 | |  With the deadline for a 31 August federal election now passed, there is a strong likelihood that the election will be held after 14 September. This offers reassurance to the local government sector, which has secured a commitment for a referendum at the time of the next federal election, provided it is held after 14 September - the earliest date on which a referendum can go to the people. The referendum question is on financial recognition. A relatively simple and pragmatic change to section 96 of the Constitution to allow the continuation of direct federal funding to local government for community services and infrastructure. It is a winnable question and there is a strong measure of bipartisan support at the federal level. The referendum will provide Australians with the opportunity to vote to secure direct federal funding for vital community projects - like road and bridge upgrades and other important infrastructure improvements. Recent high court rulings have threatened the way many local government projects are funded. This means that funding for important community facilities like roads, libraries, sports grounds, recycling stations, child care facilities, community centres and parks may be withdrawn. The Government has committed $10 million to a publicly funded neutral information campaign to raise public awareness of the referendum and the question. The Government has also provided up to $10 million in public funding for the Yes case to match the funding that the local government sector has committed to the campaign. Councils across Australia, through their state local government associations and ALGA have contributed up to $10 million to run a national campaign in favour of the referendum. ALGA has put in place a National Campaign Team and campaign structure which includes all state and territory associations and the campaign is being rolled out across the country. The local media campaign for a YES vote is intended to be driven by local councils and is essential to garnering awareness and support. It’s the local projects and initiatives that will resonate best within each community and it’s up to local councils to drive and create this awareness. For more information, visit the campaign website: www.thefactssayyes.com.au | | | | |  ALGA has welcomed two reports released by the Australian Government this week which analyse the progress and performance of the nation's biggest cities. The two reports - State of the Cities 2013 and Walking, Riding and Access to Public Transport - provide analysis of the progress and performance of the nation's 18 biggest cities. The Walking, Riding and Access to Public Transport report outlines how the Government will work to increase the proportion of people walking and riding for short trips, and accessing public transport in communities. ALGA is part of the Healthy Spaces and Places Coalition, a joint initiative including the Heart Foundation and the Planning Institute of Australia. This group has described the release of the Walking, Riding and Access to Public Transport report as a positive step by the Government, as it is the first ever federal policy on active travel and shows the multiple benefits to health, wellbeing, environment, productivity and transport. The report details the high cost that car dependency has on health and traffic congestion and how helping to build active, social communities through walking and cycling can benefit Australia. The Healthy Places and Spaces Coalition was pleased to see the principles of its healthy urban design guide, Healthy Places and Spaces, specifically listed as a way to encourage more walking and cycling. Though providing best practice examples and guidance, Healthy Spaces and Places resources support communities, businesses and local governments to plan for active travel in their local areas. Healthy Spaces and Places provides guidance to local governments from experts in health, planning, urban design, community safety and transport planning on how to design active, healthy neighbourhoods, towns and cities. For more information on active living, or any of the Healthy Spaces and Places resources or training visit www.healthyplaces.org.au. | | | | |  Local government has been part of discussions regarding the Murray Darling Basin Plan through ALGA's seat on Council of Australian Governments (COAG) and the associated ministerial councils and officials group. Recently, ALGA has been active in its engagement both with the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) as well as organisations with strong interests in the outcomes of the Plan, such as the National Farmers Federation. Earlier this year, South Australia signed up to the Plan, which was an important step, as without all jurisdictions in the Basin as signatories, the Plan could not proceed and issues with the basin's long-term viability would continue. This week, the Chairman of the MDBA, Craig Knowles, gave a presentation in association with the Murray Darling Basin Futures research consortium, based at the University of Canberra. In the presentation, Mr Knowles outlined the background of the basin plan and explained in depth the processes that can now be expected over the coming years. This includes the commencement of national water trading rules in 2014. In its dealings with the MDBA, ALGA has stressed the vulnerabilities and opportunities for communities within the Basin as the Plan matures and the state basin plans come on line by 2019. It is clear that the community impacts, which both highlight the positives and guard against the potential negatives are at the forefront of the minds of those leading MDBA and managing the Basin Plan. Their focus is to ensure continued local economic viability, community cohesion, while at the same time, boosting the environmental outlook of the Basin. | | |
| |  While we don't know the date of the federal election, or therefore the date of the referendum to include local government in the Constitution, the Australian Government has given every indication that the referendum will proceed and the Parliament has determined that the referendum will go ahead. We only have to look at the number of Members and Senators who voted for the referendum on the floor of Parliament for confirmation of the overwhelming level of support for the referendum. The Constitution Alteration Bill passed the House of Representatives with 133 members voting yes and only two members voting against. In the Senate, the Bill passed with a vote of 46 to 8. This means that 95 per cent of those parliamentarians who voted on the bill supported it, including a majority of the Government, the Opposition, the Greens and the independents. We know that achieving constitutional change will not be easy. But we are capable of success and we have already achieved a remarkable amount on the journey towards a referendum. We have secured a commitment for a referendum at the time of the next federal election, provided it is held after 14 September, which is the earliest date on which a referendum can go to the people. We are ready to win this referendum. Councils across Australia support it because it is necessary to secure direct federal funding and our polling tells us it will have the support of the majority of Australians. Our polling also tells us that voters expect their local Mayors and Councillors to provide them with information about the Yes case and what voting Yes will mean for their local community. They expect that their local representatives would share their aspirations for their local communities and would therefore prefer to hear messages about their community from a local source. This is why councils are playing such a big part in our campaign: it is the local projects and initiatives that will resonate best within each community and it is up to local councils to drive and create this awareness. We are also encouraging local representatives and council staff to lend a hand at polling booths on election day to help spread the message that a Yes vote is a vote for their local community. Make no mistake, the direct grants councils get from the Federal Government are at risk. Funding through the Roads to Recovery program alone is worth more than $350 million each year to councils across Australia. We know that successful referendums in Australia are very rare - only 8 out of 4 have been successful - but we are confident that with the help of councils, the local government referendum will be the 9th successful referendum and as such, we will break a drought that has extended for 36 years. Mayor Felicity-ann Lewis
ALGA President | | |
| | The latest plan to guide policies and programs to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health over the next decade has been released. Minister for Indigenous Health, Warren Snowdon said the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan was central to the targeted approach to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people could enjoy the same standard of health as other Australians. The health plan builds on the benefits already achieved through the Australian Government's agenda to close the gap in life expectancy and child mortality between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians and the broader population," Mr Snowdon said. "It continues the significant efforts made by the Australian Government since the establishment of the Closing the Gap Framework in 2008." Mr Snowdon said the health plan adopted a strengths-based approach to ensure policies and programs improved health, social and emotional wellbeing and resilience, and promoted positive health behaviours. He said it also emphasised the centrality of culture in the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the rights of individuals to a safe, healthy and empowered life. | | | | | The Western Australian Government is to slash the number of local governments in Perth from 30 to 14, as part of its controversial redrawing of council boundaries. The plan, set to take effect by July 2015, will see the City of Perth expand its borders, with the neighbouring City of Vincent set to be abolished. Nine new super councils will be formed. The plan includes the merging of seven of Australia's most affluent areas in Perth's western suburbs, which could save up to $2 million. South Perth and Victoria Park will join forces, as will Cockburn and Kwinana, Melville, Fremantle and East Fremantle, Armadale and Serpentine/Jarrahdale, Bayswater and Bassendean, Swan and Mundaring, Canning and Gosnells, and Belmont and Kalamunda. | | | | | The competitive merit-based TIRF Grants Program offers grants from $50,000-$250,000 (GST exclusive) on a matched dollar-for-dollar funding basis, to assist tourism operators increase the quality and range of visitor experiences in regional Australia. Funding of approximately $9.6 million is available for projects across three separate streams; quality improvement of existing tourism products or services, development of innovative new tourism experiences or increasing tourism labour supply and quality through Labour & Skills Enhance. Applicants will need to demonstrate how their project is market responsive, improves the attractiveness of the destination, fits with the region's tourism experience and will meet long-term industry objectives. Applications close on 7 August 2013. For more information, visit http://www.ret.gov.au/tirfgrants or email tirfgrants@ret.gov.au | | | | | The Commonwealth Home and Community Care (HACC) Program provides funding for basic maintenance, care and support services for older people and their carers, who live in the community and whose capacity for independent living is at risk, or who are at risk of premature or inappropriate admission to long term residential care. Older people are people aged 65 years and over and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years and over. The Department of Health and Ageing is seeking applications from organisations who are interested in enhancing, expanding or establishing new service delivery under the Commonwealth HACC Program. The grant application round is now open, with $281.2 million available for provision of services in early 2014 until 30 June 2015. For more details, visit http://www.health.gov.au/tenders or email Commonwealth.HACC.Funding@health.gov.au Round 2 of the Tourism Industry Regional Development Fund (TIRF) Grants Program closing Wednesday 7 August 2013. | | | | | The Aircraft Noise Ombudsman hopes the agreement between the Village Building Company and Canberra Airport will set a precedent for other airports around the country. Canberra Airport has been trying to stop the company from building houses under the flight path at Tralee in New South Wales for more than 15 years. Under the agreement, 1500 homes will be built at Tralee, close to the ACT border, without the airport fighting the development approval. But the houses must be insulated against aircraft noise and sales contracts must include warnings. The agreement also protects the airport against claims for a curfew. Aircraft Noise Ombudsman Ron Brent says the solution meets the needs of both parties. "I certainly hope this is a precedent for many other airports," he said. "Airports right around Australia are seeing developments close up to their fences, in some cases right on the boundary fences of the airports. "If it's right on the fence it's pretty hard for someone to argue that they didn't know there was going to be aircraft noise, but when it's even just one or two kilometres away it's very easy to misunderstand what the noise consequences will be." | | | | | The University of Sydney will investigate the uses of mobile technology by homeless women and children and young people. The two demographics are two of the fastest-growing homeless groups in Australia, which together make up two-thirds of Australia’s homeless population. The study will be undertaken by a lecturer in Digital Cultures at the University, Dr Justine Humphry, with results set to influence how government departments stay in touch with the vulnerable and often difficult-to-pinpoint groups of people. Dr Humphry will work closely with the national peak agency - Homelessness Australia - and several State-based peak agencies and service providers in NSW and Victoria. Dr Humphry said family breakdowns forced many women to flee their homes to keep themselves and their children safe. "These groups of consumers have unique patterns of ownership and use of mobile devices," she said. "My research will ask how and in what contexts mobile phones and mobile internet services are currently being used by these groups. "This will help to build evidence to develop better and more appropriate policies and advocate on their behalf." Dr Humphry's project, Homeless and Connected: mobile phones and mobile internet in the lives of families and young people experiencing homelessness, will begin in August and see between 50 and 100 homeless families and young people surveyed in New South Wales and Victoria while addressing issues of access, affordability and use. | | | | | Children who are allowed to take physical risks learn resilience and become more active, says a report that urges parents and teachers to overcome their playground fears. There are just as many risks associated with not letting children take everyday risks as letting them take on reasonable challenges, says University of Sydney Professor Anita Bundy. She is particularly concerned that physical inactivity persists into adulthood and can contribute to the development of chronic diseases. She will tell an occupational therapy conference in Adelaide that children should be allowed to fall and pick themselves up and fail at tasks so they learn resilience. She bases her view on a multi-university study at 12 primary schools involving children aged five to seven and their parents. "If you ask parents what they want for their child, they will virtually always tell you they want them to be happy and resilient," Professor Bundy said. "When they were children they often played with trees and water without adult supervision. But they will say they would never let their own children do what they did. "Usually when they stop and think about it, they realise it helped them learn to take responsibility." | | | | | Livable Housing Australia (LHA) has launched a new app to guide the design and construction of homes that are more livable for all Australians, at all stages of life. The Livable Housing Design Guidelines app outlines simple, straightforward features that can be incorporated into any new or existing home. The design features are inexpensive to incorporate and make homes safe, comfortable and easy to access for everyone, said LHA, adding that more than 250 dwellings have achieved the Livable Housing design Quality Mark this year alone. The new app is designed to ensure that everyone in the industry-from architects and designers to builders and tradespeople-have easy access to guidelines that will help make Australian homes more livable. | | | | | The International RiverFoundation has announced the finalists of the 2013 Riverprize Awards. Riverprize is the world's most prestigious environmental award, giving recognition, reward and support to those who have developed and implemented outstanding, visionary and sustainable programs in river management. International RiverFoundation awards the Thiess International Riverprize and the Australian Riverprize (funded by the Australian Government's Water Smart Australia program, under the Water for the Future initiative) annually at the Riverprize Gala Dinner, as part of the International Riversymposium. A IRF European Riverprize will also be awarded for the first time in 2013. The finalists are listed below. Thiess International Riverprize Finalists - Murray-Darling Basin, Australia
- Iloilo River, Philippines
- Bolshaya River, Russia
- Mara River, Kenya
Australian Riverprize Finalists - Lake Condah, Victoria
- Tweed River, NSW
- Glenelg River, Victoria
IRF European Riverprize Finalists - Orbigo River, Spain
- Mura/Drava/Danube, Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia, Slovenia
- River Rhine, All countries in catchment
- Upper Drau (Drava), Austria
| | | | | Adult Learners' Week is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate, promote and advance adult learning in all its forms. Celebrating Adult Learners' Week can raise the profile of adult learning and highlight its value. Theme: Pathways Date: 1-8 September 2013 Adult Learning Australia manages the Adult Learners' Week website, co-ordinates national activities and provides advice and support for State and Territory co-ordinators of Adult Learners’ Week events. For more information, visit www.adultlearnersweek.org or email info@ala.asn.au | | |
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