Councils get behind constitutional recognition campaign

Letters are flowing in from councils around Australia to advise that they have passed resolutions to support the financial recognition of local government in the Constitution. With each resolution, councils are also sending letters to the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and their local Members of Parliament. It is vitally important that councils continue to demonstrate to the major parties that there is a wide base of support amongst councils around Australia for constitutional recognition, as the Prime Minister has said that the Government would need to be convinced that there is wide support prior to proceeding with a referendum. ALGA calls on all councils to pass a resolution on constitutional recognition and to write to the PM and the Leader of the Opposition. For more information, contact Monica Telesny at monica.telesny@alga.asn.au or on 02 61229433.

As part of the political campaign ALGA President Genia McCaffery wrote to all parliamentarians late last year outlining ALGA's position on constitutional reform and offering to meet those who required further information. Following these letters, Cr McCaffery has been asked by several politicians to provide a personal briefing on constitutional reform.

Councils will have a further opportunity to declare their support for constitutional change at the National General Assembly (NGA) in June, which will devote a considerable time to the progress on reform.

There will be a panel session on the advertising pitch which could support the public marketing campaign - featuring James O'Loughlin (Host of New Inventors), John Hewson (former Opposition Leader), Annabel Crabb (political journalist), and Jane Caro (social commentator). A campaign update will be provided and constitutional expert Prof. George Williams will present the legal framework and the financial imperative. The NGA will culminate with each council being able to show their support to the Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, Simon Crean. More details about the NGA here.

National Broadband Network inquiry

The parliamentary inquiry into the role and potential benefits of the National Broadband Network has received 186 submissions, 37 of those are from councils and regional organisations of councils (ROCs), demonstrating the commitment and enthusiasm being shown by councils for the uptake of broadband. Local government submissions emphasise the transformation which can be achieved at local government level by the broadband infrastructure - collaborative capacity to allow councils to achieve innovative change through shared services and e-government for the benefit of their communities. Councils are keen to be able to provide customers with better access to council services, improve their efficiency and responsiveness, improve asset management services, streamline approvals processes, improve accountability and have better joined-up services between all levels of government. The benefits of communication infrastructure for the competitiveness of businesses and industries which operate in rural and regional areas of Australia is a key message in many council submissions. ALGA's submission has been authorised for publication and is available here. Submissions to the inquiry can be accessed on the Committee website. The House of Representatives Infrastructure and Communications Committee has held 2 public hearings this week, one in Canberra on 4 March and one in Tasmania on 10 March. The Committee is still prepared to accept late submissions on request.

International Women's Day

International Women's Day was held on March 8th and this year celebrated its centenary. 1000 women attended a function in Canberra with prominent African AIDS activist Princess Zulu (pictured) as the guest speaker. A new organisation, UN Women, has been formed as part of the United Nations' reform agenda to improve the UN's capacity to empower women in the developing world. UN Women, among many other initiatives, works to train women to run for parliament. In our neighbouring Pacific islands, for example, less than 13% of politicians are women, which is one of the lowest rates of representation in the world. Globally, that figure stands at 19.1% meaning that women comprise less than a fifth of parliamentarians. In Australia's federal parliament in 2011, 28.3 per cent of members and senators are women, well below representation levels given that women make up just over half of Australia's population. Download membership forms for UN women here.

Briefs

Disaster insurance review

The Federal Government will launch a major review into disaster insurance in Australia, examining if there is a role for the Commonwealth to provide an insurance scheme to protect homeowners, business and government from floods, bushfires and other disasters. With some insurers warning the premiums for full flood cover in some parts of Australia would be expensive, the review will also look at whether there is a case for subsidising premiums for individuals and small businesses in the highest risk areas. It will also look at the ability of governments to obtain insurance, the role of the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements and the role of disaster mitigation measures. The National Disaster Insurance Review follows controversy in the wake of Queensland's floods with many homeowners and business unable to secure coverage for damage from floodwaters. Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten said insurance needed to be balanced by individuals and communities at risk of extreme weather events being aware of the risks but are able to obtain suitable protection against those risks. The National Disaster Insurance Review will be chaired by former Australia Prudential Regulation Authority executive member and insurance specialist John Trowbridge. Maurice Blackburn principal John Berrill and Tower Australia managing director also heading up the review. The review will report back to Government by the end of 2011.

Inquiry into the Australian Federation

The Senate Select Committee Inquiry into the Australian Federation held hearings in Perth this week with the West Australian Local Government Association appearing before the Committee. ALGA's submission calls on the Federal Government to guarantee local councils a share of federal tax revenue and is available here.

Heart Foundations' Active Living Program Resources

The Heart Foundation gave young planners a "sneak peek" (of a new Heart Foundation resource, the Neighbourhood Walkability Checklist, at their YP Connect meeting in Hobart ahead of the Planning Institute of Australia' National Congress March 6th-9th.

The checklist is a national consumer advocacy tool that asks community residents to be the 'eyes and feet' of their council to provide feedback on the 'walkability' of their local neighbourhoods. The Heart Foundation thinks local residents often know and understand their neighbourhoods as well as anyone else and their feedback can assist planners and other relevant professionals in local government to identify features that either support or discourage residents from walking for transport or recreation.

Community members can download the Neighbourhood Walkability Checklist from the Heart Foundation website, here and here.

Hard copies can also be obtained from the Heart Health Information line: 1300 36 27 87. The state based Heart Foundation divisions will directly contact local governments in their jurisdiction through various forums and through regular communication channels.

Research projects underway

The Australian Centre for Excellence in Local Government (ACELG) has commissioned the following research projects:

• Options for Consolidation in Local Government: A Fresh Look (in collaboration with LGASA and LGNZ)
• Unfinished Business - a review of recent local government inquiries
• Implications of the Henry Review of Taxation for Local Government
• Roles and Relationships between Mayors and Chief Executives
• Approaches to Community Engagement
• Evolution in Community Governance: Building on What Works

These research papers will be successively published on the ACELG website throughout 2011, and we invite readers to provide feedback, raise issues and make suggestions for further research. Completed papers will be promoted in future editions of the newsletter and other local government publications, and through roundtables and conference presentations. www.acelg.org.au

PC Inquiry into Australian Retail Industry

The Productivity Commission will undertake a public inquiry into the economic structure and performance of the retail industry. Submissions should be sent by Friday, 20 May 2011. More information www.pc.gov.au. (under 'Projects')

Multiculturalism Inquiry

The Joint Standing Committee on Migration has commenced an inquiry into multiculturalism in Australia. Submissions should be lodged by Friday 8 April. Details available here.

Visionary project takes top planning award

A planning project that sought 'wild ideas' from Western Australia's top urban design and planning professionals has taken out the nation's top planning award.

The project titled 'What if - Ideas for the City of Perth', has received the coveted Minister's Award at The Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) National Awards for Planning Excellence announced in Hobart. Details of winners here.

Inquiry into the regulation of billboard and outdoor advertising

The Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, has referred an inquiry into the regulation of billboard and outdoor advertising to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs. The Committee invites you to make a late submission providing views on any or all of the attached terms of reference. In order to facilitate electronic publishing of submissions, the Committee would prefer, where possible, that the submission be emailed in electronic format to spla.reps@aph.gov.au. If you are interested in following the progress of the inquiry, please view the Committee's website, where all non-confidential submissions and public hearing transcripts will be published. For further information about any aspect of the inquiry, please do not hesitate to contact the Committee secretariat on (02) 6277 2358 or spla.reps@aph.gov.au

Land transport news articles

Selected land transport-related news items from Australia and overseas compiled by the ARRB Group Ltd:

• The National Transport Commission and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator Project Office have released for public consultation the details of a proposed single national heavy vehicle law. View item
• More than 13km of recently laid pavement in the Sturt Highway upgrade in South Australia is to be replaced, with the damage being linked to a range of issues including recent high temperatures, bitumen quality and mix design. View item
• Passengers, polluters will pay for green transport, says EU. View item
• Cycling on the rise as count gets underway. View item

New Chair for the Sydney Airport Community Forum

Peter Fitzgerald has been appointed as the new chair of the Sydney Airport Community Forum (SACF), following the resignation of Barry Cotter.

As a local resident, long-standing member of SACF, Chief Executive Officer of the City of Botany Bay, a former Mayor of Drummoyne and chair of the Australian Mayoral Aviation Council (AMAC), Mr Fitzgerald has had a long involvement with Sydney Airport.

SACF is a voice for the over 800,000 people who live around the Airport, giving them a direct channel to engage with Sydney Airport Corporation and AirServices on the Airport's noise sharing plan. It's also an important source of advice for government on noise abatement and related environmental issues.

New evidence to reduce deaths on quad bikes

Quad bikes are a common sight on Australian farms, however between 2001-09 they have caused 127 deaths, an average of 14 per year. In the past 10 days alone, farmers in Victoria and Tasmania have been added to this tally when the quad bikes they were riding rolled over. Additionally, another person died in Victoria when their quad bike reportedly collided with a tree.

Details from the National Coroner's Information System compiled by the University of Sydney's Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety (ACAHS), indicate that quad bikes are now a leading cause of deaths on farms, second only to tractors. Almost half of these deaths are the result of the machines rolling over and crushing the victim.

"It has been known for some time that the stability of quad bikes is questionable and that they are prone to rollover," said Dr Tony Lower ACAHS Director. "The impact of deaths and serious injuries from quad bikes is significant and I am sure everyone in rural communities would like to see a decrease in these incidents. Based on current evidence we reinforce the message that all owners and operators of quad bikes should take steps to protect riders in the event of a rollover."

The first step is selecting the safest vehicle for the task that needs to be completed, and if a quad bike is still to be used, then owners should be encouraged to fit a suitably tested rollover protective device to reduce the chances of death and serious injury. Further information on quad bike safety including a new policy, tested rollover protective devices and rider guide can be obtained from the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety (02 6752 8210) or by visiting the website.