 | |  With just over two weeks until the National General Assembly (NGA) of Local Government kicks off in Canberra, ALGA is preparing for the biggest and most influential gathering of local government this year, having already received more than 700 registrations from local government stakeholders Australia-wide. Hundreds of delegates from councils across the country will meet in Canberra from 17-20 June to debate issues of national significance to local government, with this year’s motions for debate covering a huge range of policy areas including the constitutional recognition of local government, the renewal of the Roads to Recovery program, the price on carbon and its implications for councils, community services and infrastructure provision. A Sub-Committee of the ALGA Board has compiled the motions into an NGA Business Paper, which will be distributed to all councils next week. The Business Paper will also be included in satchels at the event. A total of 33 exhibitors will be on hand to showcase their wares and ALGA is pleased to announce that the number of sponsors for the event continues to grow each year. In addition to existing sponsors such as the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, the Department of Regional Australia, McArthur Management, Mobile Muster and JLT, ALGA welcomes new sponsors including the Planning Institute of Australia, with their Healthy Places and Spaces Program and the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility. To view the exhibition, visit the ground floor at any time during the NGA. A Regional Co-operation and Development Forum to be held on 17 June will mark the start of this year’s NGA. This will build on ALGA’s tradition of ensuring that regional development policy is being acknowledged at the national level, while providing an opportunity for local government to contribute to the ongoing policy debate. The Forum is also the event where the annual State of the Regions Report is launched by colleagues at National Economics. This year’s report will examine regional investment and include forecasts on regional growth. To access the program for this year’s NGA, click here. | | | | |  As the NBN rolls out, E-invoicing offers a range of benefits and opportunities to both small and large businesses. Instead of dealing with paper invoices - with all the hassles of multiple handling - businesses are signing up to one of the hundreds of E-invoicing service providers like Basware. E-invoicing is already mandatory for Business-to-Government (B2G) transactions in the US, Singapore, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Italy, and in many others it is already the ‘norm’ or is being strongly encouraged by government. Even Kazakhstan has mandated E-invoicing for B2G transactions! Finland-based company Basware provides enterprise purchase-to-pay and financial solutions to organisations in the public and private sector throughout the world. BaswareAust/NZ has just finished implementing an electronic invoicing pilot in the South Australian Government Shared Service Centre, after completing the roll-out of Invoice Automation and Procurement Management tools across all departments for the South Australian Government in January this year. It is also currently in discussions with the State and Federal Governments to pilot and implement the technology. Not only does E-invoicing offer the benefits of paperless invoicing, including savings in printing, envelopes, stamps, data entry, and the reduction of errors in re-keying, Basware says it provides transparency and reduces the opportunity for fraud and corruption, citing investigations carried out by the Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC) in NSW, where many cases of fraud could have been prevented by E-invoicing. Moving to electronic invoicing could save councils between $8 and $20 an invoice, amounting to potential savings of thousands of dollars a year. Paul Turner, Basware Consultant for the Australian Public Sector is keen to visit councils and state local government associations to explain how it works. More information is available from the Basware website at http://www.basware.com.au/e-invoicing/, or you can contact Paul Turner Paul.Turner@basware.com, or catch him presenting to councils at the next meeting of the Broadband Today Alliance in Melbourne in 11 July, or the National General Assembly in June. | | | | |  The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) has released The Proposed Basin Plan - A Revised Draft, which contains changes arising from a consultation process on the previous Proposed Basin Plan released last November. The MDBA this week sent the revised Basin Plan to ministers as part of the next step in the process of developing a plan for the Murray–Darling Basin. The MDBA also released a report detailing the changes that have been made to the draft based on submissions received during the consultation period. "Over the past 12 months we have been consulting communities and representative groups on the development of a Basin Plan," MDBA Chair Craig Knowles said. "Since the release of the draft in November, we have continued to consider and test ideas and information to revise the draft plan that we are now presenting to Basin governments." "We're confident that the Plan is well balanced and presents a way forward on management of the Murray-Darling system." "It is now over to the Basin ministers and the federal water minister to lead the next stage of the Basin Plan process." ALGA is encouraging councils to make their views known to their federal representatives. To download the revised plan, click here. | | |
| |  The recent meeting of the Transport Ministers Council (the Standing Council on Transport and Infrastructure - SCOTI) agreed on further steps to implement the new National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) and added to the momentum of reform in the heavy vehicle area. The issue of heavy trucks and their interaction with local roads and communities has been a consistent concern for councils for many years and for that reason I think it is timely to stand back and survey the developments that are taking place on this issue with a view to seeing what they mean for councils, especially in regional areas. The Commonwealth and state and territory governments have been working for some time to reduce the regulatory burden placed on heavy vehicle operators. Ministers have now agreed to a basic national law establishing the NHVR. A second piece of legislation is expected to be agreed later this year which will establish the detailed arrangements under which the Regulator will operate. The Regulator will have as part of its role assisting councils to deal with applications for access by heavy vehicles to local roads. Importantly, however, councils will continue to decide which vehicles can access local roads and be able to refuse an access application if they identify that a vehicle would cause damage to road infrastructure or adversely affect public amenity. Ministers are also considering reforms to how heavy vehicles are charged for using road infrastructure and the potential for consequential changes to the way investment decisions in road infrastructure are made by governments (including local government). In this context, ALGA will continue to pursue the case for increased investment in local roads by both the federal and state and territory governments. Our need for further investment was highlighted by a 2010 report commissioned by ALGA which looked at the gap in funding for local roads and estimated a shortfall for local government in the order of $1.2 billion per annum. ALGA has now agreed to commission further work which is expected to provide a clearer picture about the state of our local road assets in terms of their condition, functionality and utilisation. This work will be used to argue our case for further support and will ensure that governments get a clear message about the implications of not addressing the sizeable gap in funding that currently exists. This is a long-term body of work but an initial assessment is expected to be launched at this year’s Local Roads Congress to be held in Hobart in November. In the most recent Budget, the Australian Government announced that funding for the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program will be continued. This program funds projects aimed at improving safety and productivity for the heavy vehicle industry and other road users, such as technology trials addressing speed and fatigue; construction of rest stops and parking on highways; and upgrades to freight routes. It is disappointing that very little of this funding is currently directed towards projects on local roads that are used by heavy vehicles and ALGA will be calling on the Federal Government to consider expanding the program’s guidelines to allow local government priorities to be considered in assessing funding applications. In the meantime, ALGA will be working closely with Austroads to develop guidelines to assist councils making decisions about light industrial estates particularly in relation to the imposition of conditions on developers using the local road infrastructure to access their estates and off road parking by heavy vehicles along these local roads. Taken together, this is a substantive package of reforms and initiatives and it illustrates the increased emphasis being given to heavy vehicles. ALGA’s objective is to make sure that local roads are not lost in this agenda and that councils and communities benefit from these reforms. Mayor Genia McCaffery
ALGA President | | |
| | Events are being held in local communities across the country this week to recognise National Reconciliation Week (NRW), held each year between 27 May and 3 June. 27 May marks the anniversary of a successful referendum in 1967 that led to the Commonwealth making laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and recognising them in the national census. 3 June is also a significant date, as it was this day in 1992 when the High Court of Australia delivered its landmark Mabo decision to legally recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s special connection to the land, paving the way for Native Title. The theme of this year’s NRW is Let’s Talk Recognition, with a focus on how Australians can better recognise each other and the contributions, cultures, and histories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. To find out more, or to get involved by registering an event in your community, click here. | | | | | The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has released a draft Cost Recovery Impact Statement (CRIS) for public consultation. This is an opportunity to share your views on the proposed cost recovery arrangements under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. Stakeholder comments are sought on the draft CRIS until 21 June, 2012. Following consideration of stakeholder comments and any amendments to the proposed cost recovery arrangements, the final CRIS will be subject to Government approval and will be published on the department's website, prior to the introduction of cost recovery. Introduction of cost recovery under the EPBC Act is also subject to the passage of legislation in Parliament. Stakeholder submissions may be published on the department's website. If your submission includes confidential information, please contact the department by email to discuss any special requirements for your submission. Submissions can be made to the following address: Email: epbc.costrecovery@environment.gov.au Mail: EPBC Act Cost Recovery consultation
EPBC Reform Taskforce
GPO Box 787
| | | | | With the announcement of $2.5 billion in additional funding for Caring for our Country from 2013-14 and the renewed focus on biodiversity protection from the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Populations and Communities (SEWPaC), Natural Resource Management (NRM) has now been given a strong boost and this is especially important for local government. While many councils have been acting without Caring for our Country support and have been treating NRM as core business, there is little doubt that the boost to funding and security in the Budget will be good news for rural and regional councils who are most resource strained. Over the past month and in coming weeks ALGA’s involvement in renewed discussions on this vital issue have been increasing. ALGA participated in meetings around the Department’s ‘Threats to Biodiversity’ project as well as being involved in discussions related specifically to Caring for our Country. ALGA will be attending a national NRM stakeholder’s workshop in Canberra on 6-7 June. | | | | | Anthony Albanese, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport has launched the National Infrastructure Construction Schedule (NICS) – a website that will outline the national pipeline of existing and upcoming major infrastructure projects procured by the government sector in Australia. Primarily, the NICS will be a ‘one stop shop’ showcasing large infrastructure projects, generally over $50 million for larger states and Commonwealth, with smaller states and local government having some projects under this threshold. The NICS will differentiate between those projects where governments have agreed to fund construction and those where governments have approved funding for studies and planning phases which fall short of approval for construction. The NICS includes a page dedicated to the IA National Priority List to enable users to view Australia’s current nationally significant infrastructure priorities without having to leave the NICS website. The NICS also includes a separate page outlining planning and feasibility studies to provide industry with an awareness of possible future projects prior to any commitment by governments to fund construction. The primary goal of NICS is to allow for more effective and efficient resourcing, encourage overseas constructors into the market, encourage infrastructure investment and to facilitate broader involvement, competitive bidding and efficient project delivery. The NICS can be accessed at www.NICS.gov.au. | | | | | Legislation to establish an independent expert scientific committee to provide advice on impacts of coal seam gas and large coal mining proposals on our water resources has passed the House of Representatives. Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke said the legislation would allow for more rigorous scientific assessment of coal seam gas and large coal mining proposals, in particular how these proposals will affect underground water resources and our rivers. "I know that there is significant community concern about the impact of coal seam gas and coal mining developments on our water resources," Mr Burke said. "We want to make sure that decisions by governments in relation to coal and coal seam gas developments are informed by the most rigorous scientific evidence available, in particular where those developments are likely to have a significant impact on water.” An interim committee was set up in January pending formal establishment of the Independent Expert Scientific Committee. The interim committee has already provided valuable independent advice to the Australian Government and will continue until it hands over to the new committee from 1 July, 2012. The legislation, which amends the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to set up the committee, will now be introduced into the Senate. Mr Burke said the committee would also provide advice on the priority areas for bioregional assessments and oversee their delivery. The interim committee has started work on the first five bioregional assessments in regions facing significant levels of coal seam gas and coal mining developments, such as the Galilee, Gunnedah, Gloucester and Clarence-Moreton basins. The Australian Government has provided $200 million to establish the new Independent Expert Scientific Committee and assist states that are parties to the national partnership agreement to introduce the necessary reforms to seek the committee's advice when deciding on coal seam gas and coal mining applications. For more information visit www.environment.gov.au/coal-seam-gas-mining | | | | | The Productivity Commission is holding public hearings regarding barriers to effective climate change adaptation in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne in July. (Details are included below.) Public hearings provide participants with the opportunity to elaborate on their submissions and to discuss issues with Commissioners. Those who lodge submissions are encouraged, but are under no obligation, to appear at the public hearings. If a submission is to be presented at a public hearing, it should be received by the Commission a week prior to the hearing. | Location | Date | Venue | | Sydney | Tuesday, 10 July 2012 | Adina Apartment Hotel Fitzroy Room 359 Crown St, Surry Hills | | Melbourne | Monday, 16 July 2012 | Productivity Commission Rattigan Room Level 12, 530 Collins St, Melbourne | | Canberra | Wednesday, 18 July 2012 | Productivity Commission Hearing Room Level 12, 15 Moore St, Canberra | If you have not already advised the Commission of your intention to appear at or attend the public hearings, you can do so online at www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/climate-adaptation. Information on how to prepare and submit a submission is available from: www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/climate-adaptation For more information please contact: Email: climate-adaptation@pc.gov.au Webpage: www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/climate-adaptation | | | | | The Australian Year of the Farmer is also shaping up to be a highly significant year for drumMUSTER. Sometime in the next few months the program expects to collect its 20 millionth drum, creating a perfect opportunity to promote the program and its participating manufacturers and supporters. To celebrate this important milestone, AgStewardship Australia is organising a special supplement to be published in the Rural Press network of rural newspapers across Australia, reaching a combined circulation of 144,000 people. The centre-spread of the supplement will be dedicated to showcasing the logos of all participating manufacturer brands. Advertising or advertorial space is also available to these companies and supporters at a discount rate on a strictly limited basis. Promotional activities are also being planned around the 20 millionth drum. A donation will be given by drumMUSTER to the community group that collects the lucky drum, and the farmer will also be given a prize. | | | | | Australians are being encouraged to nominate individuals and organisations that contribute positively to the lives of people with disability for the sixth annual National Disability Awards. The Minister for Disability Reform, Jenny Macklin said the Awards recognise the achievements of the disability sector and the role models with disability who inspire all Australians. The nine categories include: - The Minister’s Award for Excellence in Disability Reform
- Emerging Leaders Award
- Excellence in Accessible Communities Award
- Excellence in Improving Social Participation Award
- Excellence in Advocacy & Rights Promotion Award
- Excellence in Improving Employment Opportunities Award
- Excellence in Improving Personal and Community Support Award
- Excellence in Improving Education Outcomes Award
- Excellence in Improving Health Outcomes Award
Nominations close 20 July 2012. Award recipients will be announced at a gala dinner held at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra on 28 November 2012. To nominate for the National Disability Awards, go to www.idpwd.com | | | | | If you haven't got your registration in for the international conference, Crime prevention & communities—social and environmental strategies for safer neighbourhoods to be held on 4 and 5 June, there is still time! The program includes keynote addresses from international and Australian speakers as well as a wide range of concurrent sessions which will explore the themes of the conference: - How local government, policing and not for profit sector practitioners plan, build and sustain crime prevention projects.
- The exchange of knowledge and skills development – including using research in practice and learning from the experience of others.
- Ensuring maximum benefit from working in partnerships and collaborative arrangements – including leading and participating in complex projects
View the preliminary program here. Registration can be booked online as part of your conference registration for a discounted rate, or purchased seperately if you are not attending the conference. If you have already registered for the conference, it's not too late to add the workshops to your booking and take advantage of the conference delegate discount. Please fill in the workshop registration form and return to events@aic.gov.aun | | | | | The Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS) is advising that the Diamond Road Safety Award entries close in just over two weeks, on Friday 15 June. For more information, please view the ACRS Website, the Award Flyer, and the Entry Form. The winner will be announced at the 2012 ACRS National Conference dinner on Thursday 9 August in Sydney. The leader of the winning project will receive a trip to the USA to attend the 43rd American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) Annual Convention & Traffic Expo in 2013 (San Diego) and to 3M Global Headquarters in Minneapolis, USA. This individual will also present on their winning entry and international trip at the ACRS Road Safety Conference in 2013. | | |
| | |  CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Otago Regional Council The Otago Regional Council covers a large land area, and includes the picturesque district of Queenstown Lakes, a diverse and productive rural sector, the university city of Dunedin and extensive coastal environments. Priorities for the council are the ongoing development of long term sustainable management strategies for the crucial resources of water, land and air; balancing economic, environmental, cultural and social well-being expectations. The Chief Executive is responsible for the provision of informed and accurate advice to the council and the delivery of its plans and priorities, the leadership of approximately 100 staff and revenues of $37m. The council has 100% ownership of the Port of Otago. Key attributes sought in the appointee include: - Proven inspired senior executive and strategic leadership experience
- Ideally, an understanding of relevant local body legislation and processes
- Strong relationship management and communication skills
- Political and financial acumen
- An empathy and vision for the region
For further information on the Otago Regional Council visit www.orc.govt.nz. Confidential enquiries can be made to Graham Ewing at graham.ewing@eqiglobal.com. Applications for this role close on Tuesday 19 June 2012. Applications can be emailed to search@eqiglobal.com. |
| | | | | |  AFAC & Bushfire CRC Conference
Diverse country. Common ground. Australia and New Zealand are diverse across their landscape, climate, population and social networks. However, the fire and emergency management industry, including local government, has common goals and we share each other’s challenges. This conference is designed for delegates with a responsibility for, or involvement in emergency management and is the biggest emergency management conference in Australasia. The conference will explore the following major themes: - The drivers shaping emergency management
- Diversity and resilience
- Youth and volunteering
- The risks in different environments (natural, built, marine)
- Importance of leadership and accountability in Incident Management
- The latest research and how it is implemented into policy and practice
Speakers - Hon Barry Jones AO, National Icon
- Bernard Salt, Demographer and Partner, KPMG
- Commissioner Michael Hallowes, Office of the Emergency Services Commissioner VIC
- Professor Lyn Beazley AO, Chief Scientist of Western Australia
- Professor Carmen Lawrence, Research Psychologist, University of Western Australia
- Nick Easy, CEO, Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board
- Professor Jean Palutikof, Director NCCARF Griffith University
- James Schwartz, Chief, Arlington County Fire Department
- Phil Koperberg, Chairman, NSW Emergency Management Committee
- Jerry Williams, United States Forest Service
- Professor Robyn Owens, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), The University of Western Australia
And more. The conference program can be viewed at www.afac2012.org |
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