Briefs
Climate change roundtable
ALGA President Cr Geoff Lake has been appointed to a roundtable which is likely to canvass how the government might protect jobs and offer assistance to households as it moves toward a carbon tax. Representatives from the Climate Institute, Greenpeace Australia Pacific and ClimateWorks Australia will join the heads of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union, and the Australian Workers Union in the roundtable co-chaired by the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet and the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Tony Burke. Joe Ludwig, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, will also be a member. Roundtable meetings will be held monthly in Canberra until the end of 2011.
Accountability watered down in Murray-Darling reform
The COAG Reform Council today called on the Commonwealth and the Basin States to improve public accountability in delivering water reforms under their bilateral Water Management Partnerships.
The Council's first progress report, Water Management Partnerships: Report on Performance 2009, deals with one aspect of the overarching Agreement on Murray-Darling Basin Reform-Water Management Partnerships worth up to $3.7bn.
The Council found that the Basin States made satisfactory progress on their 2009 obligations, such as bringing in new performance standards for processing water trading.
"Overall we found good progress, but this was not surprising given the limited and relatively unambitious nature of the reform obligations set out in these Partnerships," Chairman of the COAG Reform Council, Mr Paul McClintock AO said.
A key concern for the council is that the Partnerships do not reflect the full range of water reforms set out by COAG in the overarching Agreement. The report is available here.
Local government and the population debate
"Does Australia have any realistic option other than to plan for 40 million people by 2050?" This is among the big questions that launch the argument in Australia 2050 - Big Australia? by Brian Haratsis, founder and chief economist at MacroPlan Australia.
The book argues that, with Australia's population to reach 36 million and even 40 million by 2050, planning for growth is necessary. The alternative is congested cities and ports, unaffordable homes, unacceptable carbon footprints, regions with little or no social or economic infrastructure, Indigenous disadvantage and one of the fastest-ageing communities in the world.
Haratsis has some ideas for how regional and rural areas can increase their populations - councils and state governments could create super-affordability by providing incentives such as a land rent scheme; creating rural and regional hubs by targeting areas with basic infrastructure such as regional airports and good road links to remote areas and then providing Federal-Government funded basic infrastructure that people require such as health services and secondary and tertiary educational services. Haratsis also suggests we look at the employment issue in a different way, by considering the workforce as a labour pool and creating a mining and agriculture job mix for example. He also proposes a tax break for those living in regional/remote areas in recognition of fact that they are pioneering the critical mass.
Australia 2050 - Big Australia? is the opening argument for The Australia 2050 project, a collaborative and interactive platform for discussion around nation and city building in Australia from 1950 to 2050. The Australia 2050 Project will create a public platform for such discussion through the use of social media, live presentations and the interactive website. Have your say in the population debate.
Increasing councils' tactical response to flash flooding
Councils now have the opportunity to prepare for and protect vulnerable residents at risk of flood and storm damage.
The Victorian based charity - The Brotherhood of St Laurence is actively working to prepare the community to defend themselves against the effects of flood and storm damage. By working with local councils, "inflatable" sandless floodbags (FloodSax) are provided immediately to residents at risk of flooding.
The Brotherhood has devised the Community Preparedness Program to empower individuals to protect themselves from extreme weather conditions. This program also promotes the SES FloodSafe and FloodWise programs, as well as the Red Cross RediPlan in over 600 locations nationally.
FloodSax are a light weight, biodegradable flood bag that expands on contact with water and is designed to empower those most vulnerable in our community.
The Attorney General's latest document (Manual 20) on "Flood Preparedness" reinforces that the following groups are most susceptible to the hazards floods pose to:
- the elderly
- the poor
- single-parent families, large families or families with very young children
- those lacking access to a motor vehicle
- the ill or infirm
- newcomers
- members of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.
The Mackay Regional Council has endorsed a rebate system to encourage residents to be better prepared and reduce demand on council and SES resources. A rebate is offered to any resident in the region if they purchase FloodSax sandless flood bags in readiness for the storm season.
Mayor Col Meng said the rebate was a simple, effective way to ensure residents were cyclone or flood ready. "This is a proactive approach that reduces the risk of residents needing to line up to get sandbags during inclement weather. If the community had a handy supply at home, these critical resources could be deployed to better deal with flooding issues across the region."
To find out more information contact Grantley Reed on 0438312003 or grantleyr@floodsax.com.au or visit website.
Introduction to Emergency Management
The Australian Emergency Management Institute (AEMI) will be conducting the course Introduction to Emergency Management for Local Government at Mount Macedon 9 - 11 November 2010.
There are currently a number of places available on this course and as local government representatives are currently exempt from paying course fees (they do still have to cover their own airfares) AEMI is hoping that there will be local government people who wish to attend this course.
Please note that anyone interested in applying should do so ASAP, as applications will need to close soon. Inquiries to Christine Dalton on 03 5421 5266.
Establishment of the Non-Profit Sector Reform Council
The Australian Government has called for nominations to the Non-Profit Sector Reform Council, which will be established for an initial period of one year to support the Office for the Non-Profit Sector to implement the Government's commitment to smarter regulation, reduced red tape and improved transparency and accountability of the sector.
The Council will provide advice to the Office on the Government's non-profit reform agenda and is expected to meet up to four times a year. Specifically, the Council will advise on:
- the role, feasibility and design options for a national 'one-stop-shop' regulator for the sector;
- streamlining Commonwealth Government tendering and contracting processes for government funded non-profit organisations, including the development of a common form contract;
- harmonisation of fundraising and other State and Territory legislation;
- additional recommendations contained in the Productivity Commission's Research Report on the Contribution of the Not-for-Profit Sector.
The Council will also support the implementation of the National Compact: working together. Membership of the Council will reflect the diversity of the non-profit sector. Nominations are due by 31 October. Details of membership requirements and the nominations process re available at Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website.
Further information about the Reform Council can be obtained by calling (02) 6271 5131 or sending an email to nonprofit@pmc.gov.au.
Rouse Hill at top of heap
The eco-conscious Rouse Hill town centre in New South Wales has been named as one of the five best new developments in the world, after earlier being labelled one of the top five in the Asia-Pacific region.
The centre joined the L.A. LIVE entertainment district in Los Angeles, the Miasteczko Wilanow neighbourhood in Warsaw, the Southern Ridges corridor in Singapore and the Thin Flats infill development in Philadelphia as winners of the Urban Land Institute's 2010 global awards for excellence. The Rouse Hill town centre was developed by the GPT Group and Lend Lease, with 220 retailers, 104 apartments, 2800 square metres of office space, 10 restaurants and a cinema built around a town square.
The target is to use 60 per cent less water and 40 per cent less energy than comparable retail centres and there is a zero waste-to-landfill objective. More than 130,000 tonnes of recycled materials were used in the construction and 130,000 indigenous seedlings planted. There are cycle paths with parking for 300 bicycles.
Diversity@Work
The 2010 Diversity@Work Awards celebrated its 10th anniversary on Thursday night at Peninsula Docklands, in Melbourne.
The awards recognised the efforts of small and large companies across the spectrum of corporate Australia, not for profit organisations as well as many federal and state government departments.
The City of Whittlesea won the prestigious Diversity Laureate Awards (the Small to Medium category), celebrating those organisations who have embraced diversity and inclusion strategies holistically.
Volunteering survey
The 2010 National Survey of Volunteering Issues is now open. Volunteering Australia values the significant involvement and contribution made by volunteers through local government in metropolitan, regional and remote communities across Australia. It is also recognising the important role local government plays in engaging and supporting volunteers in these communities. The survey is available here.
The survey will close on 12 November. A summary of the results will be launched from the Volunteering Australia website on Friday, 4 December in celebration of International Volunteer Day.
Rural and regional planning
Researchers at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) are seeking Australian rural and regional planners to take part in an online survey to better understand their challenges and experiences, priorities for their region, how decisions are currently made and how the decision-making process could be enhanced. The survey is being conducted as part of a larger national research project investigating sustainability issues facing rural and regional communities and is funded by an Australian Research Council grant to QUT, Southern Downs Regional Council, Western Downs Regional Council, Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, and the Condamine Alliance. As a thank you for participating, there is a prize draw for $500 worth of gift vouchers. The survey is at Challenges and Experiences of Regional Planners in Australia.
If you experience problems with this link, please cut and paste the following URL into your browser: http://survey.qut.edu.au/survey/170645/4fb0/
ATUG Awards
Nominations can be lodged at www.atug.com.au and close on the 28th January 2011 for the 2011 Australian Telecommunications Users Group (ATUG) National Awards for Effective Use of Broadband and the 2011 National Awards for Communications Excellence. Winners in all award categories will be announced on 31st March 2011 at the ATUG Annual Awards Gala Event at the Australian Technology Park in Sydney.
Assistance for NSW flood victims
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, has announced that the Commonwealth Government would provide financial assistance to New South Wales communities affected by recent flooding.
Commonwealth assistance is being provided through the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) and will apply to Wagga Wagga, Albury and Tumut, Tumbarumba, Greater Hume and Lockhart shires.
Funding will include assistance for the restoration of essential public infrastructure and relief operations, including:
- personal hardship and distress (PHD) grants to eligible individuals and families whose homes and essential household items have been damaged or destroyed. Enquiries should be directed to NSW Community Services, Disaster Welfare Services on 1800 018 444;
- concessional loans of up to $130,000 for eligible small businesses and primary producers. Enquiries should be directed to the NSW Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593;
- concessional loans of up to $25,000 for voluntary, non-profit organisations. Enquiries should be directed to NSW Treasury on (02) 9228 5198; and
- transport freight subsidies of up to 50 per cent to assist primary producers for the carriage of livestock and fodder. Enquiries should be directed to the Industry and Investment - NSW office on 1800 814 647.
Call for clarity on reform agenda goals
The organisation established to scrutinise the COAG reform agenda has called on governments to more clearly define their goals.
The COAG Reform Council has released the first progress report, COAG reform agenda: Report on progress 2010, on whether governments are achieving what they set out to across COAG's entire reform agenda. Download the full report here.
Report on cities
"Give city dwellers a real say", Jane-Frances Kelly, Cities Program Director at the Grattan Institute, said today on the release of Cities: Who Decides?.
Grattan's report investigated decision making in eight of the world's most successful cities, asking what governance arrangements accompanied their broad-based improvement. The cities investigated included: Vancouver, Toronto, Seattle, Portland, Chicago, Austin, Dublin and Copenhagen. Experts were interviewed from each city, including former mayors, heads of business groups, CEOs, academics, leaders from civil society and planners. The cities were chosen because they shared important characteristics with cities in Australia. A copy of the report is available here.
Quote of the week
"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul." - Scottish-born naturalist, writer, conservationist John Muir
International news 
A dramatic rise in violent attacks on small-town mayors in Sardinia has been linked to soaring job losses due to factory closures and the slump in sheep farming on the island. Mayor Gian Paolo Marras of Ottana, on central Sardinia, has resigned after a social services office was bombed and a shotgun fired at his home. Days later, the car belonging to a council official in the town of Siniscola was burned out and a horse belonging to the mayor of nearby Illoria was found shot dead with its ears and tongue cut off. Over the last five years Sardinian politicians have been attacked or threatened on more than 1,300 occasions. (Source: 'Guardian Weekly')
|
