Australia Post has launched its new community program - Our Neighbourhood, a national grants program.

Our Neighbourhood Community Grants are open to eligible registered charities and community organisations for amounts between $1000 and $25,000 to support local projects.

Our Neighbourhood Community Grants will be awarded to organisations with projects that help connect local communities and foster inclusion across Australian neighbourhoods.

Australia Post plays an essential role in connecting Australian neighbourhoods and understands the importance of investing at a grass roots level.

The Our Neighbourhood program has been designed to provide opportunities for people from varying backgrounds and communities. With a focus on local, it will also extend to regional and remote, the disadvantaged, the culturally diverse and small business.

Our Neighbourhood Community Grants are now open for applications and will close on Friday, 28 June 2013 at 5pm (AEST).

All information regarding the Our Neighbourhood Community Grants can be found at www.ourneighbourhood.com.au

Five of the states and territories have now signed on to the Federal Government's National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness for 2013/14 guaranteeing federal funds will flow to their states.

Mr Butler said the Commonwealth had put up to $159 million on the table in March on the condition that states matched funding.

"New South Wale, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and the ACT have all signed on to the agreement, which also makes them eligible to bid for further funding under the Development Fund as part of a competitive process," Mr Butler said.

"This funding will ensure services which help give people a hand up every day have the certainty they need to continue delivering critical support."

Mr Butler said achieving real results in reducing homelessness was only possible through joint responsibility and collaborative action.

“The transitional agreement provides funding to the sector over the next 12 months, while the Australian and state and territory governments negotiate a longer-term response to homelessness."

"It's now time for Queensland, WA and the Northern Territory to provide surety to homelessness service providers and their clients by committing their share of funds and signing the agreement as soon as possible."

The National Partnership Agreement is part of the Federal Government's $26 billion investment in housing and homelessness services, which aims to halve the rate of homelessness by 2020.

The Australian Greens say the passage of the NDIS levy provides a cornerstone of care, support and security for Australians with disability.

"I congratulate people with disability, families, friends, carers and supporters who have worked towards this outcome for so long," Senator Rachel Siewert said.

"This has been a long road. People have told me over the past months and years that they're just sick of waiting.

"The NDIS is part of a caring society and as a result of today's vote, people know that long term funding can be provided and that the scheme is secured.

"Anyone can find themselves with disability, and so it is good to know that as a nation we are putting in place the mechanisms to help people when they need it.

"On this important day for the country, I have a lingering sense of disappointment that WA, my home state, remains on the outer.

"There are significant gaps of unmet need in WA, despite the Premier's claims to the contrary.

"I look forward to the implementation of DisabilityCare and to WA joining the scheme," Senator Siewert concluded.

The Australian Government will set a new target aimed at increasing access to services for Indigenous people with disability.

This will strengthen efforts to close the gap on Indigenous disadvantage by ensuring that the benefits of DisabilityCare Australia are realised for Indigenous people.

Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Minister Disability Reform Jenny Macklin announced the proposed new target at the launch of the First Peoples Disability Network Australia’s 10 point plan for the implementation of DisabilityCare Australia.

The Government also announced $900,000 over three years for the First People's Disability Network Australia to provide services to assist Indigenous Australians to understand and access support from DisabilityCare Australia.

A new target will concentrate efforts on closing the gap for Indigenous Australians with disability and ensure they are not left behind in the implementation of DisabilityCare Australia.

The target will be developed through a working group of key Indigenous and disability stakeholders, chaired by Damian Griffis, Executive Officer of First Peoples Disability Network, in parallel with discussions with state and territory governments.

The working group will be asked to report to Government on options for a possible target that could be agreed by the Council of Australian Governments. An interim report is to be provided by mid July 2013.

The communities of Inverell and Glen Innes have been congratulated by the Independent Member for New England, Tony Windsor on their successful funding applications to assist in the development of infrastructure.

The Minister for Regional Services, Catherine King made the announcement today that each community would receive $500,000 from Round 3 of the Regional Development Australia Fund.

Inverell's $500,000 will go towards the redevelopment of Varley Oval Sporting Complex whilst Glen Innes' funding will go towards the upgrading of infrastructure at Glenn Innes Airport including the extensions of airside apron and taxiways.

Mr Windsor has welcomed the announcements: "I congratulate the Inverell Shire Council and the Glen Innes Severn Council on their success through a very competitive process."

"Varley Oval is the main sports ground in Inverell. Its redevelopment will ensure that major sporting events can be catered for in all conditions.

"Inverell Shire Council is also investing nearly $600,000 in the project thereby further adding to the ability of Inverell to attract major sporting events to Inverell.

"Council has previously invested in developing Varley Oval and this next stage continues the community’s desire to make it the centre of sporting excellence in the region," Mr Windsor said.

The Housing Industry of Australia (HIA) launched has launched its federal election policy imperatives. The industry association is urging all political parties to consider 50 policy options which it believes will address the housing problems faced in Australia.  These include taxation reform, greater infrastructure funding, support for greater research and development for domestic manufacturing, further review the banking sector and a request that the Productivity Commission to undertake a broad investigation of the state of the Australian housing market.

The HIA is Australia's largest residential building organisation.  Members include builders, trade contractors, design professionals, kitchen and bathroom specialists, manufacturers and suppliers.

The election document can be downloaded from Australianeedsbuilding.com.au

Violence against women is prevalent in our society; it is real and cannot be ignored.  From affluent suburbs to the most remote corners of the continent, violence against women is happening every day.

Councillor Bill McArthur, President of the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) said as the level of government closest to the people, councils are ideally placed to lead by example and model gender equitable and respectful relationships.

"When you think about the investment that governments place on physical activity, alcohol, smoking and cholesterol, it is shocking to learn that violence from men is the leading contributor to preventable ill health, death and disability in Victorian women aged 15 to 44."

At a White Ribbon conference today Cr McArthur launched Prevention of Violence Against Women - Leading change in the Victorian local government sector; a handbook showcasing the good work of eight Victorian councils in their efforts to eliminate violence from our society, developed with funding support from VicHealth.

"Darebin City Council for example, has been a leader in preventing violence against women by taking a whole-of-council approach. They self-funded a preventing violence against women officer, and last year endorsed a Women's Equity Strategy which is being implemented through two action plans.

"Maribyrnong City Council’s work provides an evidence base for projects occurring in partnership with the community. The book provides an overview of Maribyrnong’s efforts, including local young people creating hip-hop music inspired by the white ribbon campaign and council’s corporate values of 'respect, courage, integrity'.

"Another exciting case study tells of Strathbogie Shire, a small rural council without the resources of bigger councils, but with the equivalent passion. It is working with local sporting clubs to promote the preventing violence against women message and implement a 'White Ribbon Round' in the annual fixture.

"Local government is also leading the way through its role as an employer. Surf Coast Shire made industrial relations history in 2010 as the first organisation in the world to introduce a family violence clause into its Enterprise Bargaining Agreement.  At least 20 Victorian councils have followed suit, and more than one million Australian workers are now covered by paid family violence agreements."

Maitland's fight to curb graffiti may be bolstered by a "new weapon in the arsenal" after councillors endorsed the use of an app aimed at catching vandals.

Staff will begin investigating whether Vandal Trak, a smartphone application, could cut down on graffiti clean-up costs and reduce damage.

The app allows phone users to take photos of graffiti tags and immediately upload them to a database.

The council can then log in and see at a glance where problems are occurring.

Similar tags are grouped together, potentially giving investigators proof of repeat offenders' exploits.

A report to last night’s council meeting pegged the cost of accessing the database at between $2000 and $6000 a year.

Cr Henry Meskauskas, who brought the matter to councillors, said Hunter police had supported the council formally adopting the technology.

He said strong results in Sydney and the Illawarra indicated it could be a cost-effective tool.

"It's a great weapon and this is a situation where we have to be on the front foot.

"It has been a very successful one [in other areas]," Cr Meskauskas said.

A Round Table on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics was held in Canberra in March 2013 by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The purpose of the Round Table is to improve the quality of data from ABS's surveys and censuses, its engagement strategies and efforts to improve statistical literacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Julie Nankervis, ABS Director of the National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics said; "We rely on our Indigenous Engagement Managers (IEMs) as the main source of operational level advice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people."

"These conversations are just the start. Informed decision-making leads to better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their communities. Our goal is to ensure our data is relevant and useful."

"The Round Table establishes an additional avenue for discussion with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from outside the ABS. This input is combined with the knowledge and experience of the IEMs to create a rich source of operational advice to draw upon," she said.

Round Table member, Sonia Townson said; "It's impressive to see the ABS continuing with the grassroots engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that it so successfully conducted in the lead up to and throughout the 2011 Census. We’re all excited about the opportunity to have input into how the ABS collects data and how it returns information back to the community".

For more information on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander statistics visit www.abs.gov.au

The Local Government Association of South Australia has paid tribute to its former past President and long serving Mayor of Port Augusta, Joy Baluch, who died overnight after a long battle with cancer.

LGA President, Mayor David O’Loughlin said Mayor Baluch made an outstanding contribution to her community and to Local Government over more than 40 years.

"Joy was a strong woman with strong opinions and a fearless warrior for her beloved Port Augusta - she referred to as the Centre of the Universe," Mayor O’Loughlin said.

"She was a legend in Local Government and in the wider community, there were few people who had not heard her name and with Joy it was definitely once met, never forgotten.

"Joy was very rarely lost for words and she fought against this insidious illness with the single minded determination she was renowned for."

Mayor Baluch stood for election on the Port Augusta City Council 14 times. She was defeated twice but defeated opponents nine times and was elected unopposed three times.

ALGA acknowledges with sadness the passing of Mayor Baluch who also served as South Australia's representative on the ALGA Board.