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10 Jul 2009
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State of the Regions urges more action on climate change

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If the Federal Government considers further fiscal stimulus measures are needed, much of this should be directed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions for Australia to remain economically competitive, according to a supplementary report prepared for the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) by National Economics.

The supplement to the 2008-09 State of the Regions Report was released today by ALGA President Cr Geoff Lake. The annual State of the Regions Report contains a snapshot of how Australia's regions are performing across a range of economic, trend and statistical indicators.

"The report argues that $1 billion of expenditure is required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by between 0.8 and 1 million tonnes per year," Cr Geoff Lake said (pictured here with the report's author Dr Peter Brain).

"It stresses that the Global Financial Crisis has not reduced the significance of climate change. Aggressive abatement measures are needed. The report emphasises the need for the Australian Government to link CO2 abatement measures with expansionary fiscal policy, as governments have done in China, Japan and South Korea", he added.

"The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme should be supported by a whole range of other complementary measures. These measures could include further retro-fitting programs, renewable energy sources, carbon capture and storage, specific taxes, regulations, subsidies, greater outlays for public transport infrastructure, as well as a range of education programs."

"Projections contained in the report also contain worrying implications for many regions", Cr Lake said. "The report predicts that half of Australia's regions will have worse employment levels by 2012 that they do today."

"A key message in the report is that Australia is living beyond its means. High levels of household debt and international debt will constrain Australia's rate of international growth and the ability to generate employment if early action is not taken."

The report is available here.

ALGA President seeks Government advice on High Court decision

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The President of the Australian Local Government Association, Cr Geoff Lake, has written to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd expressing concern arising from the High Court's judgment released on Tuesday in the Pape case.

Cr Lake said the High Court decision in relation to the challenge to the Government's Stimulus Package by states' rights champion and barrister Mr Bryan Pape had the potential to invalidate years of Commonwealth funding to local government.

"The High Court's judgment appears to cast doubt on the Australian Government's capacity to make direct payments to councils for programs such as the Roads to Recovery Program and the Community Infrastructure Program," Cr Lake stated in his letter, a copy of which was sent to Local Government Minister Anthony Albanese and Attorney-General Robert McClelland. Cr Lake pointed out that approximately $350 million was provided to councils each year under the Roads to Recovery Program and more than $1 billion had been announced by the Government for community infrastructure funding in just the past six months.

Cr Lake asked the Government how it intended to deal with the possible implications of the decision. "It is important that the Australian Government's view of the uncertainty created by the High Court's decision is clarified so that councils can plan their current and future work programs and expenditure with certainty," he said.

Nationals Leader says ETS will hit transport sector

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Nationals Leader and Shadow Minister for Trade, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Warren Truss, said Labor's proposed Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) would adversely affect 'some of the most efficient of the nation's transport sectors.'

Speaking at the recent National General Assembly of Local Government in Canberra, Mr Truss warned that rail, coastal shipping and aviation would face much higher carbon taxes, while less greenhouse-friendly transport measures would be tax free. "Electric passenger rail services will be slugged with new taxes on the electricity they use, but those who drive their own car to work will not," he said. "Those who fly to North Queensland for their holiday will pay the emissions tax, but if you go to Vanuatu, Fiji or the United States you will not. Many councils who rely on tourism will have serious concerns about this."

"We believe that Australia must play its part in addressing climate change issues, but an emissions trading scheme is not an end in itself and can only ever be a part of a comprehensive response. We believe there are practical measures that should be taken now," Mr Truss said in his speech to the more than 650 delegates.

"Australia should continue to act to implement practical CO2 emissions reduction measures such as soil carbon sequestration, revegetation of marginal land, biochar, clean coal technology, carbon capture, a voluntary carbon market to encourage the immediate recognition and involvement of individuals and communities, agriculture and business in sequestration, with bankable offsets; support energy savings initiatives in households, industry and transport to reduce emissions; support more energy-efficient vehicles and more widespread use of alternative fuels; and engage the commercial building sector in improving the energy efficiency of city buildings and residential housing. Many local councils are working where they can to achieve some of these aims, and I applaud them for their work.

"The nations of the world are committed to meet in Copenhagen later this year to develop an appropriate global response to climate change. They deserve to be given a chance. The coalition has offered the government bipartisan support for an unconditional reduction of five per cent in emissions from 2000 levels by 2020 and a reduction of up to 25 per cent if there is a comprehensive global agreement."
From the President

This week I spoke at a conference on the topic of 'Benchmarking Best Practice in Local Government.' Benchmarking was the buzzword of the mid-90s but I think it is just as relevant today as it was then.

It is clear that the prospects of future investment by the Australian Government in local government is contingent on our performance. It is essential that the community, and equally as importantly - all other levels of government, have confidence in our sector to deliver effective and efficient outcomes.

It is in the interests of everyone associated with local government, particularly the communities across the country whom we represent, that local government continues to seek self improvement. It is critical that councils have in place strategies for monitoring, improving and reporting their performance. Some simple questions to ask are:

  • what Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are being used at your council to measure performance and why have these been selected?; and
  • how can you test whether services are being provided in a way that offers value for money?

There have been some recent announcements from the Australian Government which provide assistance to councils in meeting these challenges.

On 24 July this year at the Australian Council of Local Government (ACLG) meeting, the Prime Minister announced the Local Government Reform Fund.

The program will provide funding of $25 million over two years to help councils better manage their infrastructure and plan for the future needs of their communities.

The Fund will help ensure councils can develop the skills they need to achieve higher standards of asset management and to compile nationally consistent data to enable progress to be measured.

The other significant recent announcement was the decision on the successful tenderer to establish the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government. This centre will showcase best practice across local government and is an important step forward in improving the academic interest in government at the local level.

It is pleasing that the Australian Government sees value in promoting and encouraging bottom up reform in local government. We can be sure they will be watching how we as a sector respond and we must remember that our ability to pursue a greater share of Commonwealth Government revenue in the future will likely be affected based upon how well we respond.

Cr Geoff Lake
ALGA President

National Broadband Network

ALGA's submission to the Senate Select Committee Inquiry into implications of the proposed National Broadband Network is now available on the Committee website.

Recycling slump

According to 'The West Australian', recycling centres across Perth are losing thousands of dollars because they have to stockpile paper, glass, copper and aluminium cans as the slump in commodity prices and falling overseas demand continues to bite hard.

The crisis has prompted calls for the State Government to use its proposed 300 per cent landfill levy increase to subsidise recycling rather than prop up the Department of Environment and Conservation.

The City of Armadale, which has a landfill and recycling plant at Hilbert, said the price of cardboard had dropped from $40 a tonne last year to $10 and light steel had crashed more than 80 per cent to $35 a tonne.

Armadale mayor Linton Reynolds said the council was still waiting to get the best possible price for circuit boards, while markets for mixed plastics had disappeared.

He said it took years to set up a substantial recycling operation and the city would "weather the storm". But he believed the landfill levy increase in January should be used to subsidise such programs.

WA Local Government Association president Bill Mitchell said councils subsidised recycling programs, which cost more than $200 million a year, and diverted 30 per cent of the two million tonnes of waste they collected each year from landfill. "The true cost of alternative waste streams starts at about $130 a tonne," he said.

Waste Policy Framework

The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts has released a discussion paper: Draft National Waste Policy Framework - less waste more resources for public comment - comments due COB Friday 31 July 2009. The Draft National Waste Policy can be found here.

The final strategy will be considered at the Enviroment Protection and Heritage Council later this year.

Climate Change

The Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, has released a new report which finds that climate change is happening faster than earlier thought and the risks are more serious.

Prepared by Professor Will Steffen, Executive Director of the ANU Climate Change Institute, 'Climate change 2009: Faster change and more serious risks' draws on the science of climate change since the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's 2007 Fourth Assessment Report.

Key findings of the report include:

  • The climate system appears to be changing faster than earlier thought likely.
  • The need for effective reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is urgent, to avoid the risk of crossing dangerous thresholds in the climate system.
  • Once thresholds in ice sheet and carbon cycle dynamics are crossed, such processes cannot be stopped or reversed by human intervention.

The report is available at www.climatechange.gov.au

Rating pressure for NSW

Councils across New South Wales will have to reassess their finances with the State Government knocking back rate increases.

This year, 30 councils applied for special rate variations, with a third of those not approved.

These included Ballina Shire which had asked for a 3.7 per cent increase to cover roadworks and improvements to sporting and community facilities.

The Great Lakes and Nambucca are exceptions. The Great Lakes has won approval to put its rates up by 9.51 per cent above the pegged limit and Nambucca by 4.67 per cent.

The Kempsey Shire failed in a bid for a 3.7 per cent rise.

The president of the Shires Association of NSW, Bruce Miller, says the State Government's decision will be a blow to local economies.

"Councils are the biggest business and also one of the largest employers in a lot of these country towns."

Water distribution in SEQLD

The State Government says it has agreed with the South-east Queensland Council of Mayors' (SEQCM) call for three different entities - not one - to distribute and retail water in the south-east

Natural Resources Minister Stephen Robertson says there will be one body for the Brisbane and Scenic Rim councils, one for the Gold Coast, Logan and Redlands, and one for the Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Moreton Bay, Somerset and Lockyer.

But Mr Robertson has warned south-east Queensland councils not to spend water revenue on other projects.

But SEQCM deputy chairman, Councillor John Brent, says councils will spend profits on water services.

"Councils will need to use every method at their disposal to build that infrastructure, so it can only come from one source and that is the source of either borrowed funds or indeed of any dividends that we might be able to achieve from the distribution and retail network," he said.

No to bottled water

The New South Wales Southern Highlands town of Bundanoon has voted overwhelmingly to ban the sale of bottled water, attracting attention from around the world.

A community meeting last night took the unusual step, making it the first town in Australia, possibly the world, to ban the sale of bottled water.

New South Wales Premier Nathan Rees has ordered all State Government departments and agencies to stop buying bottled water, following swiftly on plans for a small-town ban.

A dry argument

There has been a very dry first half of the year for parts of southeast Australia.

While much of southern and eastern Australia recorded average or above average rainfall during June 2009, a substantial area of southeastern Australia, including southern and eastern Victoria, saw a continuation of dry conditions. Victoria has now experienced its fourth driest January to June on record.

For the 6-month period from January to June 2009, serious to severe rainfall deficiencies are evident over most of central, southern and eastern Victoria as well as the Lower South East district in SA. A large area of lowest on record rainfall for the six months was recorded in Melbourne and adjacent parts of Gippsland. A few very isolated areas of serious to severe deficiencies are also evident across the far southeast of NSW, central Australia and southwest WA. When compared to a month ago, good rainfall over southwest WA during June has relieved most of the short-term rainfall deficits that existed in the 5-month period ending May 2009.

For the 24-month period from July 2007 to June 2009, serious to severe rainfall deficiencies are evident across much of southeast Australia and parts of central Australia. These deficiencies cover most of the agricultural areas of SA, much of Victoria, eastern and northern Tasmania and some southern border areas of NSW.

Very long-term rainfall deficiencies outside of the usual drought periods persist across parts of southern and eastern Australia. Most notably, rainfall has been below average across much of southwest and southeast Australia since 1997, while the Murray-Darling Basin has experienced below average rainfall since 2002. (source: 'The Australian')

Homelessness

All states except NSW will start receiving funds under the $800 million national homelessness program.

The ACT and the Northern Territory are also yet to strike a deal with the Government.

Community Services Minister Jenny Macklin said the Government was keen to dish out the money so they could "get on with delivering on our homelessness agenda".

Swine flu

Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon recently pledged $7 million would be spent on critical research projects to "best shed more light" on H1N1, which was fast becoming the dominant flu strain.

She announced the National Health and Medical Research Council had approved 41 projects that would "help ensure the Australian Government's response to the evolving threat of H1N1 is based on the most up-to-date information available".

Australian National University researchers had received more than $710,000 to look at the establishment of a rapid alert system, treatments, surveillance and the spread of the disease in prisons, homes and schools.

More than $100,000 went to the University of Canberra for a study on media and public understanding of the risks posed by swine flu.

Researchers would report their findings at a symposium in December, which would bring together chief medical officers and public health specialists.

Health authorities have confirmed 7290 cases of swine flu in Australia.

State of the Regions report 2006-07
Impact of trucks on local roads

The Chief Executive of the Australian Trucking Association (ATA), Stuart St Clair, has backed the proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.

Speaking on Wednesday at the National Press Club, Mr St Clair said although the scheme would be 'enormously expensive' for the industry and its customers with fuel increases of almost 7c per litre for every $25 increase in the carbon price, the alternative was worse - adhoc and inconsistent regulations brought in by state and local governments. He said the ATA had been lobbying the Opposition and minor parties to support the Government's legislation.

Mr St Clair also said the industry did not support a future charging scheme discussed by governments with the preferred model of mass-distance-location pricing. "The trucking industry does not support this plan," he said. "It breaks one of the fundamental rules of tax reform, which is that taxes should be no more complicated than is absolutely necessary. Mr St Clair said it would not do anything to fix one of the key issues in road funding - how to pass the money from the industry's use of local roads to the local governments who own them. "We have been advised that local roads would simply be left out." The trucking industry was developing an alternative charging model for governments to consider. The system could be introduced in conjunction with the national truck registration system that COAG agreed last week to introduce under its plan for national truck laws.

Nominate an Outback or Rural Achiever

Reminder that nominations for the Rural and Outback Awards close today. Every nominee will receive a certificate of recognition and could have the chance to win $2000. You can nominate online here.

Local Adaptation Pathways Program

Under Round 2 of the Local Adaptation Pathways Program, 30 councils in regional and remote areas of Australia received $874,000 to complement and build on the work from Round 1.

The funding will help councils integrate climate change risk assessment into their broader decision-making processes. The greater level of funding available in this Round reflects higher costs for some activites in more remote regions. A list of successful applicants is here: Round 2 Successful Applicants

Climate change adaptation

A report by SMEC Australia on Climate Change Adaptation Actions for Local Government is available here: Climate Change Adaptation Actions for Local Government.

This report forms part of a suite of tools being developed to assist local governments in identifying and implementing climate change adaptation actions. In particular, this report complements Climate Change Impacts & Risk Management - A Guide for Business and Government, released in May 2006.

This report has evolved from the understanding that the level of uncertainty of climate change projections makes it difficult for local governments to prioritise their commitment to adaptation. The most effective adaptation to a changing climate appears to require knowledge of both how the climate will change and how the changes will affect the environment, society and the economy. In addition, changes in other key variables, such as technology, personal preferences and social values, will also influence the rate of climate change, our ability to adapt to it and an increased focus on adaptation planning.

The most easily implemented adaptation actions for local governments are those that, regardless of what changes are occurring to Australia's climate, will provide a net benefit to the environment, society and/or the economy. The fact that some degree of benefit or co-benefits will occur irrespective of the scale of climate change, will help lessen the difficulties associated with scientific uncertainty when implementing adaptation actions.

Indigenous employment and retention

From 1 July 2009 the reformed Indigenous Employment Program (IEP) will provide employers in Industry groups across Australia with a greater range of services to recruit, train and retain Indigenous employees.

A new simplified contracting arrangement means that employers will find it easier to access assistance offered under the reformed IEP.

The new program can offer employers tailored packages of assistance, wage subsidies and several pre-designed packages to assist them to provide more job opportunities for Indigenous Australians.

Assistance and support may be available to:

  • provide on the job training and up skilling for potential and current Indigenous employees
  • provide traineeships, cadetships and apprenticeships
  • contribute to the costs of employment through a wage subsidy
  • conduct training and work familiarisation courses for current and potential Indigenous employees
  • provide accredited language, literacy and numeracy training
  • provide mentoring support and career guidance to Indigenous employees
  • assist Indigenous students to undertake tertiary qualifications

For more details visit: www.deewr.gov.au/Indigenous or call the Indigenous Employment Line on 1802 102.

Educating women

Australian women are more likely to be enrolled in university than men, and the gender disparity is likely to continue to grow, according to new research from The Australian National University.

The study, conducted by ANU economists Professor Alison Booth and Dr Hiau Joo Kee from the Research School of Social Sciences, charted the gender gap in higher education enrolments over almost a century. Using data from a number of sources, the researchers found that currently around 55 per cent of students at Australian universities are women.

The researchers found that from a starting point of the 1911 census where around 22 per cent of students enrolled at universities were women, the numbers and proportion grew steadily until 1950 when there was a steep decline to less than 20 per cent. The numbers of women at university then increased again, and reached parity with men in 1987.

However, the researchers say that despite the statistics, women are still significantly underrepresented in some study fields. "The aggregate figures do disguise considerable heterogeneity across fields of study," said Dr Kee. "There are significant fields - like engineering and surveying - where women remain in the minority, and other fields, such as education and health, where they're in the overwhelming majority."

COAG takes historic step toward a national transport system

National Transport Commission (NTC) Chief Executive Nick Dimopoulos has welcomed the Council of Australian Governments' (COAG) decision last week to implement national safety regulatory systems for the heavy vehicle, rail and maritime industries.

He said the historic commitment by First Ministers to work cooperatively on national micro-economic reform in transport will improve safety and the international competitiveness of Australia's freight sector.

"Fragmented regulation has been a handbrake on the efficient end-to-end movement of people and goods since federation," Mr Dimopoulos said.

"While significant progress has been made to harmonise cross-border transport regulations, today's agreement is a significant step toward seamless national laws that are administered in the same way wherever you are in Australia."

NTC will work with governments to progress a smooth transition to the new national arrangements; particularly the resolution of outstanding policy issues in the rail sector and the consolidation of national heavy vehicle laws.

NTC's Final Regulatory Impact Statement for a Single, National Rail Safety Regulatory and Investigation Framework was developed through extensive public consultation with industry, unions and government.

You can download the document Single, National Rail Safety Regulatory and Investigation Framework Regulatory Impact Statement Volume 1 and
Single, National Rail Safety Regulatory and Investigation Framework Regulatory Impact Statement Volume 2 (Appendices)

More information on the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and Maritime Safety Regulator is available here.

NAIDOC Week

The National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) and the Australian Government are encouraging communities across the country to embrace the theme of NAIDOC Week 2009 - Honouring our Elders, Nurturing our Youth.

NAIDOC Week, from 5-12 July 2009, showcases Indigenous people's achievements and contribution to the nation

Bushfire safety

Key improvements would be made to Victoria's preparations and responses ahead of the upcoming fire season, Premier John Brumby has announced. Mr Brumby said better information and warnings and a much greater emphasis on leaving early on extreme fire danger days would help to protect Victorian lives and property.

Quote of the week

"There are certain people in our popular culture that just capture people's imaginations. And in death, they become even larger. Now, I have to admit that it's also fed by a 24/7 media that is insatiable." -
President Barack Obama, who was asked about the outpouring of emotion related to Michael Jackson's death during an interview with CBS while he was in Moscow.

International news  

German police say an elderly man was so annoyed at hearing the same serenade over and over that he called local authorities to report his neighbours - only to discover the culprit was a musical greeting card on his own windowsill. Police say the 82-year-old from Goslar, in central Germany, told officers he was sick of the music, which would come at irregular intervals and at all hours. Upon further investigation, police found the musical greeting card on his windowsill, where occasional breezes opened the card just enough to play an irritating tune.
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.
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