 | |  The Senate Economics Legislation Committee is currently holding an inquiry into the Clean Energy Amendment (International Emissions Trading and Other Measures) Bill 2012 and related bills. These Bills manage both the mechanism to allow the Australian-European Union carbon trading scheme to come into force by 1 July 2015 and some tinkering around the edges that has been required since the Carbon Price and related programs commenced on 1 July. Submissions received before the cut off date of 3 October highlight a number of issues that should be addressed. However, the primary issues related to ensuring that investment into low-carbon technologies is encouraged as a side-effect of changes announced by Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet, earlier this year. The problem raised is the confidence that business and industry is going to need to feel before investing time and money into the development of those low-carbon products and services. This is the issue that government needs to address across a number of fronts in relation to the changes that formed the Clean Energy Futures (CEF) package. The issue of uncertainty is one not just for business and industry, but also for local government. At present, councils across the country are gauging their interest in participating in a number of programs that form part of the CEF. The most central is the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI). The landfill portion of the CFI can require the installation of the expensive infrastructure. Like those bodies that are looking for certainty to invest in the vital technologies that will make the transition to a low-carbon future possible, councils need to know that the programs they are participating in, and putting money into, will be there for the future and will provide a decent financial return, as well as reducing carbon emissions. Local government is committed to addressing the issue of climate change and carbon reduction, but as this inquiry shows, uncertainly across numerous sectors exists, and might limit the effectiveness of these programs and needs to be addressed by government. | | | | |  According to leading transport expert from the UK and keynote speaker at the 2012 National Local Roads and Transport Congress, Matthew Lugg OBE, the saying "prevention is better than cure" applies to roads as much as it does to our health. Mr Lugg recently lead a review by the English Government into the severe damage to local road networks caused by three successive extreme winters. "One of the key findings from the review was that much of this damage could have been prevented by better asset management," Mr Lugg said. Asset management will be a focus at this year's Congress, being held from 14-16 November in Hobart, with a major highlight being the release of the first State of the Local Road Assets Report. Councils are currently developing asset management policies consistent with the National Framework on Asset Planning and Management and these policies are being used to underpin the management of the local road network. As asset management plans mature and allow for transparent linkages to long term financial planning, local government will be better placed to argue for increased funding for the local road network. Matthew Lugg is the Director of Environment and Transport for Leicestershire County Council, and Chair of the Midland Highway Alliance Board. To find out more about the Congress or to register your attendance, go to www.alga.asn.au | | | | |  The Australian Government has released proposed amendments to the Native Title Act 1993, which focus on improving agreement-making, encouraging flexibility in claim resolution and promoting sustainable outcomes. Stakeholders, including local government bodies, are invited to provide comments on the exposure draft. The draft legislation, explanatory cover sheet and a link to the survey are now available on the Attorney-General’s Department website, by clicking here. The process follows an announcement by the Attorney-General in June 2012 that the Australian Government would progress a number of amendments to the Act relating to 'good faith' and associated provisions under the 'right to negotiate' regime, the disregarding of historical extinguishment of native title in areas such as parks and reserves, and processes for Indigenous Land Use Agreements. Comments can be provided either via the Department's online survey or alternatively can be sent via email to native.title@ag.gov.au. The deadline for providing feedback on the exposure draft is by close of business on Friday 19 October 2012 (EST). For further information, contact native.title@ag.gov.au. | | |
| |  Constitutional recognition has been a major focus of ALGA this year and as such, ALGA has met a series of important milestones, which I hope to build on as the Association's new President. Following the release of the Expert Panel Report, which favoured ALGA’s preferred option of financial recognition, on 22 December last year, ALGA has prepared a draft bill and explanatory memorandum to amend Section 96 of the Constitution. We sought a response to the Expert Panel's recommendations, but were met with a consistent response from the Government that they were waiting for the decision of the High Court in the Williams case. Following the release of the Williams decision in June and the Government’s legislative response, ALGA obtained expert legal advice that the constitutional uncertainty about the direct federal funding of local government remained. ALGA held a strategic Board meeting on 26 July, which agreed on a series of steps to advance constitutional recognition. It was also agreed that the ALGA President and President-elect would meet with Minister Crean and argue for ALGA’s proposed way forward, especially a Parliamentary Committee which would consider critical issues relating to the actual wording of the question for the referendum and a time for the referendum when it was most likely to be successful to gain bi-partisan support. We are also seeking funding for a public education campaign in the lead up to a possible referendum. I have sent letters to the Independents, Greens and Liberals informing them of what we are asking for and seeking their support. I am looking forward to discussing that correspondence with members of Parliament next week, when I am in Canberra. As we are still awaiting a formal response from the Government regarding our proposed way forward, I issued a media release last month calling on the Government to establish a Parliamentary Committee to consider the timing of a referendum and the question. A Parliamentary Committee would give members from all sides of politics the chance to discuss and agree on issues such as the timing of a referendum and the wording of a referendum question before a bill is introduced to Parliament. Referendums are few and far between but previous processes have involved a Parliamentary Committee. While constitutional recognition has occupied much of ALGA’s time and resources, it is important to be aware that the much awaited review of the Financial Assistance Grants is also an issue that I am focussed on engaging with the Government and Opposition. Along with constitutional recognition, this item is critical to our long-term viability as a sphere of government and I will be advancing our position strenuously when I meet with Members of Parliament. I look forward to updating you on the outcomes of my meetings with members of Parliament in next week's edition of ALGA News.
Mayor Felicity-ann Lewis
ALGA President | | |
| | 78 local communities around the nation have been awarded a Keep Australia Beautiful Beverage Container Recycling Grant - a threefold increase on the 23 grants awarded in 2011. The grants were open to all communities across Australia with up to $10,000 per applicant available for projects that could demonstrate they would result in a measurable diversion of beverage containers out of landfill, through increased recycling in local communities with a particular focus on out and about areas. Example initiatives include recycling infrastructure and signage at community events, in sporting or retail venues, shopping strips or education centres, essentially locations where large crowds gather and the provision of recycling infrastructure helps the public place their recycled material in the right bin. To date, the Beverage Container Recycling Community Grants Program has resulted in almost $800,000 being distributed through the Keep Australia Beautiful Network to over 125 community groups, councils, schools and other organisations Australia wide. The 2012 Community Grant Recipients include: NSW - 17 recipients Albury City Council, Lavington Swim Centre, Rotary Club of Cobar, Ku-Ring-Gia Council, Lismore City Council, Broken Hill Council, Ellalong Tidy Town, Great Lakes Council, Hurstville City Council, Lake Macquarie Council, Port Macquarie Hastings Council, Shellharbour City Council, Surf Life Saving NSW, Tamworth Regional Council, Tropical Fruits Inc. Lismore, V8 Supercars, Wagga Wagga City Council. VIC - 12 recipients Melton Shire Council, City of Monash, McClelland College Frankston, Sale Tennis Club, South Gippsland Shire Council, City of Whittlesea, Ararat Rural City Council, Mitchell Shire Council, Northern Grampians Shire Council, Frankston City Council, Melbourne Girls Collect, Central Murray Regional Waste Management Group. QLD - 13 recipients Mackay Secondary High School, Homestead Secondary School, Laura Secondary School, Gin Secondary School, Redland City Council, Scarborough Secondary School, Pentland Secondary School, Bundaberg SLSC, Xceler8 Media Inc., Townsville City Netball, Border Rivers Catchment Management Association, Sacred Heart School Sandgate, Rainbow Bay SLSC. WA - 10 recipients Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale, Shire of Corrigin, Shire of Chapman Valley, Australian Association for Environmental Education WA, Shire of Woodanilling, City of Gosnells, City of Cockburn, Gnaraloo Station Trust, Care for Hedland Environmental Association, Project Shorelines. SA - 14 recipients Friends of Port Moorowie, Tatachilla Lutheran Collect, Penfield Golf Club, Point Turton Progress Association, Finding Workable Solutions, District Council of Robe, Tennis Millswood Complex, Port Vincent Tidy Towns, Surf Lifesaving National Carnival, Walker Flat Progress Association, Minda Inc, Hutt Street Centre, Seaford Shopping Centre, Two Wells Scouts. TAS - 6 recipients Glenorchy City Council, Launceston City Council, Marist Regional College, Penguin Football Club, St Mary’s Collect Hobart, Glamorgan Spring Bay Council. ACT - 2 recipients Orana Steiner School, Pegasus. NT - 4 recipients Palmerston City Council, East Arnhem Shire Council, Coomalie Council, Tiwi Islands Shire Council. | | | | | The NSW Government announced this week that it would top up the $10 million previously committed to improving bridges on key freight links in regional NSW, bringing the total amount available over the next five years to $145 million. It is understood that the NSW Government is still seeking matching funding from the Australian Government. The Bridges for the Bush initiative is intended to improve road freight productivity through NSW by upgrading or replacing bridges at 17 key locations over the next five years. These locations have been identified through consultation with local government and other key industry stakeholders. A new and dedicated infrastructure development program will fund the necessary upgrade of the network. Two high priority strategic program investment areas have been identified to help manage ageing assets and provide the biggest benefit to freight productivity in the short term (over five years). These two priority programs are outlined below. - Program 1 - Higher Mass Limit bridge restrictions - replacing or upgrading the next five high priority HML deficient bridges on State roads (total cost expected to be $132 million)
- Program 2 - Heritage Timber Truss Bridges - the replacement of six heritage timber truss bridges (to HML standard) and upgrade of six heritage timber truss bridges to provide ongoing safe service levels
- HML standard bridges (total cost expected to be $80.5 million)
- ongoing safe service levels (total cost expected to be $69 million)
A project plan is being developed to deliver the priority 1 and 2 programs in the next five years. Project development has already commenced on the 17 bridges and is in various stages of progress. It includes preliminary and concept design, detail design, environmental assessment and commencement of construction works. | | | | | Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Building Approvals show that the number of dwellings approved rose 6.4 per cent in August 2012, in seasonally adjusted terms, following a fall of 21.2 per cent in the previous month. Dwelling approvals increased in Victoria (30.2 per cent), Western Australia (16.1 per cent) and Queensland (1.8 per cent) but decreased in New South Wales (-18.3 per cent), South Australia (-1.0 per cent) and Tasmania (-0.9 per cent) in seasonally adjusted terms. In seasonally adjusted terms, approvals for private sector houses fell 0.5 per cent in August. Private sector house approvals fell in New South Wales (-10.4 per cent) and Queensland (-3.6 per cent) but rose in Western Australia (11.0 per cent), South Australia (1.4 per cent) and Victoria (0.8 per cent). The value of total building approved rose 9.4 per cent, in seasonally adjusted terms, after falling for 2 months. The value of residential building rose 9.2 per cent while non-residential building rose 9.8 per cent. Further information is available in Building Approvals, Australia (cat no. 8731.0) on the ABS website at www.abs.gov.au | | | | | The Australia Citizenship Test Snapshot 2011-12 reveals increased participation and pass rates for people from vulnerable backgrounds, according to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP. Minister Bowen said more people from vulnerable backgrounds were expressing interest in acquiring citizenship since the government introduced education pathways for migrants. "Becoming a citizen is an important step which shows commitment to our nation and its people," Mr Bowen said. "It is important that new Australians understand the pledge they make as new citizens: that Australia is a peaceful nation built on democratic beliefs, rights and liberties, and whose laws they will uphold." The latest citizenship snapshot supports that Australia has a high citizenship take-up rate compared with other countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). "The high citizenship take-up rate is a mark of the success of the citizenship focused model of Australian multiculturalism," Mr Bowen said. A record 71,662 applicants from more than 196 countries took the citizenship test in 2011-12, up almost 20 per cent on last year's figure of 59,787. The top five countries of birth for migrants who took the test are the United Kingdom (16.6 per cent), India (13.9 per cent), China (10.1 per cent), the Philippines (6.1 per cent) and South Africa (5.1 per cent). The Australia Citizenship Test Snapshot report is available, click here. | | | | | People affected by major flooding this year in the Indigo and Towong Local Government Areas in northern Victoria have until Thursday 11 October to lodge a claim for the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment. Attorney-General and Minister for Emergency Management, Nicola Roxon said that while many of those affected have already received the assistance, others were yet to apply. “The floods which inundated the region in late February caused widespread damage to homes, businesses and farming land,” Ms Roxon said. The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment provides a one-off payment of $1,000 for eligible adults and $400 for each eligible child in declared Local Government Areas. It is available to those: - whose home was destroyed or severely damaged
- who were seriously injured in the disaster
- who were stranded in or unable to gain access to their home for 24 hours or more, or
- whose home was without utilities or other essential services for at least 48 hours.
More information about the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment is available here. Claims can be lodged through Centrelink Online Services (follow the links from the humanservices.gov.au/disaster page); by calling 180 22 66; or by handing a completed paper claim form to staff at a Centrelink or Medicare Service Centre. | | | | | The Commonwealth/State Risk Assessment, Measurement and Mitigation Sub-committee (RAMMS) met recently at the Bureau of Meteorology offices in Melbourne, discussing current and future priorities. RAMMS formally endorsed a discussion paper on Risk Communication that was a product of the Risk Communications Workshop held on 15-16 August 2012 attended by RAMMS members and Community Engagement Sub-committee representatives. Over the coming 12-24 months, RAMMS intends to focus more heavily on the measurement and mitigation aspects of its remit having channelled the vast majority of its efforts to date into the risk assessment space. Implementation of the long-term projects constituting the National Work Program for Flood Mapping, revision of the National Emergency Risk Assessment Guidelines, and development of a NERAG Practice Guide and online training course will continue to be priorities. ALGA is represented on RAMMS, one of four subcommittees that reports to the Australian and New Zealand Emergency Management Committee, which in turn supports the Standing Council for Police and Emergency Management. | | | | | More than a quarter of current councillors, including 17 mayors, are not standing again at the 2012 council elections to be held in Victoria on 27 October. More than 2000 candidates have been confirmed for the 78 elections, four per cent more than the number that contested the 2008 elections. Municipal Association of Victoria chief executive Rob Spence, said the high level of nominations confirmed community interest in civic duties continued to thrive. "We've seen particularly high numbers of nominations in many outer suburban councils, which potentially highlights the tensions and challenges facing growth communities," he said. ‘‘Our dedicated stand for council campaign has really paid off with a 42 per cent drop in the number of councillors elected unopposed.’’ Of the 631 councillor vacancies, only 32 were uncontested this year. ‘‘It’s also pleasing to see more females nominating,’’ he said. "Thirty-three per cent of all candidates are women, up from 31 per cent in 2008." Every vacancy is being contested at 61 councils across the state. The Victorian Local Governance Association also welcomed the increased participation of women in local government elections. There is a woman standing for election in every council in Victoria, but the percentage is still below the 35 per cent recorded in 2005. | | | | | Australia’s major performing arts companies are robust, stable and have continued to expand their city audiences in line with population growth, according to the latest Australian Council Snapshot of Major Performing Arts Company Key Trends. They have also extended their reach and engagement in regional and remote communities. The report, drawn from an extensive set of audited data provided by the major companies, contextualises the external influences and impacts to make sense of the data. "Given the complexity of the breadth and depth of activities undertaken by the companies it is vital we understand the big picture - and how well managed they are," Executive Director, Bethwyn Serow, said. Working capital has increased across the group by $11.9 million and whereas in 2001 only nine companies had positive reserve funds, that number has more than tripled in 2011. The report found that major performing arts companies’ education programs reached out to over half a million school children last year as well as running workshops for over 28,000 attendees and other free and self-presented performances. Although the global financial crisis (GFC) and the associated drop in national and international tourism had a negative impact on opera audience figures, opera as an art form is not in decline. New business models are generating new audiences, the results will come through strongly in the 2012 data. The trend over the past ten years incorporates the strong growth before and after the GFC. For example, from 2002 to 2011 paid capital city attendances at performances by major performing arts companies have grown by 13 per cent. Regional access and participation has also grown substantially, with attendances of 800,000 in 2011. | | | | | Anti-Poverty Week aims to strengthen community understanding of poverty and hardship in Australia and around the world. During Anti-Poverty Week, councils can help to fight poverty and hardship by: - strengthening public understanding of poverty and hardship around the world and in Australia
- encouraging research, discussion and action to address these problems, including action by individuals, organisations and governments
- inspiring commitment to make a difference.
Promotion materials are available for download including posters, flyers, postcard and an e-booklet. Councils organising an activity are also asked to register their event on the Anti-Poverty Week website. | | | | | The Thriving Neighbourhood Conference, hosted by ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives), is a unique opportunity to gain information, insights and collaborative opportunities for those who are committed to sustainability at the local level. Conference participants will include delegates from local councils, government departments and agencies, associations, the private sector and the professions.
This is not a local government conference per se but a conference that will bring together presenters and participants in local government need to collaborate to deliver on community expectations and needs.
The program is available on the Conference website along with information on how to register, please visit www.thrivingneighbourhoods.org or download the flyer here. | | |
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