Disaster relief discussed at COAG, Emergency Management Ministers' Council

ALGA President Cr Genia McCaffery attended her first Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting on Sunday 13 February when the Council reconvened for its first meeting under Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

While health was naturally the major focus of the meeting, a critical issue for local government was the substantial discussion on natural disasters which included presentations by the Queensland and Victorian Premiers, a wide-ranging debate on issues relating to response, relief and recovery and adoption by COAG of the new National Strategy for Disaster Resilience.

The flood events over the summer have caused great damage to public infrastructure, including major damage to local bridges, roads, community infrastructure and water and sewerage schemes and the challenge facing councils in terms of rebuilding and repair is enormous. Cr McCaffery told her fellow COAG members of the difficulties faced by councils with limited resources and urged State and Federal Governments to provide the support local government needs to rebuild. Cr McCaffery also reminded COAG of the importance of mitigation works and the need for investment in cost effective projects to ensure that, where feasible, communities are protected by flood levees and other mitigation works.

COAG also agreed on a streamlined approach to its work in the future, with a focus on strategic national priorities and regulatory reform, and also agreed to reform the system of ministerial councils by focusing them on COAG priorities and reducing the number of councils from 40 to 23. Importantly, COAG agreed that local government, through ALGA, will continue its membership of those councils of greatest strategic importance to local government.

The Emergency Management Ministers' Council held an extraordinary meeting on Friday 11 February to consider and agree on a draft National Strategy for Disaster Resilience to be recommended to COAG for adoption just two days later. The Ministers received presentations from jurisdictions on the disaster events of the summer and considered how to improve preparedness, response and recovery. A particular area of concern was the issue of access to insurance.

ALGA was represented by Cr Paul Bell who took the opportunity to emphasise to Ministers that effective response to disasters required a partnership between all levels of government. Cr Bell highlighted the great challenge councils faced in repairing and replacing infrastructure damaged in the disasters, particularly those councils with low rate bases. Cr Bell stressed the need for support from other levels of government and the need for flexibility in the application of the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements in assist councils to deal with damage to water, sewerage and transport infrastructure. He also highlighted the need for council concerns to be addressed in a proposed review of insurance by Treasurers, noting the difficulties councils faced in insuring public infrastructure. Cr Bell also spoke of the need to ensure that all governments invest in appropriate and cost-effective mitigation works aimed at minimising the impact of disasters.

COAG Communique

Emergency Management Ministers' Council Communique

Robert Gottliebsen to lead National General Assembly discussion

Robert Gottliebsen, one of Australia's leading financial and business commentators, will provide a fascinating and informed insight into Australia's economic outlook, business attitudes, tax policy and the role of government, at this year's National General Assembly of Local Government. Gottliebsen has a 40-year history in business journalism and has a unique perspective on the drivers of Australia's economic prosperity, the needs of business and Australian politics. In November 2007 Robert joined with Alan Kohler, and Stephen Bartholomeusz to establish one of the best free business and investment web sites in world: www.businessspectator.com.au. Gottliebsen's address will set a context within which local government will consider its position in the Australian Federation and debating means by which it can: achieve constitutional recognition; a fair share of Commonwealth taxation revenue; and stop cost shifting and the 'blame game' between levels of government. The NGA will be held in Canberra 19-22 June. Register at http://nga.alga.asn.au

Constitutional recognition: a new partnership

The Shadow Minister for Local Government, Senator Barnaby Joyce, delivered a robust speech in Parliament last week on the need for constitutional recognition for local government, better resourcing for councils and strengthening direct funding from the Commonwealth to local government.

He praised ALGA 'for its hard work and persistence with regard to constitutional reform.'

"Recognition is essential to ensure that local governments can continue to deliver their vital services to each and every community across Australia," Senator Joyce said. "Therefore, the Coalition is supportive of constitutional recognition of local government."

Senator Joyce said the Coalition was committed to building a new partnership between federal and local government across Australia "that recognises local government's role as the jurisdiction closest to and most engaged with our local communities; enhances the Commonwealth's direct financial relationships with local government; continues Commonwealth support to keep local government on a more sustainable financial footing and ensure the States abide by their promise to avoid cost-shifting; encourages improved professionalism in local government in such areas as governance, project delivery, financial and asset management and workforce planning as part of greater certainty in funding arrangements; supports the role of local government in the Council of Australian Governments, ministerial councils and cooperative planning with State and Federal jurisdictions; recognises the capacity of local councils to be an alternative way to deliver Commonwealth funded initiatives; and supports efforts by local government to secure constitutional recognition and provide certainty regarding the powers of the Commonwealth to enter into direct financial relationships with local government."

With a realpolitik flavour, Senator Joyce spoke of the need for broad community support for a referendum to succeed. In its 2011-12 Budget Submission ALGA proposes a nationals civics education campaign to increase community awareness about the Constitution.

"Nonetheless, I note that a referendum on local government has failed twice already...Ultimately, it does not matter what I say or what the Coalition says. We need the people to support it for the referendum to succeed."

There is a lot written about the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) and the personalities involved but it's only when you walk into the Cabinet Room and take your seat along with the Prime Minister, Premiers and Chief Ministers and get down to the hard business of achieving national reform that the weight of responsibility comes home. Of course local government does not have hospitals or responsibility for casualty wards or emergency beds but we do have an interest in many elements of primary care, aged care and home and community care and these are issues which also feature in health reform. For that reason it was important to ensure that those issues were not forgotten in the discussions.

While the focus was on health, the early part of COAG was given over to natural disasters and Premiers Bligh and Baillieu provided an overview of the widespread impacts on their States of the unprecedented flooding (and the impact of Cyclone Yasi) over the summer. The subsequent discussion ended with the adoption of a new National Disaster Resilience Strategy aimed at improving the strengthening the resilience of individuals and communities by improving their preparedness and capacity to respond and recover. During this discussion I was keen to make the point that many councils now face enormous challenges in repairing and replacing destroyed and damaged infrastructure, challenges for which they are not resourced. I urged leaders to support councils in meeting these costs, noting that communities could not survive without this essential infrastructure.

I also made the point to COAG that councils have invested heavily in mitigation works, such as flood levees, to minimise the impact of unavoidable flooding, but that such investment needs to be done in partnership with the other levels of government. COAG has long accepted the need for cost-effective mitigation, which was highlighted in a 2002 Report to COAG on Natural Disasters, and we have to make sure that the Federal and State Governments continue to support this investment which is a vital part of ensuring that communities are resilient in the face of natural disasters.

On a final note I want to take the opportunity to reflect on the great contribution made by so many Mayors who played such important local leadership roles in responding to the disaster events over the summer. Whether it was floods, cyclones or the recent bushfire in the West, our Mayors provided strong leadership and advocacy for their communities and did us proud. They strongly reinforced the status of local government as the legitimate third level of government and strengthened the case for local government to be formally recognised in the Constitution and for that, and so much else, I thank them.

Cr Genia McCaffery
ALGA President

Briefs

Govt pledges to cut through 'red tape' in aftermath of Cyclone Yasi, floods

Councils are putting in place strategies to help residents doing it tough in the wake of massive flooding and Cyclone Yasi. These include extensions for rate payments in certain circumstances and the activation of natural disaster relief measures such as concessional loans for small business and primary producers, the personal hardship assistance scheme and restoration of essential public assets. After Cyclone Yasi, 19 local governments were declared natural disaster zones while 73 councils are involved at some level in the flood and cyclone clean-up.

The Treasurer Wayne Swan said in his Economic Note this week that "there were some frustrations expressed about the pace of recovery, but what struck me most was the determination of the locals to get on with the job. According to new estimates from Treasury, Yasi may have wiped out around $700 million in rural production, $200 million in non-rural exports due to temporary coal terminal closures, and about $100 million in tourism activity. The Federal Government has already contributed more than $148 million in disaster recovery payments to people affected by the cyclone, and provided more than 1,000 ADF personnel to clear roads, transport supplies and help with the clean-up. Given the scale of the disaster and North Queensland's reliance on a few key industries, we'll be looking at further assistance measures in the days ahead. We've come under a lot of pressure, but our economy, like the Australian people, will bounce back strongly after the devastation of recent natural disasters, and that's why we haven't taken our eye off fiscal responsibility and our economic reform agenda."

The Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, Simon Crean, gave a speech last week in support of the Flood Condolence Motion in the House of Representatives. Mr Crean said he had met with the mayors of affected towns of Gatton, Emerald, Bundaberg, Grafton, Maryborough, Cairns, Kerang and Wycheproof and thanked them for the information they have provided. "I invited them to let me know if they need assistance in cutting through any of the red tape," he said. "More importantly, I said that we need honest assessments about the level of damage and we need their input to the process of the strategic rebuild."

Survey gives hope for improved relationships with Australia's First Peoples

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda says Reconciliation Australia's 2010 Australian Reconciliation Barometer gives a sense of hope for continued improvements in the relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Commissioner Gooda said the social barometer would also be an excellent resource for the Expert Panel on constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians and would assist them in their planning.

Up to the minute information on human rights is now available on twitter at twitter.com/AusHumanRights.

Further assistance for WA bushfire victims

Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Attorney-General Robert McClelland have announced additional Commonwealth Government assistance for people impacted by the recent bushfires in Western Australia. The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment will be made available to victims of the recent bushfires. Eligibility criteria apply for people claiming the AGDRP. The payment will also be made available to people impacted by flooding last month in the Carnavon region.

The payments will be available in the following Local Government Areas notified as disaster affected by the WA Government:

• WA Bushfires - Armadale, Canning, Chittering, Serpentine Jarrahdale and the City of Swan.
• Carnarvon Floods - Ashburton, Carnarvon, Exmouth, Murchison, Northampton, Shark Bay and Upper Gascoyne.

The announcement is in addition to Commonwealth Assistance already being provided, including assistance under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements; and the Disaster Income Recovery Subsidy. Information about Commonwealth Government assistance is available here or here.

Last chance to have your say on Road Safety Strategy

Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Transport, Catherine King, said the consultation period on the draft National Road Safety Strategy 2011-2020 will close today.

Ms King said she was delighted at the level of public discussion on the draft strategy following its launch on 1 December last year.

"Recommendations on levels of alcohol for drivers and the use of mobile phones and other distractions in modern cars have generated a great deal of healthy debate.

"There are many other important recommendations contained in the draft strategy and I urge people who have not done so to get their submissions in. We really want to know how Australians think we can further reduce the road toll."

The draft National Road Safety Strategy 2011-2020 is based on Safe System principles and outlines a plan for action that will drive further progress over the next decade and beyond. "The draft strategy is available for public comment until 18 February 2011 and I urge all Australians to provide their input by visiting my department's website."

International Womens Day 8 March

International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated around the world on March 8 to honour women's actions and achievements, and to recognise the continuing challenges in achieving equity and fairness. In 2011 we also acknowledge IWD's international 100th anniversary with the theme 'Celebrating 100 Years'. The centenary marks the 100th anniversary of a rally of over a million European women on 19 March 1911 calling for the right of women to vote, work and hold public office. For more information and to view IWD events visit the IWD website.

Other key diversity dates:

• International Women's Day - March 8
• Cultural Diversity Week (inc. International Harmony Day on 21 March) - March 19-27
• UN World Refugee Day - June 20
• NAIDOC Week - July 3 - 10
• White Ribbon Day (UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) - November 25
• World Aids Day - December 1
• International Day for People with a Disability - December 3
• International Human Rights Day - December 10

Women's Representation in Local Government report

A new report, Women's Representation in Local Government in Asia Pacific - Status Report 2010, has been launched.

The report serves one main purpose:

To deepen the understanding of progress made towards the Millennium Development Goal 3, Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women, by introducing a sub-national measure of women's political representation. To this end, the Status Report forms a baseline measure of women's representation in sub-national government on a country by country basis. With a focus on countries in the Asia-Pacific region, this report is aimed at:

• Senior policy makers, local governments and their associations;
• National and sub-national ministries for women's empowerment;
• Political parties and electoral management bodies;
• Donor agencies (including UN, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and bilateral donors); and
• Non-governmental organizations advocating for women's political participation.

The report was prepared jointly by the United Nations Development Programme Asia-Pacific Regional Centre, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women), the Commonwealth Local Government Forum and the United Cities and Local Governments Asia Pacific. The organisations will monitor the use of this publication, and received feedback will be taken into account for future research. The report is available here.