AUSTRALIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION

73 per cent of councils pass resolutions supporting constitutional recognition

A total of 410 councils have passed resolutions supporting the financial recognition of local government in the Constitution, representing 73 per cent of councils nationally.

ALGA has been engaged in a process aimed at Constitutional recognition since 2007, including commissioning social research on community attitudes and understanding of local government and the Constitution.

In addition to the work already undertaken by ALGA, councils have been passing resolutions in support of ALGA’s proposal for a simple change to the constitution to allow direct Commonwealth funding to local government. Such funding is currently provided under the Roads to Recovery Program and by any measure, this Program has been an extremely successful example of the partnership between the Australian Government and local government. ALGA is of the view that this partnership, aimed at benefiting all communities in Australia, should be able to continue.

This is why ALGA would like local government included in the Australian Constitution, as its inclusion will help to protect the local services that many take for granted and ensure that councils have the funding security to provide the level of services that communities need and deserve.

Last week, the newly established Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Local Government met for the first time to discuss its approach to consulting with stakeholder groups and the public about their views on recognising local government in the Constitution.

For more information about the Expert Panel process and constitutional recognition of local government, read ahead to the President's Column.

Proposed reforms to Environment Protection Act announced

The Commonwealth Environment Minister, Tony Burke, has announced the Australian Government's position on the first major overhaul of the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999.

The reforms agreed to by the Government seek to deliver better environmental protection through greater strategic focus on whole regions and ecosystems and processes designed to bring about faster environmental assessments.

The national environmental reforms include, but are not limited to:

A more proactive approach to protecting Australia's environment through more strategic assessments and regional environmental plans.
Identifying and protecting ecosystems of national significance under the EPBC Act through regional environment plans, strategic assessments or conservation agreements to protect the most significant and healthy ecosystems before they are threatened or degraded.
A more co-operative approach to developing environmental standards by establishing a new National Centre for Cooperation on Environment and Development that will bring together industry, scientists, non-government organisations and governments to work together on environmental standards, guidelines and procedures.
A more streamlined assessment process to cut red tape for business and improve timeframes for decision making, including an option for decisions on proposals within 35 business days, if all required information is provided.
New national standards for accrediting environmental impact assessments and approvals to better align Commonwealth and state systems.

As responsibility for the environment is shared between levels of government under the Australian Constitution, effective implementation of the response to the Report will require close collaboration with state and territory governments. The Commonwealth government will progress this aspect of the reform agenda through COAG, relevant ministerial councils, and bilaterally with state and territory governments.

The environmental reforms and proposed changes to the EPBC Act follow an independent review commissioned by the Government which provided 71 recommendations: 56 have been fully agreed to, or in part, and 15 have not been accepted.

The Report was the product of an extensive public consultation process, to ensure the broadest possible range of expertise and views was considered. ALGA participated in several of these consultation processes with the Minister and is pleased that the Government has accepted the need to move towards a better strategic assessment model including adopting a single approval process across federal and state jurisdictions wherever possible.

For more information on national environmental law reforms and the Government's full response to the review of the EPBC Act 1999, click here.

Councils encouraged to apply for Supported Accommodation Innovation grants

Eligible organisations, including local governments, can now apply for a capital grant to build innovative supported accommodation for people with disability through the Supported Accommodation Innovation Fund (SAIF).

Applications for SAIF open on 5 September 2011 and will remain open until 20 January 2012.

This $60 million initiative, spanning three years will help build innovative, community-based supported accommodation places for people with disability.

This funding presents an opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of up to 150 people with disability, their families and carers. Projects could include renovations to existing homes, pooled resources to build contemporary accommodation services close to community and health services or the modification of existing accommodation within the community.

For information about SAIF, including how to apply, please see the SAIF website. Application documents are available on the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) website.

Completed applications are to be submitted to saif@fahcsia.gov.au by 2pm, 20 January 2012.

President's column

From the President

The newly formed Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Local Government met for the first time last week to discuss how the issue of recognising the valuable role of local government should be progressed.

As a member of the 18 member Expert Panel, I will be involved in consulting with stakeholder groups and the public about their views on recognising local government in the Constitution. During the coming months, the Panel will be meeting with peak representative local government bodies and stakeholders to discuss the reasons for considering a change to the Constitution and the options available for doing so. The Panel has discussed breaking into working parties to deal with specific issues. An issues paper is being developed and will be sent to all councils, which will be encouraged to make submissions. ALGA will be working with our state and territory local government associations to make a comprehensive submission to this important process.

Financial recognition is the option preferred by ALGA. This position was decided on after a long process of consultation with key political stakeholders, market research in 2009 and 2011 and advice from a leading constitutional expert. The research shows that this is the option most likely to gain the support from all political parties and from the community. The research follows a recent High Court decision which challenges the power of the Commonwealth Government to continue to provide direct funding to local government. The 2009 High Court case of Pape v Commissioner of Taxation raised doubt as to the legality of Commonwealth payment directly to local government. It can only spend money where it has a specific power under the Constitution. The decision presents a compelling reason to include local government in the Constitution. Without constitutional recognition, direct Commonwealth funding of local government, through programs such as Roads to Recovery, may be at risk.

The Australian Government has committed to pursuing the recognition of local government in the Constitution and will be guided by the Panel on the level of support in the community for its recognition and the possible forms that recognition could take. In coming to office, Prime Minister Julia Gillard agreed to a referendum on the issue by 2013.

In addition to the work already undertaken by ALGA to engage the community and raise awareness of the issues surrounding constitutional recognition of local government, councils are passing resolutions in support of ALGA's proposal for a simple change to the Constitution to allow direct Commonwealth funding and writing to their local members and the Prime Minister about the importance of this reform to our sector. More than 400 councils across Australia have passed resolutions. This equates to more than 70 per cent of councils supporting the cause. In South Australia, 100 per cent of councils have passed resolutions and almost 100 per cent of councils in the Northern Territory have also shown their support.

In conducting its inquiry, the Expert Panel will be considering the benefits and risks of the different options for recognising local government and the outcomes that may be achieved for key stakeholders through constitutional recognition. The recommendations of the Panel will be delivered to the Australian Government in December, which will shape the referendum proposal to be put by the Government. I will be updating you on progress as the Panel process unfolds.

I encourage all councils to participate in the consultation process and voice their position on efforts to secure direct Commonwealth funding for local communities.

Mayor Genia McCaffery
ALGA President

Briefs

Comments invited from Digital Local Government Program stakeholders

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, and the Hon Simon Crean, Minister for Regional Development and Local Government, have called for comments from stakeholders on draft program guidelines for the Digital Local Government Program.

The draft guidelines provide information on the purpose and objectives of the Program, as well as the process for councils to access the initial funding round.

The $17.1 million Digital Local Government Program encourages the development and delivery of online solutions made possible through the National Broadband Network (NBN). The potential of NBN-enabled high-speed broadband can be used to improve the quality, availability and speed of local government services.

The Program will provide funding to local governments representing the first 40 communities to benefit from the National Broadband Network (NBN).

Comments on the draft guidelines should be submitted by 5pm, Friday 9 September 2011 to the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy via email at digitallocalgov@dbcde.gov.au

To view the draft guidelines or to find out more about the Digital Local Government Program click here.

Have your say on the Asbestos Management Review

For those interested in the management of asbestos, this is a reminder that submissions on the Asbestos Management Review and issues paper are due by 5pm, Friday September 2011. On 14 July, the Government released an Asbestos Management Review Issues Paper calling for submissions on the management of asbestos in Australia.

The issues paper notes that "the ongoing presence of asbestos in the built and natural environments in Australia means that there is a continuing risk to the public of exposure to asbestos fibres" and that "...while considerable coordination and consultation is occurring in relation to particular issues and initiatives, the overall approach to asbestos management (in Australia) is fragmented. It lacks a strategic approach to identifying problems, setting targets and overseeing initiatives adopted to achieve these goals".

The Terms of Reference for the Review require recommendations for the development of a national strategic plan to improve awareness and management. This is an important issue for many local governments. The issues paper can be found here.

First Report on Economic Potential of Senior Australians

The Australian Government has received the first report from the Advisory Panel on the Economic Potential of Senior Australians that looks at how Australia can best harness the opportunities presented by a larger and more active community of older Australians.

The work is about ensuring that the valuable experience and skills of older Australians are not lost as they move into retirement, and that all seniors have the opportunity to stay involved in the community.

The Panel, chaired by Everald Compton and also including Professor Gill Lewin and Professor Brian Howe, has identified a number of themes from its public consultations including improving workforce participation, encouraging life-long learning and better planning for seniors' housing needs.

The report is designed to encourage debate around these and other issues, and the Panel invites further input from the community as it continues its deliberations.

Australians moving into their senior years are generally healthier, higher skilled and more financially secure than previous generations, providing a wider range of opportunities both for individual older Australians and for the broader community.

The proportion of Australians aged 65 or over will rise to about 23 per cent of the total population by 2050, compared to 14 per cent today.

The Panel has held public meetings in Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth, with further meetings scheduled for Alice Springs, Armidale, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart and Sydney.

The first report, Realising the economic potential of senior Australians: changing face of society, can be found on the Treasury website.

1 in 10 Australians spend time unemployed

Around 1.7 million or almost 1 in 10 Australians above the age of 15 were out of work and looking for a job at some time during the year up to February 2011.

Of those who looked for work, three-quarters had a single spell of looking for work while not working during the twelve months to February 2011. Almost three-quarters (72 percent) of those who looked for work, spent less than half the year looking, while 8 percent looked for the whole 12 months without finding a job.

On average, people aged 55 and over spent the most time looking for work while not working (22 weeks of the year), according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Those aged 15-19 spent the least time looking for work while not working (15 weeks in the year).

Click here to access the ABS report.

Productivity Commission releases latest report on Indigenous disadvantage

The fifth in the series of reports Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Key Indicators 2011 has been released. Commissioned by the Council of Australian Governments, the Report's strategic framework helps track the extent to which government policies and other actions are making a difference to overcoming Indigenous disadvantage.

Of 45 quantitative indicators, improvement is shown in outcomes for 13 indicators - including in employment, educational attainment and home ownership. For 10 indicators, including many health and school education outcomes, there has been no significant improvement, while for another seven, including social indicators such as criminal justice, outcomes have deteriorated.

Further details available for October Commonwealth Tax Forum

The Australian Government has announced the invitation list, program and facilitators for the Tax Forum to be held in Canberra on 4 and 5 October.

The Tax Forum will help identify priorities and directions to build on the Government's record of tax reform.

Among the participants are ALGA President Genia McCaffery, ALGA CEO Adrian Beresford-Wylie and WALGA Deputy CEO Wayne Scheggia, who will be invited to provide a statement that outlines their proposals and how they can be funded.

The full invitation list and program are available at the Tax Forum website.

The Forum facilitators will be Paul Clitheroe and Michael Pascoe, who will bring many years of experience in taxation, finance and the media to their roles.

Councils to crack down on dangerous dogs

Councils are doorknocking homes across Melbourne to inform residents that dangerous dogs, such as pit bulls, must be registered by the end of September.

Under changes announced by the Victorian Government, council officers will have the power to seize and destroy dangerous restricted-breed dogs that are not registered by 30 September.

Municipal Association of Victoria CEO, Rob Spence said councils and the rangers enforcing the new laws would be guided by the state government on how to identify dog breeds, especially in ambiguous cases where cross-breeding is involved.

"The areas where we have got the highest concentrations of restricted breeds are around outer Melbourne, Dandenong and Brimbank," Mr Spence said.

Under the new regulations, dogs that meet the description of a pit bull but are described as American Staffordshire terriers by their owners, will need a certificate of pedigree to prove the dog is an American Staffordshire terrier.

Victoria to construct first water neutral suburb

A suburb of Melton, in Victoria's south, is set to become the first water neutral built up area in the country after construction is completed.

The suburb of Toolern, which is expected to house 50,000 residents by 2030, has made use of the Victorian Government's $50 million fund to help integrate the use of stormwater, recycled water and rainfall.

Toolern will capture and reuse stormwater and recycled water in an attempt to greatly reduce the suburb's demand for potable water.

Homes in the new development will be supplied with Class A recycled water from the Surbiton Park Recycled Water Plant to flush toilets, water gardens and wash cars.

Up to 3,500 megalitres of stormwater will be harvested in Toolern each year, with around 2,700 megalitres of recycled water supplied by Western Water to flush toilets and water gardens and outdoor spaces.

Melbourne rated as world's best city

Australia's second-largest city - Melbourne - has been rated the best city in the world to live in, edging ahead of Vancouver, according to the latest global liveability survey from the Economist Intelligence Unit.

Melbourne topped the biannual ranking of 140 cities with a score of 97.5 per cent, ahead of Vienna at 97.4 per cent, the survey showed.

Vancouver slipped from the top spot to third with a score of 97.3 per cent.

The top 10 included three other Australian and two further Canadian cities - Sydney, Perth and Adelaide and Toronto and Calgary.

Cities are scored on political and social stability, crime rates and access to quality health care.

The survey also measures the diversity and standard of cultural events and the natural environment; education; and the standard of infrastructure, including public transport.

"For the first time in almost a decade of reporting liveability, Vancouver is not at the top of our ranking of 140 cities," the Economist Intelligence Unit.

"Vancouver was in joint first position with Melbourne in the 2002 survey.

"Melbourne now replaces Vancouver as the most liveable city in the survey.

"The general conditions required for a location to be awarded a high liveability ranking continue to be well reflected in Australian and Canadian cities."

Do you know a Human Rights Hero?

Do you know of a person or organisation that is helping to put human rights on the radar?

If you do and you think the rest of Australia should know about them too, why not nominate them for a Human Rights Award?

Nominations close on Friday 9 September. Winners will be announced at a luncheon ceremony at the Sydney Sofitel Wentworth on Friday 9 December.

To nominate or purchase a ticket to the human rights event, click here.

The Local Government and Shires Association of NSW (LGSA) has extended the registration period for the 2011 Water Management Conference in Grafton - the water event organised by local government for local government. There are still a few tickets left, so get in quick to secure your seat!

With site visits to Shannon Creek Dam and the Nymboida historic hydroelectric power station, as well as the chance to hear case studies from councils, the latest news in water from the State Government and a special panel session on drinking water quality in regional NSW, it's one not to miss.

Industry leaders will be speaking on topics such as the latest models for effective delivery of water services in regional NSW, the NSW Government's priorities for the urban water sector, direct potable reuse in Australia, Aboriginal stakeholdership in water, and more on the Murray Darling Basin Authority.

Speakers include: David Harris, Commissioner of the NSW Office of Water; Dr Stuart Khan from the UNSW Water Research Centre; Phil Duncan, Chair of the First Peoples' Water Engagement Council; Dr Rhondda Dickson, Chief Executive, Murray-Darling Basin Authority; and special guest, Steve Cansdell MP, Member for Clarence.

Delegates have until Monday, 5 September to register their attendance.

Date: 14-16 September 2011
Cost: $440
For further information, or to register, click here.

3rd Government Procurement Forum

21 - 23 November, 2011, Canberra, ACT

Government Tenders, Procurement polices and Green Procurement...

IQPC's 3rd Government Procurement Forum in Canberra will bring together Government with key stakeholders. Learn from, and network with, industry leading Government Procurement experts to gain insights, identify opportunities and take away key strategies for successful procurement and tendering objectives.

As the economy returns to steady ground, we are seeing more tenders up for offer however, the process used to acquire and bid for these tenders are changing too. We are now seeing 'Panels' of vendors and debates around Carbon Tax Councils over ht need to reduce carbon output and long-term spending costs.

Although products and suppliers are cropping up everywhere, how will you ensure green procurement whilst ensuring you still get the same value for your dollar and long-term solution?

Embrace the future of procurement - Visit www.government-procurement-conference.com.au email enquire@iqc.com.au or call 02 9229 1000 for more information.

SHARED SERVICES FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR

Have you seen the latest interview in the Shared Services for Public Sector series?

SSON recently spoke with Jane King, Deputy Commissioner for Customer Service and Solutions at the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) about a citizen-centric approach to shared services and what she looks for when assessing outsourcing partners.

In this interview, Jane uses her years of experience to give us an overview of where the ATO is at on their Shared Services journey, what the main goals are for the coming year, and how the ATO is moving towards providing a more integrated service (both internally and externally) through shared services. Listen to Jane's podcast interview to find out...

The main pillars Jane looks at when assessing service providers for SSO
How to ensure relationships with the new service providers continues to be maximised after the contract has been signed
How to secure a happy marriage between end-user and outsourcer

Alternatively, download the interview transcript here.

If you want to hear more from Jane, she will be expanding on this topic in detail at Shared Services for Public Sector - Transformation Forum. To find out more, visit www.shared-services-publicsector.com.au, email enquire@iqpc.com.au, or call 02 9229 1000.

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