From the President
The world finds itself in financial trouble. This instability has been unprecedented in the post Word War II period. With our links to local communities across Australia, local government is ideally placed to play a key role in the government response to the dramas plaguing financial markets. I believe this presents a significant opportunity for our sector to step up and demonstrate the enhanced position we now increasingly occupy within the Australian system of government.
The Federal Government has placed great faith in us with the announcement of the $300 million Regional and Local Community infrastructure Program. I see this as just a beginning not an end-point.
However, we don't have much time to waste with funding to be delivered by 30 June 2009 and the money needing to be spent by the end of September 2009. Such a short timeframe demonstrates the Prime Minister's confidence in the capacity of local government to spend such a large amount of money quickly and efficiently. He clearly sees councils as best placed to spark slowing local economies.
Local government has proved through the Roads to Recovery Program that we can deliver services effectively, on-time and within budget. This latest funding is an opportunity to develop further community infrastructure that will improve the lives of our residents - upgrading ovals, sporting facilities, libraries, senior citizen centres and countless other vital community infrastructure. These are all commendable and worthwhile projects which will have enduring benefits for communities across Australia.
There is little doubt that the challenges we face locally and internationally demand innovative solutions and we must all be open to different approaches and ways of doing things.
Receiving little attention was the announcement towards the end of the Prime Minister's speech to the inaugural Australian Council of Local Government to provide up to $8 million to fund a new centre of excellence for local government. This is a pleasing and forward looking initiative that I believe has the potential to enhance sector performance if it is well implemented.
The centre of excellence is designed to address a problem that we are all experiencing - skill shortages. This is a problem that is only going to get worse in coming years as the accumulated knowledge of the baby boomer generation walks out the door as they progressively retire. Not only do we have to replace that knowledge but it is also time that we moved the management capability of the local government sector into the 21st century.
I look forward to working with Minister Albanese on the development of the centre to meet local government needs. I believe ALGA has a key role to play in advising and guiding government thinking in this regard.
I would like to thank Minister Albanese, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Coalition Shadow Ministers Warren Truss and Scott Morrison for their generous wishes to me as the new ALGA President.
I would also like to recognise the contribution of Paul Bell as outgoing President. He has served the interests of local government with distinction over the past four years. His efforts have placed ALGA in a strong position with clear and focused policy goals and an impressive reputation amongst the key peak industry bodies represented in Canberra. He has also been well assisted by departing Vice Presidents Genia McCaffery and Bill Mitchell who have also made significant contributions to the direction of ALGA.
Along with the two new ALGA Vice Presidents, John Rich from South Australia and Bruce Miller from New South Wales, we look forward to building on the achievements of the past few years and helping to secure significant advances for local government at the national level.
Finally, I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you through these weekly columns and would really welcome your feedback and views. I can be contacted at geoff.lake@monash.vic.gov.au or on 0411 645 281. I look forward to meeting many of you personally at the Constitutional Summit in Melbourne from December 8-11. To register go to www.nga.alga.asn.au
Cr Geoff Lake
ALGA President
Census papers
The Academy of Social Sciences Australia (ASSA) has released the first three of its 2006 Census Series occasional papers. Further papers will be released progressively from March 2009.
The papers produced by some of Australia's foremost academics and social sciences researchers, draws on data from the 2006 Census to illustrate contemporary Australian Society.
The papers released are:
Housing: Mirror and Mould for Australian Society (Professor Andrew Beer, Flinders University). It's not just those on low incomes who are feeling squeezed in the housing market - the 2006 Census shows that almost 500,000 high income households are spending more than 30% of their income on housing, putting growing numbers of well-off households in positions of housing vulnerability. This report looks at recent trends in housing, including affordability, house size and stay-at-home children.
Creative Australia: The Arts and Culture in Australian Work and Leisure (Professor David Throsby, Macquarie University). The stereotypical Australian leisure pursuit is sport; but this report finds that art and culture are important too. In 2006 there were over 150,000 creative workers in Australia, which is about 9% of all professionals and 2% of the labour force. The report finds that as people's leisure time and disposable incomes increase, so too does the likelihood of their involvement in arts and culture activities.
Lives of Diversity: Indigenous Australia (Dr Maggie Walter, University of Tasmania). This analysis finds that Indigenous Australians are still firmly embedded in disadvantage and marginalised from core life chances, and that strategies for 'closing the gap' will need to be far reaching, rigorously thought out and responsive. The report compares Indigenous experiences in three locations - Maningrida, Dubbo and Perth - to see how location affects housing, education and employment options for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
The 2006 Census Series papers are available for free download from the Academy of Social Sciences Australia website
Publications for care workers
The Benevolent Society and the University of New South Wales Social Policy Research Centre have developed: Caring for older Australians: Care workers and care practices that support and enable good care which contains evidence-based ideas, designed to be easily incorporated into the day-to-day work of community care workers.
The briefing paper is the first in a series designed to improve staff skills, training and the levels of care available to older Australians in the community. Planned other topics for the briefing paper series include:
- Older people's social networks;
- Preventing and responding to elder abuse, and
- An enabling approach to community aged care.
For details please visit www.bensoc.org.au
Austroads Publications
The following publications have recently been released by Austroads. Councils through ALGA's membership of Austroads have free access to the publication by the use of their password and pin number to access publications. If councils have lost their password and pin number this can be obtained by contacting Austroads direct on 02 9264 7088.
The publications are:
- Technical Basis of Austroads Guide to Pavement Technology Part 2: Pavement Structural Design (AP-T98/08);
- Technical basis of Austroads Design Procedures for Flexible Overlays in Flexible Pavements (AP-T99/08);
- Testing Asphalt in Accordance with the Austroads Mix design Procedure (AP-T100/08);
- The Development and Evaluation of Protocols for the Laboratory Characterisation of Cemented Materials (AP-T101/08);
- Fatigue performance of cemented Materials under Accelerated Loading - Influence of Vertical Loading on the Performance of Unbound and Cemented Materials (AP-T102/08);
- Construction report for Cemented test Pavements - Influence of vertical Loading on the performance of Unbound and cemented Materials (AP-T103/08);
- Relative Pavement Wear of an Unbound Granular Pavement due to Dual Tyres and Single Tyres (AP-T104/08);
- Development of Laboratory Measures to Assess surfacings used in high stress applications (AP-T105/08);
- Development and application of a horizontal stress transducer (AP-T106/08);
- Bitumen Emulsions (AP- T107/08);
- Seal distress mechanisms - an initial Study into flushing (AP-T 108/08);
- Management of an Asphalt Road Trial (AP-T109/08);
- The Results of testing Overseas bitumens (AP-T110/08);
- Reviewed of Foamed Bitumen Sealing in Australia (AP-T111/08).
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"Integrated Plan on-a-Page"
Planning For Local Government
Sydney: Wednesday 10th December 2008
9.00 - 5.00 pm
A critical success factor for Local Government is a strategic plan which crafts the road map for action and resources to achieve objectives in an integrated framework.
This one day course focuses on the approaches that can be used so that the strategic and operational plans, along with their integration and deployment, are easily understood in order to reduce the time, energy, and costs associated with developing and maintaining a clear direction.
The format of the seminar will be interactive and practical, and will specifically be aimed at helping you to:
- Document your strategic intent simply and effectively "on a-page"
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- Draft a Business Process Model to support the Management System
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Register now to attend the Integrated Plan on-a-Page Seminar by downloading the brochure at http://pdf.aigroup.asn.au/events/2008/
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New President for ALGA
The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has elected a new President, Cr Geoff Lake, at its Annual General Meeting held in Canberra on Wednesday. ALGA also has two new Vice-Presidents: Bruce Miller, the President of the New South Wales Shires Association, and John Rich, a former President of the Local Government Association of South Australia and a Walkerville councillor.
Cr Lake is a councillor at the City of Monash and was Vice President of the Australian Local Government Association and President of the Municipal Association of Victoria from 2004-06. He works as a lawyer with a national law firm.
Former President Cr Paul Bell served for two two-year terms and under ALGA's Constitution was ineligible to stand again.
ALGA's Chief Executive Officer Adrian Beresford-Wylie said the election of 28 year-old Cr Lake was 'a generational hand-over' and would ensure that ALGA continued to forge ahead with energy and enthusiasm. Cr Lake will be a fresh face at the next meeting of the Council of Australian Governments on 29 November.
Cr Lake said he had a clear vision and plan for local government to:
- play a bigger part in the government response to the global economic crisis by getting infrastructure investment happening locally;
- reduce unnecessary red tape; and
- raise the standard in council performance.
"There is an unprecedented opportunity for local government to be at the forefront of the Prime Minister's COAG reform agenda and I will ensure the sector is an active and intelligent contributor," he said. "The community has a right to expect the highest levels of service from their council and I will work hard to promote and deliver reforms that strengthen confidence in local government."
Cr Lake paid tribute to former President Cr Paul Bell. "Paul has passionately promoted the interests of local government over the past four years," he said. "He has worked tirelessly, determinedly and effectively to secure substantial gains for councils across the nation."
Report on 457 visas
The long-awaited report by Industrial Relations Commissioner Barbara Deegan recently released by Immigration Minister Chris Evans has recommended that temporary skilled workers earning less than $100,0000 would be guaranteed market wages as part of a major overhaul of the 457 visa program. Other recommendations are that prospective employers be profiled, that 457 holders be limited to a maximum of eight years in Australia, and that employers make use of labour agreements to prevent exploitations. It recommended employers seeking to sponsor more than 20 workers be subject to a labour agreement. More information at http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/media-releases/2008/ce08108.htm
Business advisory services
AusIndustry, on behalf of the Australian Government, is seeking to fund eligible not-for-profit organisations to deliver high quality small business advisory services to assist small business.
Funding of up to $100,000 is available for eligible organisations to deliver services in the 2009 calendar year.
It is expected that the advisory services to be offered will focus on:
- business planning advice
- advice on loans and banking products
- development of simple marketing plans
- assistance accessing legal and accounting services
- leasing guidance
- advice on government regulation
- mentoring for business.
Funding applications close on 18 December 2008.
For further information about the Small Business Advisory Services program, including customer guidelines and eligibility criteria, please visit www.ausindustry.gov.au or call the AusIndustry hotline on 13 28 46.
Should you wish to subscribe to the AusIndustry e-bulletin or 'email updates' about more than 30 AusIndustry programs, visit www.ausindustry.gov.au, hotline: 13 28 46, email: hotline@ausindustry.gov.au
Qld floods mop-up
Two hundred RAAF personnel have joined the clean-up efforts after torrential rain struck south-east Queensland last night and this morning.
The personnel from Amberley will be deployed across the Ipswich region and into neighbouring local government areas to aid people and help with the mop up.
Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale compared the downpour and resulting wall of water to a scene out of an Indiana Jones movie.
The Australian Government will provide immediate assistance to people affected by the latest flash flooding and storms in South East Queensland. Those eligible will receive a one off Australian Government Disaster Recovery payment of $1000 for adults and $400 for each child.
Affected residents can call the Australian Government's South East Queensland Storms Hotline on 180 2266 for 24 hour assistance or lodge claims online at www.disasterassist.gov.au
Artist in residence
Ashfield Council is calling for expressions of interest from regional, rural and international artists for the Ashfield Artist in Residence program. The residency period for this application round is between 5 February 2009 and 30 June 2009. The closing date is 12 December 2008.
There is a strong emphasis on community development in this residency, and artists are asked to submit an application that will reflect this.
Contact 02 9716 1866 or email anthiah@ashfield.nsw.gov.au
Big Story Country
Big Story Country showcases stories about the great, the curious, the inspirational
and the most creative arts and artistic events that have happened in the towns, cities and remote communities of regional Australia.
Along with its predecessors, Heartwork (2004) and The Great Yarn Event (1998),
Big Story Country is a permanent reminder of the powerful role of the arts in the heart of regional Australia. Great arts stories from Regional Australia can now be downloaded from www.regionalarts.com.au
Quote of the week
"The Rudd Government understands that if Australia is to succeed in an increasingly competitive global economy, then improving the way we are governed and strengthening the bonds between our two levels of government is essential."
- Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, speaking at the National Awards for Local Government Dinner at the Australian Council of Local Government
International news 
Thousands of tonnes of rubbish collected from UK household recycling bins may have to be stored in warehouses and former military bases to save them from being dumped after a collapse in prices. Collection companies and councils are running out of space to store paper, plastic bottles and steel cans because prices are so low that the materials cannot be shifted. Collections of mixed plastics, mixed paper and steel reached record levels in the summer but the "bottom fell out of the market" and they are now worthless. The plunge in prices was caused by a sudden fall in demand for recycled materials, especially from China, as manufacturers reduced their output in line with the global economc downturn.
Local authorities and collection companies are so concerned about the mountains of paper, plastic bottles and cans that they are having to store that they have called for storage regulations to be eased. Officials from the Environment Agency and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are considering changing the regulations on the storage of recycled waste and are expected to issue new guidelines next week. They have been urged to relax the rules limiting the quantity of waste that can be stored and to allow it to be kept in secure warehouses or abandoned military bases and former airfields.
The speed at which prices collapsed has taken the recycling industry and local authorities by surprise and has been made worse because recycling rates are at record levels. Jane Kennedy, the Environment Minister, will announce this morning that more than 90 per cent of local authorities are meeting or exceeding their household recycling targets. East Lindsey District Council has the highest recycling rate, with 58.4 per cent of all household rubbish, and 18 other authorities exceeded 50 per cent.
Stuart Foster, of Recoup, which advises on plastic recycling, said that mixed plastics had slumped from about $400 a tonne to the point of worthlessness in only four weeks. He was confident, however, that the low value would be temporary as at least three mixed-plastic facilities will open next year, reducing the nation's dependence on Chinese demand. Mr Foster urged officials to be flexible on the regulations and said that with sensible management the plastic, paper and steel could be stored safely until prices rise. "We think there's light at the end of the tunnel but it's going to take some work," he said.
Staff at Waste Resources Action Programme (Wrap) and the UK Local Government Association have begun investigating the extent of the problem. A spokesman for the Local Government Association said: "The credit crunch has caused prices to fall in the materials and market and clearly this potentially has implications for councils." Steve Creed, of Wrap, said: "We think the current extremely low prices are likely to be temporary. Recovered materials are still a valuable resource. They have undergone similar price volatility in the past." ('The Times')
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