 | |  ALGA President, Felicity-ann Lewis will meet with Local Government Minister Simon Crean next week to seek early action by the Government to address recommendations of a Parliamentary Committee on the steps necessary for a referendum on constitutional recognition of local government to be held at the time of the federal election on 14 September. Last month, the Joint Select Committee investigating the likelihood of a successful 2013 referendum to gain financial recognition of local government in the Constitution issued a preliminary report, which included a number of recommendations requiring immediate action by the Federal Government. "The Committee's preliminary report, issued on 24 January, conveyed a sense of urgency in light of the limited timeframes available for the Government to put in place the preconditions identified for a successful referendum if it were to be held at the same time as the federal election," ALGA President Felicity-ann Lewis said. "The announcement of the election date means that there are now just over seven months until polling day in which the Government can put in place the measures required for a winnable referendum on constitutional recognition of local government. "Minister Simon Crean has announced that he will not be responding to the inquiry's recommendations until a final report is handed down at the end March. "We have strong concerns that a delay in the Government's response to the Committee's recommendations will not leave enough time for actions necessary to put in place the preconditions for a successful referendum and will substantially impact on local government's ability to run a successful campaign. "The Committee based its preliminary recommendations on the majority report of the Government's Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Local Government, which was released in December 2011. Although the Expert Panel report was released more than a year ago, the Government has not addressed its recommendations and little progress has been made on this issue." The recommendations of the Expert Panel recognised a number of preconditions for referendum success: the need for strong bipartisan support; the Commonwealth negotiating with state and territory governments to achieve their support for financial recognition; a public education campaign to achieve informed and positive community engagement; and changes to the referendum process to allow public funding of referendum campaigns. "It is our understanding that the Commonwealth has not negotiated with individual states or begun the process of making the necessary changes to the legislation which governs referendum processes. The Committee also asked the Government to release a draft constitutional amendment bill for public consultation by 31 January and this has not occurred," Mayor Lewis said. "Local government needs greater certainty about the timing of the referendum processes if we are to give a referendum in 2013 the best chance of success." For more on this issue, read ahead to the President's Column. | | | | |  ALGA's submission to the 2013-14 Federal Budget outlines steps to address cost shifting by the Commonwealth and state governments. Cost shifting occurs when other levels of government continue to assign additional responsibilities to councils and has been estimated to have a negative impact on councils of between $500 million and $1.1 billion annually. Additional responsibilities that have been placed on councils in recent years include increased emergency and disaster management, environmental programs, community education, business development, management of certain land and the transfer of roads. The effects of years of cost shifting to local government from other levels of government, mainly state governments, for which the sector remains uncompensated, have magnified over recent years, and present a genuine threat to the fiscal sustainability of the sector. ALGA's submission outlines the need for reform in Commonwealth-local government financial relations to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of councils. It calls for a strengthened Intergovernmental Agreement Establishing Principles Guiding Intergovernmental Relations of Local Government Matters (IGA), which is signed by all Australian governments and outlines a set of principles designed to establish an ongoing framework to address future cost shifting and prevent the cost shifts that have occurred in the past. Under the terms of the IGA, it is to be reviewed after five years of operation and ALGA welcomes the commitment to review the IGA announced by Minister Crean on 16 November 2011. However, more than a year later, this issue remains to be progressed. ALGA believes that the IGA must be continued and bolstered so that all levels of government can agree to comply with its principles whenever new or additional functions, or new or increased service standards affecting local government, are being considered. Without a strong agreement, local and regional communities cannot be confident that their social, economic and environmental needs are being fully and openly appreciated by other levels of government. Similarly, a renewed IGA must continue to ensure that funding flows to local government so that it can effectively discharge the functions expected of it. ALGA's Submission to the 2013-14 Federal Budget is now online and can be accessed here. | | | | |  This year's National General Assembly (NGA) promises to be politically charged and of critical importance to local government, as the sector unites to plan initiatives for the betterment of our communities. With the federal election announced for 14 September, ALGA anticipates key federal politicians accepting the invitation to address the NGA. ALGA has invited: - Prime Minster, the Hon Julia Gillard;
- Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, the Hon Simon Crean; and
- Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Tony Abbott.
ALGA is pleased to have already received a number of acceptances and is pleased to confirm that the NGA will include addresses from: - Leader of the Nationals, the Hon Warren Truss;
- Leader of the Greens, Senator Christine Milne; and
- Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Water, Senator Barnaby Joyce.
Delegates at the NGA will have the opportunity to hear from these key politicians as they present their party platforms and local government policies. Delegates are also given the opportunity to directly engage with them. More information about the NGA will be sent in hard copy to councils over the coming weeks. You can now register online at www.alga.asn.au and access the early bird discount to save $100. | | |
| |  I will soon be writing to all Mayors and Councillors about the implications of the Prime Minister last week announcing the date for the 2013 election and the time for a possible referendum to recognise local government in the Constitution. While the Government has yet to commit to holding a referendum in 2013, we now have a firm date which councils and local government associations can factor into their planning should the referendum go ahead. On 20 February, ALGA will be appearing before the Parliamentary Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition of Local Government at its second public hearing in Sydney. The Committee, which includes members from the major parties, as well as the Greens and Independents, has already issued a preliminary report in which the majority of members recommended that a referendum on the financial recognition of local government (through a change to Section 96 of the Constitution to allow the continuation of direct federal funding of councils) be held at the same time as the 2013 federal election. The preliminary report of the Committee also recommended that the Government immediately engage with the states to secure their support for a referendum proposal and also that the Government begin all necessary preparatory activities to ensure a successful outcome in the referendum. These activities include the administrative steps necessary to satisfy the preconditions for success identified by ALGA, the 2011 report of the Expert Panel on Local Government Constitutional Recognition, and various experts. Those preconditions include a public education campaign and public funding of the Yes and No cases. Minister Crean issued a press release on 24 January welcoming the Committee’s preliminary report but indicating that the Government would not be responding to the preliminary report and would instead wait for the Committee’s final report expected to be delivered at the end of March 2013. ALGA’s position on a 2013 referendum remains unchanged: ALGA is committed to supporting a referendum on the financial recognition of local government at a time which maximises the chances for success. By this we mean holding a referendum after the preconditions for success have been put in place. As yet there has been little progress on those preconditions and ALGA has expressed its strong concerns that time is running out for the actions necessary to meet the preconditions and for local government to be able to run a successful campaign. I have written to both the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition calling on them to issue a joint statement supporting the need for a referendum and I have written to Minister Crean asking the Government to respond to the Joint Select Committee’s recommendations. As prefaced in the article leading this edition of ALGA News, I will also be meeting with Minister Crean next week to seek early action by the Government to address the preliminary recommendations of the Joint Select Committee. ALGA is working closely with state and territory local government associations on constitutional recognition and I urge councils to contact their local association if further information on this issue is required or on how a state based campaign might be developed to support a referendum. Mayor Felicity-ann Lewis
ALGA President | | |
| | The Minister for Infrastructure and Transport released Walking, Riding and Access to Public Transport-Draft report for discussion last October. The draft report explores how the Australian Government can work with other governments, business and the community to encourage and support walking and riding as part of the transport systems in Australia's cities and towns. ALGA has issued a submission to the draft report, in which the Association congratulates the Government for engaging the community on ways to encourage more participation in active transport modes such as walking, riding and use of public transport. In it submission, ALGA reiterates its support for a diverse and integrated transport system that is closely aligned with land use planning and quality urban design solutions. ALGA argues that it makes good economic and financial sense to promote greater active transport participation and that spending in this area should be based on greater levels of investment. The local government sector warns against diluting existing transport resources, which are already stretched. The draft report is available for download. ALGA's submission can be accessed here. | | | | | The Gillard Government this week announced that all Australians will now have access to faster speeds on the National Broadband Network than they can get today over the ageing copper network, following an upgrade to the NBN’s fixed wireless and satellite services. The NBN’s fixed wireless and long term satellite services will be upgraded to provide broadband speeds of 25 megabits per second download and 5 megabits per second upload (25/5 Mbps). "This means that people living in regional and remote Australia will be able to access significantly faster speeds than what is available now through ADSL services," Senator Conroy said. "This upgrade represents a doubling of speeds for the NBN’s fixed wireless and satellite services. "It will lead to improved education and health services for regional and remote Australia, as well as greater opportunities for small businesses and agriculture. It will allow high-quality video conferencing, making it easier to work remotely. "For too long, people living in regional and rural Australia have had to put up with slow, unreliable internet services-if they could get a connection at all. "The Government’s investment in the NBN means all Australians, no matter where they live, will have access to faster broadband services. Like water and electricity, the Gillard Government sees fast broadband as an essential utility that should be made available to all Australians. "The price for customers for the 25/5 Mbps service on fixed wireless and satellite will be the same as that charged for 25/5 Mbps fibre services at around $40 per month. "The Government is delivering on its commitment of uniform national wholesale pricing for broadband services. This means people living in regional and remote Australia will pay the same prices for NBN services as people in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane. "The 25/5 Mbps service will be available by mid-2013 on the fixed wireless network and from the start of operation of the long term satellite service in 2015." For more information about the NBN rollout visit www.nbnco.com.au/rollout. | | | | | The Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government has released a guide to facilitate a greater role for practitioners in local government research. ACELG's Make Your Knowledge: A Guide to Developing and Documenting Research guide has been released in an effort to encourage local government research professionals develop ideals, document good practice and share their body of work with a wider audience. The publication offers instruction on the production of research outputs, outlines and introduces the types of thinking required in constructing academic work, and offers a number of relevant research examples that are likely to build on the technical abilities of practitioners in the area seeking to enhance their own research capacity. This guide builds on a suite of other ACELG initiatives to encourage a greater role for local government practitioners in sectoral research. It will also provide a valuable tool for those wishing to submit papers to the upcoming Local Government Researchers Forum to be held in June 2013. The full paper can be found here. | | | | | On 6 December 2012, the Prime Minister the Hon Julia Gillard MP and the Minister for Industry and Innovation the Hon Greg Combet AM MP, announced the appointment of Will Angove as Australia’s first Automotive Supplier Advocate. As noted in Recommendation 4 of the Prime Minister's Manufacturing Taskforce Report, persuading other levels of government to increase their purchases of locally-made vehicles can provide a significant and immediate boost to the local industry. This is why one of the major areas of responsibility for Mr Angove will be to encourage both government and private fleet operators to consider the merits of Australian-made vehicles in their procurement decisions. There are many advantages in purchasing locally manufactured vehicles for a fleet. These include the range of vehicles available, safety considerations, fuel economy, environmental effects and operating costs. In addition, the automotive manufacturing sector directly employs approximately 50,000 Australians along with a further 200,000 in supporting jobs and is backed up with huge investment in manufacturing capacity, research and development and high value add skills creation. The sector has a unique set of capabilities which is critically important to maintain to preserve manufacturing in Australia into the future. Mr Angove has already met with representatives from the Australian Local Government Association and Australasian Fleet Management Association to discuss the matter of fleets. Both organisations were very supportive of the work Mr Angove will be undertaking in his role as Automotive Supplier Advocate including addressing participants at a number of key forums throughout the year. | | | | | The Department of Immigration and Citizenship has advised that the Diversity and Social Cohesion Program (DSCP) application round for 2013-14 opened on 1 February 2013. The DSCP provides the additional resources often needed by not-for-profit community organisations to develop their own projects and find their own ways of helping their community build stronger community relations. The aim of DSCP funding is to: - Promote respect, fairness and a sense of belonging for Australians of every race, culture and religion. This aim primarily focuses on promoting inter-community harmony and understanding.
- Develop the community capacity-building skills of specific community groups under significant pressure, due to their cultural, religious or racial diversity. This aim primarily focuses on supporting specific communities with the purpose of building their social cohesion and/or to promote their positive contributions to Australia.
Community organisations can apply for funding of up to $50,000 to develop projects that aim to address issues of cultural, racial or religious intolerance or to develop community capacity-building skills. Projects must provide an opportunity for participation and interaction by different members of the community. Applications must be lodged by 5pm (Canberra time) Friday 1 March 2013. For further information, including the Application Information Booklet and application form, click here or contact the Diversity and Social Cohesion Program helpdesk on 1800 453 004. | | | | | Brisbane's damage bill from severe weather associated with ex-tropical cyclone Oswald is estimated at $60.5 million. Lord Mayor Graham Quirk says the council will be left about $23 million out of pocket after Federal disaster relief payments. He says council will have to find more savings to balance the budget or rates may have to rise. "We're already going to have a bill which will exceed 100 million dollars in terms of the January 11 event," he said. "This is now another 23 million dollars on top of that. "Every eight million dollars that we spend in this city is about 1 per cent of our rates revenue - that's the equation." Infrastructure across south-east Queensland's Fraser Coast is being assessed for damage as the flood clean-up gains momentum. Maryborough experienced near record flooding in the Mary River due to ex-tropical cyclone Oswald. Rural communities at Brooweena and Tiaro were also hit hard, along with residential areas of Burrum Heads. On a positive front, Murweh Shire Mayor says a $14 million flood diversion project in Charleville has helped restore confidence among business owners and residents. It is a year today since Charleville's most recent flood episode, when hundreds of people were evacuated to the local showgrounds after authorities feared a levy on the Warrego River would fail. | | | | | Broken Hill City Council will consider new ways to get money from mining companies at a conference later this month. Councillors Dave Gallagher and Darriea Turley will represent the city at the Western Division of Councils conference in Nyngan. Deputy Mayor Turley will put a motion to the conference proposing that a mining taskforce be created to sort out how to rate mines. She says one thing Broken Hill City Council wants it to look at is how to get revenue from mines outside the city council area. "At the moment you've got mining companies outside of Broken Hill using our roads and other services and we can't even rate them, and yet the community have to pay for contribution to services," she said. "We just want to get it right. It's certainly not going to happen overnight and that's why we say a taskforce might be best placed - a taskforce that isn't supported by the State Government - and that needs to look at those critical issues." Councillor Turley says the proposed taskforce would also look at the New South Wales government's Royalties for Regions program, which sees royalties from country areas redistributed in areas where they are generated. She says most of the money is going to coal-mining areas like the Hunter Valley. | | | | | Queensland's Health Minister says he respects a council decision to remove fluoride from the Cairns water supply in the state's far north. The Cairns Regional Council voted on the issue this week and says fluoridation will cease within a fortnight. Lawrence Springborg says fluoride in the water prevents tooth decay but councils should be free to make their own decisions. "That is the position of Queensland Health, of the Government, to promote the benefits of fluoride but notwithstanding that we respect that local governments might want to make a different decision in consultation with their community and using their own advice," he said. Annette Sheppard from the group Cairns Residents Against Fluoridation says the council has taken a brave stance. "I absolutely applaud the council's decision," she said. "I think it's a very brave move on their part and I think that it's one that reflects the overwhelming majority of people in our community." | | | | | People who light up in Perth city's outdoor malls will now face fines, after the council voted to ban smoking in pedestrian areas, the first in Western Australia to do so. The council voted unanimously to ban smoking in the Hay Street and Murray Street malls and in Forrest Place after the Works, Urban and Development committee approved the change to local law earlier this month. Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi says the move will particularly protect young people who frequent the malls. "Families and especially children are enjoying these spaces more than ever before, and we know that passive smoking is a very big problem," she said. The Australian Council on Smoking and Health's Mike Daube says the ban is particularly important for young people. "This really tells us that smoking is in every way on the nose," he said. "This is a decision that'll protect non-smokers, especially children. "It'll send out an important message to kids and I think it's a tremendous step forward." Professor Daube says the ban will also reduce healthcare costs. | | | | | Regional Arts Australia (RAA) promotes the development of arts and culture in regional and remote parts of the country. It provides country Australians access to outstanding cultural experiences that are home-grown and supports community well-being and development. As part of ongoing national consultation, RAA invites you to complete a brief survey to help identify your current engagement and priorities. Please note RAA will be undertaking a major national consultation program later this year. To complete the survey, click here. | | |
| | |  Making FIFO Work in Regional Communities Striking a balance between the needs of regional Australia & mining companies
25th & 26th March 2013, Rockhampton Plaza Hotel, Rockhampton ALGA members quote CC*ALGA when registering to SAVE $100! The mining boom has seen the rise of an estimated 100,000 FIFO workers, particularly in Queensland and Western Australia and that number is on the rise. A parliamentary inquiry is now looking into the impact of these FIFO workforces on local communities. Making FIFO Work in Regional Communities will address how the local communities in regional Australia and the resources sector can work together to make the FIFO workforce industry beneficial to all parties involved. Click here to download your copy of the conference agenda Why should you attend? - Hear outcomes of the parliamentary inquiry into the use of FIFO workforce practices
- Develop strategies to improve stakeholder partnerships
- Identify solutions to make FIFO work in your community
- Hear ways to ensure economic sustainability in FIFO towns
Featuring expert analysis from: - Tony Windsor MP, Independent Member for New England & Chair, House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Australia
- David Lynch, Manager, Economic Development & Strategic Projects, Townsville City Council, QLD
- Kirsten Livermore MP, Member for Capricornia, QLD
- Lynda Pollock, Community Relations Manager, Anglo American + many more!
For the full speaker line-up and conference agenda visit: www.fifoworkforce.com/agenda Criterion Conferences are pleased to offer ALGA members an exclusive $100 discount off today’s conference rate. For more information or to register contact Criterion Conferences on +61 2 9239 5700, visit www.fifoworkforce.com or email registration@criterionconferences.com. Don’t forget you must quote CC*ALGA when registering to receive your $100 discount. |
| | | | | | Managing Legal Risks for Coastal Councils The challenge of managing legal risks on the coast will be the topic of a keynote address by leading environmental and planning lawyer Andrew Beatty at the Australian Coastal Councils Conference in South Australia next month. Andrew's presentation will address the question of what coastal councils can do to identify, manage and mitigate their legal risks in the current environment of shifting and uncertain coastal policy. "Coastal councils face real challenges relating to the actual and projected impacts of climate change," Andrew said. "These challenges are physical, financial and political." Registration is now open for the Australian Coastal Councils Conference, to be held in South Australia from 25 to 27 March 2013. Other topics include the findings of a landmark research project on the impact of tourists and other non-resident populations on coastal communities. The conference will also feature information on a new research project to develop a methodology to capture and document coastal values and character in coastal communities and plans for a collaborative advocacy campaign for the forthcoming Federal election. This is an important national event for representatives of coastal councils and other stakeholders who want to play a role in developing Australia's coastal policy agenda. Program and registration form available at - www.seachangetaskforce.org.au/Conference.html Queries: Susan Faulkner 02 9438 1608 (T) or email info@seachangetaskforce.org.au |
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