asn.au/news.aspx
Editor: newscomments@alga.asn.au Tel: 02 6122 9434.
Australian Local Government Association - 8 Geils Court, Deakin, ACT, 2600.
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