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4 Sep 2009
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Local government on track with Stimulus spending

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ALGA President Cr Geoff Lake has praised councils for the positive assessment local government received in the Commonwealth Coordinator General's Progress Report on the Economic Stimulus package for the period 3 February to 30 June 2009 released last Friday. The Report covers the progress of all elements of the Economic Stimulus Package including funding provided to local government as part of Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program (CIP). Since 30 June 2009, councils have reported the commencement of around 3,000 CIP projects and the completion of more than 300 projects. The 137 strategic projects have all been contracted and more than 20 have commenced since 30 June 2009. "The ability of local government to deliver in meeting national economic needs will be judged on the timely completion of projects during the delivery phase of the program," Cr Lake said. A national program assurance reviewer will be appointed to conduct a national program assurance review in the second half of 2009 and report to Coordinators General on best practice, risk identification and improved practices as relevant. Another step being taken by the Coordinator-General is the establishment of Business Rules, to support Commonwealth agencies in managing complaints, representations and requests for information. These Business Rules are ensuring arrangements in Commonwealth agencies are more consistent and assist agencies to identify and deal with requests for information. The Coordinator General's report can be viewed here.

(Photo: Cleve and districts swimming pool from ALGA's infrastructure register).

Australia-China Sister Cities and Business Summit

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The Australia-China Sister Cities and Business Summit was held at NSW Parliament House on Monday. Relations between China and Australia are of vital importance to long term economic prosperity between the two countries as demonstrated with the recent signing of the largest export contract in Australia's history worth $50 billion. The contract to export gas from Western Australia's Gorgon field would see 6,000 workers on the job at the peak construction period. The Summit provided a valuable platform for local government, communities and business to exchange ideas, gain knowledge, identify business opportunities, establish networks and form friendships. ALGA President Cr Geoff Lake attended the Summit and provided a welcome address which talked about his experience with Monash City Council in Victoria, having a high proportion of people with Chinese ancestry, the diversity of councils around Australia and the opportunities for local governments in Australia and China to work together to develop trade, business and educational opportunities.

The National Local Roads and Transport Congress

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This year's National Local Roads and Transport Congress is being held in Mackay from 8-10 November.

The Congress will feature a wide range of speakers from Federal and State politics, academics, experts and importantly local council representatives.

The Congress this year has been structured so that it will be of interest to delegates from all parts of Australia. There will be separate sessions dealing with issues important to rural and regional Australia such as timber bridges and access to indigenous communities. For delegates from urban areas their sessions will cover issues of urban development and public transport.

At present local government is benefiting from past efforts of lobbying the Federal Government on local road funding and on urban transport. We need to keep up that pressure so that there will, at minimum, be no funding roll-back and we must aim for even greater funding support.

This Congress is likely to be the last before the next Federal election and we aim to develop from the presentations and discussions at the Congress a set of proposals to put to the Government and the Opposition in the lead up to the next election. Your presence at the Congress will demonstrate to both sides of politics how important these issues are to local government.

A brochure for the Congress is being sent to all council next week with registration details. However there is no need to wait for the brochure - delegates can register on line from the ALGA website at http://nga.alga.asn.au/event/2009/ and save over a $100 per delegate by taking advantage of the early bird discounts. These discounts will end on 11 September.
From the President

It seems like a long time ago now, but it was only last year that we held our Local Government Constitutional Summit from 8-11 December in Melbourne. Over 570 delegates from every state and territory reached agreement that local government should have a place in the Australian Constitution.

There has been considerable progress towards this goal since that historic meeting and I thought it would be useful to provide an update.

On 22 April 2009 the Rudd Government restated its commitment to a dialogue on the issue of the recognition of local government in the constitution and that it intended to progress this in partnership with ALGA through the Australian Council of Local Government.

In May this year, ALGA commissioned leading constitutional lawyer Professor George Williams to prepare a technical briefing paper examining the merits of the three options for the constitutional recognition of local government - a new preamble, institutional recognition and financial recognition.

We also engaged the help of a communications company to assist in devising a strategy to guide local government's ambition to pursue constitutional change. Since July 2009, CPR Communications has been assisting ALGA to develop a communications strategy.

At the same time, former barrister and academic at NSW's University of New England, Mr Bryan Pape, challenged the Commonwealth Government's right to pay 8.7 million Australians a one-off stimulus payment of between $250 and $900 each. Although the High Court, by a narrow 4 to 3 margin, found that these stimulus payments to individuals were valid, it did so on the grounds of the Commonwealth's ability to make such payments in the face of a global financial crisis. So without the current financial turmoil, the stimulus payments, including the payments to local government, would have been judged unconstitutional by the Court. The ramifications arising from this judgment extend to all other payments made directly to local government by the Commonwealth such as the Roads to Recovery Program. ALGA is involved in discussions with the Australian Government on to the implications of the decision.

The resounding view of the Melbourne Summit was that in modern times - when each of the three levels of government accepts the proposition that the Commonwealth should provide funding to local government - it makes no sense at all that the constitution potentially precludes the Commonwealth from making direct payments to councils because there is no specific power to do so. That's why virtually no one disagrees with the proposition that it is in everyone's interests - councils, ratepayers and the states - for a clear and simple financial power to be inserted in the constitution to expressly allow the Commonwealth to make financial payments direct to local government. It essentially reflects what happens already - but importantly, it removes the need for unnecessary and costly bureaucracy and legislation to get around this constitutional uncertainty.

The first stage of our communications strategy has involved gathering and commissioning social research. In depth focus group interviews across Australia have been held and thousands of people have been surveyed to gather information to inform our campaign. The results of this research will be used to develop the messages, arguments and the case for change. A design company has developed a graphic which can be used nationally on all correspondence to raise awareness and understanding for the need to change our 100+ year old Australian Constitution and the modern role played by local government in our society.

We are about to move into the next phase of the campaign, which will involve face-to-face-meetings with key players and stakeholders across Australia. This is an exciting time for local government. We are pursuing the case for change in a measured and researched way, but we are determined to succeed. I will provide further updates on progress in coming weeks.

Cr Geoff Lake
ALGA President

Bushfire report reception

The Indigo Council says it wants governments to commit to better telecommunications in north-east Victoria before the bushfire season. The Victorian Government yesterday announced that it supports all 51 recommendations in the Bushfires Royal Commission interim report. One of them is a national telephone emergency warning system.

But Indigo Council's CEO, Brendan McGrath, says the system will be ineffective unless mobile phone reception is dramatically improved. "In some of our communities ... access to that sort of communication isn't available," he said. "We've certainly been working through the Government to try and get a commitment to better communications systems to those communities."

Meanwhile clarification of rules for clearing native vegetation around the home will help to provide more certainty for property owners, but a balanced approach rather than wholesale tree removal must be encouraged according to the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV).

"The MAV and councils are hopeful that the Royal Commission will provide recommendations, once it has heard all the evidence, on how best to balance fuel load reduction and native vegetation conservation," MAV CEO Rob Spence said. "Importantly, now that the rules have been clarified and expanded for home owners, councils will be working to help communities understand and apply them so properties can be cleaned up before the fire season."

Praise for Healthy Spaces

More expensive cigarettes, junk food advertising bans and phasing out of alcohol advertising during live sports broadcasts are under consideration by the federal government. The National Preventative Health Taskforce delivered its blueprint to make Australia the healthiest country in the world by 2020 to federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon on Tuesday. The taskforce wants the government to boost tobacco tax to ensure the average price of a packet of 30 cigarettes would rise from $13.50 to $20 within three years.

Junk food advertising on TV would be banned before 9pm and the use of toys, cartoon characters and celebrities to appeal to children would also be phased out under the recommendations. Gym memberships could earn people a tax break, and families would pay less tax if they enrolled their children in sports clubs. In particular, the Taskforce has identified the Healthy Spaces and Places initiative as a way to help drive the development of a comprehensive new National Framework for Active Living that addresses the built environment, transport and social engagement. Further information on the Taskforce report can be found here.

Ms Roxon said the government would consider the report and put its reform plans, which will also flow from reviews of primary care and hospitals, to the states and territories at a Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting in December.

Warmest winter

Australia has just experienced its warmest winter on record.

Blair Trewin, from the National Climate Centre, said that winter had been particularly dry, as well as warm, for much of eastern Australia. Melbourne's rainfall for the first eight months of the year is the lowest on record by 0.2mm. The previous record was set in 1997. Queensland was also very dry, recording its driest July and August on record. NSW's rainfall was below average for winter.

Across Bass Strait, Tasmania has been very wet, having "its fourth-wettest winter", Dr Trewin said. Records kept tumbling throughout August, nowhere more so than in the outback Queensland town of Windorah.

Dr Trewin said Windorah's record for the August maximum temperature was broken and re-set six times in the past month. "At the beginning of the month it was 34.9C and it is now 38C," he said. "Until this year, they never had a 35C day in August, and this year they had seven of them."

The Bureau of Meteorology's spring outlook is for drier than average conditions over most of the country, except for the southwest. The temperature outlook is for a warmer than average spring across the country. The El Nino weather event persists in the Pacific Ocean, but the indicators are mixed and its development has slowed.

More marriages, less divorces

Over 118,000 marriages were registered and more than 47,000 divorces were granted in Australia during 2008, according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). This is an increase of 2.1% in registered marriages and a 1.6% drop in divorces compared to 2007.

Other findings include:

  • The proportion of couples choosing a Civil Celebrant to officiate their marriage grew to 65.0%.
  • The proportion of couples who chose to live together prior to marriage grew to 77.7%.
  • November was the most popular month to marry, with over 15,000 marriages. This was followed by March and October.
  • The median age at divorce has been increasing steadily for both males and females over the past 20 years. In 2008, this trend continued for females with median age increasing by 0.1 years to 41.4, while for males the median age decreased by 0.1 years to 44.1.

Further information is available in, Marriages and Divorces, Australia, 2008 (cat. no. 3310.0).

The cost of bad behavior

It is wonderful how researchers always manage to put a dollar figure ontheir work to catch attention. Apparently the stress of having to put up with bad manners could cost up to $US300 billion ($363 billion) in lost productivity. The US authors of 'The Cost of Bad Behaviour: How Incivility is Damaging Your Business and What to Do About It,' Christine Pearson, says this behavior includes texting in meetings, spreading rumours, taking credit for others' work, ignoring emails and not saying "please" and "thank you." (Source AP)

State of the Regions report 2006-07
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Scott packs a Punch

In a recent opinion piece on 'The Punch' site, Shadow Housing and Local Government Minister Scott Morrison outlines his views on local government and is keen to get feedback. In the article he talks about the importance of keeping councils local, opposes forced amalgamations and favours 'a carrot and stick' approach to drive reform of councils at the grass roots level and hold state governments more to account for the burdens they place on local government.

"I think local government can be doing a lot more in our communities," the Shadow Minister says. "They could even take over many of the responsibilities of our states, such as housing. This is where amending our Constitution to provide for the Commonwealth to directly fund councils could offer some 'change you can believe in'. However, the quid pro quo must be a comprehensive reform agenda, driven at the local level, rather than mandated on high. We should set timetables for such reforms to be delivered and allocate funds, in particular additional funds and federal funds, to those councils who have decided to get their act together." For full article and opportunity for comment click here.

Fibre in greenfields

The first meeting of the Fibre in Greenfields Stakeholder Reference Group was held in Canberra on 1 September. The role of the Stakeholder Group is to assist the Government to facilitate the smooth and successful implementation of the initiative by providing stakeholder views and disseminating information to stakeholders. The Group is a reference body that will address issues around the operational elements of implementation of the fibre in greenfields initiative. The meeting agreed a work plan to ensure that it can provide timely advice to the Australian Government on relevant matters. The Group is comprised of representatives from relevant sectors including telecommunications, developers, building and construction, energy, standards bodies and all levels of government. In general, sectors are represented by their peak bodies.

Caring for our Country

The Australian Government has appointed Malcolm Petrie to the position of Caring for our Country National Coordinator - Local Government. Malcolm will be working in this role to:

  • improve local government understanding of Caring for our Country outcomes and targets;
  • improve access to knowledge and skills for local governments working on natural resource management issues relevant to Caring for our Country;
  • promote the benefit to local government of linking with other government, regional, non-government, Indigenous and community initiatives to deliver Caring for our Country outcomes ;
  • communicate local government on-ground experience and learning back to governments, and
  • promote the successes of Caring for our Country, particularly to demonstrate local government and community achievements.

Malcolm can be contacted on 07 3004 4754, 0417 605 928 or email malcolm.petrie@nrm.gov.au For further information on the Caring for our Country program visit www.nrm.gov.au

Free cycling training

AustCycle is a joint venture between Cycling Australia, the Amy Gillett Foundation and the Bicycle Federation of Australia. Throughout 2009 The Department of Environment and Climate Change, NSW (DECC) has provided a significant number of cycling vouchers, each worth $360, free to companies, councils and community groups to provide adult AustCycle training courses for everyone from beginners to experienced riders. Since its launch, the DECC Voucher Program has provided more than 150 groups with free cycling training. This program has now been extended to March 31, 2010. For further information about the vouchers, contact DECC via email at OnYourBike@environment.nsw.gov.au. To apply for a voucher, simply fill in the DECC Faxback Form available on the AustCycle website.

Safer venues program

Eleven of Logan's licensed venues have taken a proactive approach to safety by participating in the Safer Venues Program aimed at reducing violence and antisocial behaviour. Deputy Mayor and Safe City Advisory Committee Chairperson, Councillor Russell Lutton, said the program looked at ways to reduce injury, violence and street crime in and around licensed venues.

The program was launched by Queensland Health in partnership with Drug Arm in Toowoomba in 2003, and has been so successful in making participating venues safer that it has now been rolled out in other locations including Fortitude Valley, Pine Rivers and Ipswich. The program involves a venue audit with consideration given to a range of issues like responsible service of alcohol, fire safety, workplace health and safety, tobacco legislation, security, lighting and access. A number of recommendations are given on how establishments can be made safer, such as reducing the number of drinks that can be bought in one transaction, displaying responsible gambling posters and ensuring the safety of designated smoking areas. Cr Lutton said the program was voluntary, with each participating venues receiving a gold, silver, bronze or participation award."Results from previous Safer Venues programs show that more than half of the venues that participated had made improvements to their safety standards and had seen a reduction in injury and anti-social behaviour," he said.

Quote of the week

"Times of turbulence provide the greatest ideas and opportunities." -
(Pablo Picasso)

International news  

China on Thursday granted approval to the country's first homegrown swine flu vaccine, which producer Sinovac says is effective after only one dose.

The decision could signal a major breakthrough in the global fight against A(H1N1) influenza, as most experts had assumed that two doses per person would be needed to provide adequate protection.

"The Sinovac H1N1 vaccine is officially approved," the head of the State Food and Drug Administration's registration department, Zhang Wei, told reporters.

"The completion of trials for Beijing Sinovac's vaccine has shown this vaccine to be very safe," the regulatory agency said in a brief statement ahead of a news conference.

Zhang said the SFDA was looking at applications from nine other companies developing vaccines against the A(H1N1) virus, with a decision expected by mid-September.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says at least 2,185 people have died after contracting swine flu, which has become the most prevalent strain of influenza. The virus has been detected in nearly every country in the world.

The UN health body has warned of a possible A(H1N1) vaccine shortage as the winter and the regular flu season approaches in the northern hemisphere.

Countries in the northern hemisphere have so far ordered more than one billion doses of swine flu vaccine, according to the WHO.

More than two dozen pharmaceutical companies around the world are racing to test, produce and ship vaccines before the global pandemic enters an expected second wave.

Five of those firms will account for more than 80 percent of production: Sanofi-Pasteur in France, AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in Britain, Baxter in the United States, and the Swiss group Novartis.

But Sinovac announced after clinical trials in mid-August that its one-dose formula had proven effective, a major advantage as the vaccine would be easier to administer and available to more people.

"We have not found any negative side-effects, it is safe and reliable," Sinovac president Yin Weidong told AFP in a recent interview at the company's Beijing headquarters.

Hans Troedsson, the outgoing WHO representative in China, said a one-dose vaccine would be "very important as it means we can vaccinate twice as many."

The Chinese government plans to vaccinate 65 million people, or five percent of the total population of 1.3 billion, before year's end.

Britain and France received their first batches of swine flu vaccine in late August.
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
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