From the President

It was an end of an era when Federal Parliament rose last week for the winter break and the four remaining Democrat senators returned to their home states and their new post-political lives. The balance of power will be radically different with the new Parliament resumes on August 26.

Into the Senate will come South Australian Nick Xenophon who will hold the balance of power along with Family First Senator Steve Fielding and the Greens.

As ALGA President, I have ensured that I keep in regular contact with the legislators in Canberra and over the past fours years have built solid and lasting alliances with politicians from all sides.

It is important that ALGA retains its bipartisan flavour because we must work with the government and the opposition of the day to ensure that local government's concerns are heard and responded to at the highest level.

ALGA is in a unique position because of its dual role as the third sphere of government and as the pre-eminent advocacy group for local government nationally. I have always endeavoured to keep the focus on what needs to be achieved, the big picture framework if you like. Local government is involved in a vast array of concerns and we spend much of our time and energy on these.

However, we must never forget what our core 'bread and butter' issues are. These are the '4 Fs' coined by ALGA with the endorsement of the State and Territory Associations as represented on the ALGA Board - Fair Funding, Fair Treatment, Formal Recognition and Future Challenges (such as climate change and water resources).

These break down into road funding, infrastructure and sustainable funding for local government in the longer term. I note that our campaign for a slice of direct taxation revenue is cutting through with representatives of both major parties mentioning the financial sustainability of local government at our recent Roads Congress.

Minister Albanese, in a press release this week outlining the $2.2 billion in federal funding for local government as allocated in the May Budget, showed that he is all too aware of this issue. He said: 'The Rudd Government also understands the importance of financial sustainability of local government and differing abilities to raise revenue. Rural and regional communities, in particular, are under increasing pressure."

The answers to this situation are contained in the PricewaterhouseCoopers report on local government financing commissioned by ALGA and the State and Territory Associations, and which is on the ALGA website: www.alga.asn.au

The $250 million over 4 years Local Community Infrastructure and Renewals Fund was a key recommendation as was at least 1% of direct taxation revenue. We are watching with interest the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government inquiry into a new regional development funding program. ALGA is currently preparing a submission which will propose a new model with a focus on investment in existing community infrastructure. State and Territory Associations and local councils are encouraged to lodge submissions. The new closing date is Monday 14 July 2008. Further information at www.aph.gov.au/itrdlg

Road funding was and always will be the Holy Grail for local government and Roads to Recovery is the key delivery mechanism. The success of direct funding to local governments and the fact that roads are built cheaper and more efficiently than under the states, has ensured the longevity of the program. All sides of politics laud the Roads to Recovery program; something I note whenever I find myself wandering the maze-like timbered corridors of the House on the Hill. Much to local government's delight, Labor has made a clear undertaking to maintain funding at the levels promised by the previous government for Roads to Recovery, the Blackspots program and the Strategic Regional component of AusLink 2 until the 2013/14 financial year.

So when we get caught up in all the other issues that local government has an interest in and in which our views are sought by opinion-makers, let us not forget the Main Game. Enforcing the Intergovernmental Agreement on Cost-shifting, constitutional recognition, long-term secure funding, General Purpose Funding (Financial Assistance Grants) and access to Specific Purpose Payments (SPPs) such as Roads to Recovery and funding through State SPPs such as in the areas of health, aged care, childrens services, disability services where states require local government to provide these services.

I am planning to visit Canberra again for the August-September sitting. I will continue to ensure the message gets through and to meet as many on our Ministers, Shadows, MPs and Senators as I can so that the '4Fs' are on all their lips. Senator Xenophon is on my list and should expect a visit!!!

Cr Paul Bell AM
ALGA President

King Island cream of the crop

King Island Council has been named the overall Gold Winner of the 2008 Tasmanian Local Government Awards for Excellence for an innovative waste management project. LGAT President Mike Gaffney said the Association was delighted to recognise the Council, which had demonstrated a proactive approach to providing a sustainable service for the processing of waste generated on King Island.

Other Category Award Winners include:

• Meander Valley Council - Building Better Futures through Governance for its Waterways Audit and Signage Project.
• Tasman Council - Innovation and Creativity Award for Improving Water Quality and Efficiency at Nubeena.
• Derwent Valley Council - Invigorating Communities Award for its innovative Children?s Educational Bike Track.

Disaster assistance for Qld councils

Two far western Queensland councils will receive disaster assistance after localised flooding caused up to $2 million worth of damage earlier this month.

Queensland Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts today said joint state and commonwealth disaster funding had been activated for the Barcoo and Diamantina shires.

"The (emergency services) department has received reports of almost $2 million damage to public infrastructure, primarily roads, in both shires due to localised flooding over the Queen's Birthday long weekend," Mr Roberts said.

PM rules out nuclear energy in short term

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has rejected a push by labour movement figures to consider nuclear energy as a stopgap until renewable technologies become established.

Australian Workers' Union (AWU) national secretary Paul Howes and former NSW premier Bob Carr have called on the federal government to rethink Labor's opposition to the nuclear power industry.

Australia is a major uranium producer and exporter but is a heavy user of greenhouse gas-producing coal sources for its electricity generation.

The former government commissioned a study into the prospect of nuclear reactors but Labor has consistently ruled out the technology as an energy source.

"On the question of nuclear, we believe that we have a huge range of energy options available to Australia beyond nuclear with which and through which we can respond to the climate change challenge," Mr Rudd said in response to the challenge.

On other energy issues, Mr Rudd said the cost of petrol and electricity would not be insulated from the operation of an emissions trading scheme (ETS).

"If you act on climate change and the emissions trading system then obviously there's a flow-through consequence on the cost of petrol and the cost of energy," he said.

Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson said families must be protected from higher petrol and electricity prices caused by an ETS. (AAP)

Summit to guide women's policy

The talents of rural women are going to waste when they could be used to inform government on important policy decisions, according to the Federal Minister for Women, Tanya Plibersek.

More than 80 delegates from regional women's groups attended a weekend summit in Canberra chaired by Ms Plibersek.

Topics discussed included health and education, communities and families, business, communications and women's representation in decision-making.

An interim report from the summit will be made available to delegates by October, with the final report outlining the government's intentions released by January.

Hobart City Council apologises

Hobart City Council has apologised for banning a gay law reform stall at the Salamanca Market and ordering the arrest of its staff, 20 years ago.

The August 1988 ban led to 130 arrests during seven weeks of protests against the ban.

The council will later this year, at a date to be set, hold a civic reception for the activists to publicly apologise for the ban and the arrests.

It will also endorsed a commemorative plaque and public art work to which it will contribute $15,000 and support a photographic exhibition to which it will contribute $3,000.

July 1 roll-out of Qld Indigenous reforms

A radical shake-up of Queensland's indigenous communities began on Tuesday, with new welfare and alcohol laws coming into force.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr said between July 1 and December 31, indigenous councils would have to give up their general liquor licences.

The move affects nine canteens and taverns in remote communities and aims to reduce alcohol-related harm, violence and crime, increase school attendance, and address health and child protection issues.

Ms Nelson-Carr said the reforms would be accompanied by $66 million for improved health and social services. These could include night patrols, detoxification and rehabilitation services, better access to more health services and a greater police presence. Woorabinda in central Queensland has chosen to go dry from July 1 while other communities were still considering possible alcohol restrictions, Ms Nelson-Carr said.

Engineers and climate change

The Federal Government will provide $2 million for the first stage of a major review of the main reference manual for engineering works in Australia ? the Australian Rainfall and Runoff Handbook. The Government will work with Engineers Australia to complete the handbook in three stages over four years. The first stage will involve 10 projects with a focus on rainfall intensity, frequency and duration. The revised handbook will incorporate new data and technical and scientific advances in hydrology engineering to account for the potential effects of climate change on water resources, infrastructure planning, flood prediction and emergency management. Floods and storms are currently responsible for up to 70 per cent of annual natural disaster losses across the country. The Federal Government has also announced it would develop a high resolution digital elevation model that will map major urban areas to assess the risks of sea level rises and increases in storm surge events. More information click here.

Survey shows interest rates, rather than land availability major factor in housing affordability

A Queensland government plan to fast-track 17 areas of private land for new housing in the state's south-east has not resonated with voters, a survey has found.

The government this month announced the "greenfield" land would be available to house more than 350,000 people sooner. Premier Anna Bligh said it would help ease the burgeoning region's housing affordability crisis. But a survey of 400 south-east households, commissioned by the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ), found people did not think it would make a difference.

Only 23.2 per cent of people thought the shortage of land for new housing estates was a "very significant" factor in housing affordability. Interest rates were nominated as the top factor, by 45.3 per cent of respondents.

LGAQ executive director Greg Hallam said while the government was focused on "catching-up" with providing services and infrastructure to the growth area, residents wanted their environment preserved. "People have said clearly it's not just about the services catching up, it's about the attributes that brought people to south-east Queensland in the first place, the open space."

Respondents also took a dim view of developers - with 89 per cent saying if the government reduced charges for developers, it would only increase their profits. Mr Hallam said it was developers' appetites for estates on Brisbane's fringe that had driven the government's decision, not public demand.

National Packaging Covenant

The National Packaging Covenant has announced approval of funding for five new projects to start over the next 12 months, which it says will leverage $42 million of investment into recycling and litter prevention in Australia. These projects have the capacity to divert 130,000 tonnes of packaging waste from landfill. The National Packaging Covenant is an initiative established by industry and government to divert packaging waste from landfill.

Covenant CEO, Ed Cordner, said the projects would significantly boost collection and recycling from commercial and industrial premises in Western Australia, Queensland, Victoria, and NSW. Two projects, one targeting the reduction of roadside litter in Victoria and the other focussing on glass reprocessing in regional areas in Western Australia, had the potential to provide model approaches for use in other states. Mr Cordner said funding projects was part of the Covenant's strategy to increase Australia's packaging recycling rate to 65% by 2010.

Mr Cordner said since the Covenant began in 1999, it had directly contributed more than $30 million to divert packaging waste from landfill. The next round of Covenant funding opens in September 2008.

For more information please contact Ed Cordner on (03) 9861 2322 or go to www.packagingcovenant.org.au

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Benchmarking Best Practice in Local Govt conference

 

CEOs from a number of councils, including the Chair of the Local Government Business Excellence Network, Peter Gesling, will share their insights into how councils can implement advanced and innovative management strategies to create best practice outcomes.

The 2008 Benchmarking Best Practice in Local Government Conference, to be held in Sydney on 28-29 July, will hear presentations from senior local government managers and leading advisory firms. They will present case studies and provide detailed advice on how councils can drive organisational improvements, achieve productivity gains, reduce costs, and deliver high levels of service to their local community.

Speakers such as the City of Marion's CEO Mark Searle; Logan City Council's CEO Chris Rose and Ararat Rural City Council CEO, Steve Chapple, will outline the dynamics of improved staff culture and increased performance levels within their respective organisations.

Innovation is at the core of enhanced local government performance and this conference will bring together some of the most outstanding practitioners of continuous improvement within local government across Australia. It will provide delegates with the detailed and specific tools to implement lasting improvements in their own council operations across a range of functions.

The best practice case studies will cover areas such as: improving council workforce culture; staff productivity and retention; financial management; risk management; environmental sustainability; and information technology.

For further information about the conference, visit www.halledit.com.au/conferences phone (03) 8534 5000 or email denise.mcqueen@halledit.com.au

Garnaut Climate Change Review Draft Report out today

The Garnaut Climate Change Review Draft Report will be released at the National Press Club this afternoon by Ross Garnaut, Professor of Economics in the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies Australian National University. For a copy of the report when it is posted go to www.environment.gov.au/

Federal Government criticized over loss of NRM officers

The Shadow Minister for the Environment, Dr Sharman Stone, has hit out at the Federal Government over the loss of funding for the Local Government Natural Resource Management Facilitator Network, saying that new grants scheme 'had been cobbled together with little regard for proper communication, timeframes or eligibility criteria.' The Government announced the five-year Caring for our Country program, which replaced the Natural Heritage Trust program which concluded on 30 June. Local government can apply for funding under the new program but so can a large number of other groups. ALGA President Cr Paul Bell said that in this highly competitive setting, local government has been disadvantaged by the cessation of funding for the Network. Under the Network, one position was funded in each State and Territory Association and ALGA and its proposed replacement is a single Australian Government position to deal with all 565 local councils and shires across Australia. "The extremely competitive environment surrounding the Caring for our Country program, coupled with the loss of the Facilitator Network, could result in a severe long-term disadvantage to local government engagement in natural resource management," he said. Cr Bell said he was also concerned at the lack of coordinated information from the Government on the overall implementation arrangements for Caring for our Country which was making it extremely difficult for councils, regional bodies and others to plan and develop effective funding applications and meet the deadline of 1 August 2008.

ALGA submission on adequacy of telecommunications in regional and rural Australia

The Australian Local Government Association has provided a submission to the Federal Government's Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee, chaired by Dr Bill Glasson and whose members includes Cr Bruce Scott, Mayor of Barcoo Shire in Queensland.

In its submission, ALGA outlines five issues that the Committee should take into account when considering the adequacy of telecommunications for local communities in regional and rural Australia:

• Access to affordable, reliable, efficient and suitably advanced telecommunications should be considered fundamental to the social and economic development of all Australian communities;
• Collaboration within and between all three spheres of government for the delivery of seamless government services can be enhanced with adequate telecommunications infrastructure;
• Training and related support will maximize investment in telecommunications infrastructure;
• Telecommunications technology needs to be flexible and adaptable in the face of advances, emerging trends and new policy issues; and
• Pay phones are highly valued by local communities, especially in regional and rural Australia.

The Committee will report to the Australian Government on the outcomes of the Regional Telecommunications Review in August 2008, drawing on submissions received and input from public consultations held in the first half of 2008. It is expected that all non-confidential submissions received by the Committee will be made available on its website at www.rtirc.gov.au.

Councils beat state governments in voter satisfaction poll

A Griffith University survey shows voters rate state governments below local councils. The Newspoll survey of 1200 voters shows voters like the idea of all spheres of government cooperating to resolve problems. The survey published in 'The Australian' on Thursday shows that of the three levels of government, half say the Federal Government is doing its job most effectively, compared with 20% for local government, and 18% who nominate the states. More than 9 in 10 voters think it desirable for different levels of government to be able to collaborate on solutions.

Housing affordability for older people

Local government knows and understands the importance to all people of safe, secure and affordable housing.

On Tuesday 1 July 2008, the Australian Local Government Association attended an Older Persons Affordable Housing Forum, hosted by Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA), the Council on the Ageing (COTA), and the Brotherhood of St Laurence under a newly formed Housing Affordability for Seniors Alliance.

The forum, which was an invitation-only event, brought together a wide diversity of stakeholders, including financiers, academics, non-government organisations and charities, as well as Commonwealth Government officials. The forum aimed to raise the profile of older persons' housing affordability issues and develop initiatives that are inclusive, encourage innovation and build on best practice.

In his welcome speech, Professor Julian Disney (Chair, National Affordable Housing Summit) commented favourably on the presence of local government at the forum, whilst noting that State Government officials had declined the opportunity to attend.

Taking questions after her speech to the forum, the Minister for Housing, Tanya Plibersek, noted that the Australian Government welcomes the opportunity to work with local government on housing affordability, and specifically noted that the Housing Affordability Fund includes a $30 million component to assist local government with electronic development applications (or eDA).

Austroads Publications

The following guide and reports have been published and are available for download from the Austroads publications website:

• AGAM05D/08 - Guide to Asset Management Part 5D: Strength
• AP-T79/08 - Estimating Uncertainty in Measurements Made on Materials
• AP-T96/08 - Road Surface Characteristics and Crash Occurrence: A Literature Review
• AP-T97/08 - Development of HDM-4 Road Deterioration (RD) Model Calibrations for Sealed Granular and Asphalt Roads
• AP-R319/08 - Analysis of the Road Safety Benefits of Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Schemes

National Pandemic Influenza Exercise in Melbourne

ALGA Board member and MAV President Cr Dick Gross attended the second discussion exercise in the COAG Pandemic Exercise Program 2008 - Exercise Sustain 08. This exercise was facilitated by ABC radio presenter Julie McCrossin and sought to specifically examine the potential social and community impacts and recovery in the delivery of home-based care services during a pandemic outbreak in Australia.

Two WA council officers from the Cities of Rockingham and Wanneroo attended the multi jurisdictional exercise to provide a specific local government perspective on the potential impacts at a municipal level. Exercise 3 will take place in Brisbane on 5-6 August. Representatives from ALGA and LGAQ will attend. This exercise seeks to test the communication systems and channels of all spheres of government.

ACCC guide to carbon claims

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, Has launched a suite of ACCC guidance materials on carbon offsets claims.

"There is a growing trend of marketing claims about the ability to 'neutralise' the carbon footprint of, for example, cars, flights and households using carbon offsets," he said. "Consumer concerns about the veracity of claims on carbon offsets have led the ACCC to develop guidance for consumers and industry on the Trade Practices Act implications of carbon offset claims."

Carbon claims and the Trade Practices Act is a guide for business and industry. It is intended to educate businesses about their obligations under the Act and to alert them to potentially problematic areas. The guide examines areas of concern identified in the consultation and submission process, including forward credited offsets, double counted offsets, low quality offsets and carbon neutrality.

Links:

• Carbon claims and the Trade Practices Act
• For Consumers: Environmental issues

More visits to nursing homes

In the current financial year, the Australian Government's Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency will undertake 7000 visits to the nation's 2870 nursing homes. The Federal Government says the increased monitoring including unannounced visits assists in the early identification of non-compliance with care standards and helps to ensure that the high standards of care are being met on a consistent basis.

NSW Rural Lands Protection Boards under the spotlight

The NSW Farmers Association has acknowledged a commitment by the State Government to maintain frontline services provided by Rural Lands Protection Boards, under the restructure recommended by an independent review.

The NSW Government has announced that it will adopt the recommendations and move forward with the changes.

NSW Farmers' Association President Jock Laurie says the Government must recognise the role that RLPBs must play as NSW's advisor, regulator and facilitator in animal health and in pest animal and insect management - during this process of reform.

"The Government must also stand by its commitment to modernise RLPBs in a way that meets the interests of the State's 138,500 RLPB ratepayers and RLPB frontline workers," he said.

"Any changes to the management of Travelling Stock Routes (TSRs) will be a major issue for many Members and the Government must understand the importance of these parcels of land.

"We are committed to working with the Government and the RLPB State Council to ensure these concerns are addressed as the changes are implemented," Mr Laurie concluded.

Holland goes 'smoke free'

The Dutch have banned smoking tobacco in public places, but that ban won't apply to marijuana. Under the ban from July 1, people are not allowed to smoke tobacco cigarettes in coffee shops without designated smoking areas, but they will, strangely enough, be able to still enjoy marijuana. The catch is unless, of course, you're rolling a joint with tobacco in it!

Australia's population increases at fastest rate since 1988

Australia's population grew at its fastest rate since 1988 according to figures released from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The population growth rate for Australia during 2007 was 1.6% (or 331,900 people), for a total of 21,181,000 people.

Western Australia and the Northern Territory recorded the fastest population growth at 2.4%, followed by Queensland, 2.3%, Victoria 1.6%, Australian Capital Territory 1.3%, New South Wales 1.1%, South Australia 1.0% and Tasmania 0.8%.

Net overseas migration contributed more than half the population increase (184,400 people or 56%), and natural increase (the excess of births over deaths) added a further 147,400 people (or 44%).

Queensland and Western Australia continued as the leaders in interstate migration, gaining 25,600 and 3,800 people respectively from the other states.

The Northern Territory (860), the Australian Capital Territory (350) and Tasmania (290) also grew from interstate migration, while New South Wales (-24,000), South Australia (-3,800) and Victoria (-3,100) lost people.

As at 31 December 2007, the resident population for each state and territory was:

More details are available in Australian Demographic Statistics, December Quarter 2007(cat. no. 3101.0), available for free download at www.abs.gov.au

National Broadband Network regulatory submissions

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has announced the publication of submissions on National Broadband Network regulatory issues.

"These submissions are available to inform proponents when formulating proposals to build and operate the National Broadband Network," Senator Conroy said. "The Panel of Experts, which will assess proposals for the National Broadband Network, has received the submissions and is able to take them into account in evaluating proposals."

Copies of the submissions can be found at: www.dbcde.gov.au/regulatorysubmissions

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INNOVATION IN PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT SUMMIT

Wednesday August 6 and Thursday, August 7
Dockside Convention Centre, Darling Harbour, Sydney

 

This important conference will feature presentations and case studies about the latest technologies and innovations being used by local governments to improve their planning and development assessment processes. A particular focus will be an expert update on the Federal Government's $30 million rollout of electronic development assessments (eDAs).

In light of the increasing emphasis being placed by federal and state governments on the need for councils to improve the efficiency of development assessment, as well as local governments needing to overcome the shortage of qualified planning staff, this national summit will arm planners, senior council managers, and councillors with the latest advice and best practice planning benchmarks to address these issues.

Top level speakers will include:-

• Tanya Plibersek, the Federal Housing Minister
• Robyn Barrow, the Chair of the eDA National Steering Committee
• Peter Allen, the Chair of the Development Assessment Forum
• Di Jay, the CEO, Planning Institute of Australia
• Chris Johnson, Executive Director, Special Projects, NSW Dept of Planning

Case studies from leading councils will focus on:-

• Optimising development assessment performance through new technology and better processes.
• Achieving a best practice workplace environment within a council planning unit.
• Delivering best practice urban design outcomes through innovative planning.
• Achieving sustainable urban development through innovative strategic planning.
• Innovative planning mechanisms for encouraging sustainable development

The summit will provide attendees with detailed information about the current and future direction of government development assessment polices and technological innovation.

For further information about the summit, visit www.halledit.com.au/conferences or phone (03) 8534 5000 or email denise.mcqueen@halledit.com.au