 | |  Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's decision to hold the federal election on 7 September and drop plans for a referendum to include local government in the Constitution has been met with enormous disappointment by the local government sector. "We are extremely disappointed to learn that Prime Minister Rudd has selected an election date which means the Referendum on recognising local government in the Constitution cannot be held," ALGA President Felicity-ann Lewis said. "With 95 per cent of Federal MPs and Senators voting in favour of this Referendum, and the overwhelming majority of Mayors also in support, there will be a lot of disappointment across Australia at this decision. "Our preference would have been to hold the Referendum alongside the election as our research tells us that Australians are in support of a YES vote and agree it's time for the Constitution to be updated to recognise the role of their local council. "Much campaign planning and implementation has already begun in every community in preparation for the Referendum and we hope that this will not be wasted. We look forward to picking up where we left off when a new Referendum date is announced and hope to build on the momentum this campaign has already gained among the public." Government advice is that the earliest a referendum on constitutional recognition of local government can be held in conjunction with a federal election is 14 September. The Bill to alter the Constitution was passed by both houses on 24 June and a referendum must be submitted to the electors within two months of the beginning of voting and no later than six months. For more on the referendum decision, read ahead to the President's Column. | | | | |  On Sunday 4 August, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd travelled from Brisbane to Canberra to visit the Governor-General and recommend the dissolution of the House of Representatives and half the Senate in order for an election to be held on 7 September 2013. In their opening statements, both Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott argued that this election would be about "trust" and the need for positive political messages. It is yet to be seen how truly positive the tone of this will campaign will be. The first week of the election campaign is traditionally light on significant policy announcements, with the focus usually being on establishing the larger campaign themes for all sides. That leaves the larger announcements for later in the campaign when more people are paying attention. Prime Minister Rudd announced an additional $450 million for after and before-school childcare programs. The other announcement related to an additional $200 million in support for the car industry. However, the largest announcement in terms of Budget impacts was made by the Coalition, which has announced that from 2015, it would reduce the corporate tax rate by 1.5 per cent. However, in order to pay for its maternity leave scheme, it would place a 1.5 per cent income levy on the nation's 500 largest businesses. ALGA released 'A ten-point plan for resourcing our communities' in June. It highlights the ten areas where ALGA is looking for action from all parties. You can find the ten-point-plan here. As the campaign proceeds, ALGA will report on weekly activities and policy announcements and the commitments parties make to local government. | | | | |  This year's Roads Congress, to be held in Alice Springs from 12-14 November, will have a strong focus on heavy vehicle reforms and their implications for councils. The national Heavy Vehicle Charging and Investment board (HVCI) is investigating reform options to provide a more sustainable road networks by improving access to existing roads for heavy vehicles. The initiative seeks to ensure that road investments better support supply chains and that road providers, such as local councils, are fairly compensated for the provision of roads to the heavy vehicle industry. To explain the heavy vehicle reforms, HVCI Project Director, Meena Naidu, will address the Roads Congress and participate in panel sessions in open forums. Meena Naidu oversees reforms designed to promote productivity growth in the Australian road freight transport sector. This year, her work is focused on the delivery of a Regulatory Impact Statement, assessing reform options for alternative heavy vehicle charging, funding and investment arrangements. Ms Naidu has a strong background in policy and economic regulation. Prior to her appointment at the HVCI, Ms Naidu was the National Transport Commission's Chief Policy Officer, responsible for the policy development of the NTC reform agenda. She has previously led the Transport Commission's work on heavy vehicle pricing determinations and Performance Based Standards. For more information about the Congress or to register your interest, please go to www.alga.asn.au | | |
| |  The announcement of a federal election on 7 September is a massive disappointment for the local government sector. The 7 September date means that a referendum on recognising local government in the Constitution cannot be held. As a consequence, important funds for community projects across Australia are open to challenge because federal funding is not referred to in the Constitution. If any challenge is successful, hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding for facilities and services across Australia that are within local councils, like Roads to Recovery projects, childcare centres, aged care centres, libraries, community sportsgrounds, swimming pools, community centres and public parks may have to be withdrawn. This is a problem that will not go away and ALGA will be considering ways to secure Commonwealth support to address this issue. With 95 per cent of federal MPs and Senators voting in favour of this referendum, and the overwhelming majority of mayors also in support, there will be a lot of disappointment across Australia at this decision. Local government's preference would have been to hold the referendum alongside the election, as research carried out by ALGA suggests that Australians are in support of a YES vote and agree it's time for the Constitution to be updated to recognise the role of their local council. Much campaign planning and implementation had already begun in every community in preparation for the referendum and ALGA is determined that this will not be wasted. Councils across the country have each invested modest amounts towards a referendum campaign and ALGA will be working with state associations of local government to ensure the financial impact on councils is minimised. During the election, ALGA will be seeking a commitment from all major political parties for a date on which to hold a referendum, as we hope to build on the momentum that our campaign has already gained among the public. We know that that a referendum to include local government in the Constitution is winnable and we will continue to advocate for constitutional reform. Our polling tells us that a referendum question on financial recognition has the support of the majority of Australians. The referendum question also has the overwhelming support of parliamentarians. We only have to look at 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 it is necessary. We have already achieved a remarkable amount on the journey towards a referendum and it is our intention to continue to build on this progress into the future.
Mayor Felicity-ann Lewis
ALGA President | | |
| | Western Australia has signed up to the national disability care scheme. WA was the final state to agree to the scheme and will have two trial sites. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made the announcement on Monday after finalising the details with Mr Barnett on Saturday night. One of the sites will be a continuation of My Way, which is the WA system that allows people with a disability to select the services they want from mostly not-for-profit organisations. Mr Barnett said the trial site for My Way would be in the South West region and the Kwinana-Cockburn area. Last year ALGA President Felicity-ann Lewis was nominated as the Disability Champion for Local Government. An important part of that role is to raise awareness of the National Disability Strategy and use opportunities to speak to councils about the importance of identifying and overcoming the barriers faced by people with disability so they can fully participate in the workplace and in community life. ALGA continues to be involved in the development of the National Disability Strategy, the National Disability Insurance Scheme and the National Injury Insurance Scheme. | | | | | The Productivity Commission has found a series of deficiencies in major project approval processes, with a high risk of delays and significantly increased costs. The report calls for more Commonwealth accreditation of State and Territory environment assessment and approval procedures and less prescriptive conditions to lower the regulatory burden and improve compliance with environmental standards. The Commission proposes establishing a ‘one project, one assessment, one decision' framework, through bilateral assessment and approval agreements. This would reduce costly duplication between Australian and State and Territory Government processes. The Commission has put forward a five point planning process, to replace previous efforts which start with good intentions but lack a robust structural approach for implementing change. The plan involves: - increasing State and Territory environmental assessment procedures with Commonwealth accreditation
- strengthening State and Territory approval processes
- initially targeting approval bilaterals on less environmentally sensitive issues
- COAG Reform Council monitoring progress on bilateral approval agreements
- COAG publishing a timetable of agreed reforms and the COAG Reform Council reporting annually on key milestones, barriers to reform and how to address them.
The draft report also proposes statutory timelines for assessment and approval decisions, the wider use of Strategic Assessments, and the establishment of Major Project Coordination Offices. The Commission seeks comment on the draft report and will be holding roundtables in early September to canvass the views of interested parties. ALGA will be providing a submission. A final report will be submitted to the Australian Government in December 2013. | | | | | Individuals, local action groups, community groups and networks are being encouraged to apply to Amnesty International Australia's Human Rights Innovation Fund (HRIF). The HRIF is an important part of Amnesty International's ongoing commitment to developing partnerships with other organisations to increase Amnesty International's human rights impact. There are four HRIF funding rounds each year and the Fund allows anyone interested in promoting and defending human rights direct access to funding to support new, innovative, creative initiatives which will: - Promote the growth of a human rights constituency in Australia; and/or
- Increase the diversity of Amnesty International supporters; and/or
- Have a demonstrable positive human rights impact.
A copy of the Fund's guidelines and application form can be accessed here. The closing date for the next round is 30 August 2013 (and quarterly thereafter). | | | | | A group of Torres Strait Islanders has won a bid to secure commercial fishing rights under native title. The group wants to build an economic base from commercial fishing in a vast area of sea between Australia and Papua New Guinea. The case was strongly opposed by the Commonwealth and Queensland governments, and the fishing industry. No one contested that the Islanders held native title over the 40,000 square kilometres of sea, but it was argued those rights no longer extended to the commercial trade of marine resources such as fish. The Queensland Government argued native title rights over the area had been extinguished by a law that controls commercial fishing. But the full bench of the High Court found those commercial rights still exist and have not been extinguished by Commonwealth and state laws. The commercial native title rights are still subject to the commercial fishing licensing regime. The native title claim was first lodged in 2001 and this week's ruling is the final legal step. | | | | | Australia's federal, state and local governments spent nearly $7 billion on cultural activities during 2011-12, according to a report released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). "State and territory governments contributed nearly half this amount or $3.3 billion, the federal government contributed one-third or $2.4 billion, and local government contributed $1.3 billion," ABS Director of Culture, Recreation and Migration Statistics, Andrew Middleton said. "Overall, the total government expenditure on cultural activities in 2011-12 went up by five per cent - about one-third of a billion dollars - from the previous year. "The highest expenditure of federal funds was for radio and television services, at $1.3 billion. "At the state and territory government level, the biggest expenditure was for environmental heritage - that's national parks, flora and fauna reserves, zoos, aquaria and botanic gardens, with $1.3 billion. "Performing arts venues experienced the largest increase in expenditure at state and territory government level, up 36 per cent from $216.2m in 2010-11 to $294.4m in 2011-12. "Government expenditure on cultural activities works out at $310 per person in Australia in 2011-12, compared with $300 in 2010-11." More details, including data for individual states and territories, can be found in Cultural Funding by Government, 2011-12 (cat. no. 4183.0) available free on the ABS website. | | | | | The Minister for Road Safety, Sharon Bird, has announced an extension of the deadline to provide feedback on the Government’s Driveway Safety Design Guidelines discussion paper, to 20 August 2013. “We wanted to allow an extra two weeks just to ensure that all interested organisations and individuals have the opportunity to provide their input,” Minister Bird said. The discussion paper proposes home and driveway design principles and measures aimed at protecting young children and reducing the number of child deaths and injuries at home. The emphasis is on keeping young children separate from vehicle areas and improving visibility for drivers and for those supervising children. “Small children are at real risk of being injured or killed by vehicles in their driveway at home – seven die and 60 more are seriously injured each year,” Minister Bird said. “The discussion paper is available on the Department of Infrastructure and Transport website, and I encourage everyone with an interest in this issue to read it and provide feedback. We are particularly interested in hearing from people in the urban planning, design and construction sectors, as well as the broader community,” Minister Bird said. Submissions will now close on Tuesday 20 August 2013. Feedback can be submitted online via the Department's website. | | | | | The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) has released a new series of factsheets, developed in conjunction with industry experts and professionals, aimed at encouraging greater awareness and appreciation of cultural diversity in Australian workplaces.
The factsheets were formally launched by Senator the Hon Kate Lundy, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, at an event hosted by the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) in Dandenong, Victoria, on Monday, 29 July 2013.
The series of factsheets are the culmination of a year-long project undertaken by FECCA, called Harmony in the Workplace: Delivering the Diversity Dividend, funded and supported by DIAC’s Diversity and Social Cohesion Program.
The series of ten factsheets in total covers a diverse range of issues, from exploring cultural diversity in the context of Australia’s broader workforce, to legal frameworks concerning workplace discrimination. They also discuss myths and commonly held misperceptions about cultural diversity in the workplace, as well as tips on maximising cultural diversity for the benefit of organisations and their employees”.
In addition to providing a contextual background on the extent of cultural diversity inherent to Australia’s workforce, the factsheets also include a range of recommendations and suggested strategies for employers to implement to maximise the benefits of cultural diversity in their organisation.
The Harmony in the Workplace: Delivering the Diversity Dividend factsheets are available to download from the FECCA website. | | | | | Residents in Moonee Valley, Victoria, will be able to participate in local development application processes like never before, thanks to a new 3D mapping/modelling project. Minister Assisting for the Digital Economy, Senator Kate Lundy, launched the project which is funded through the Rudd Labor Government’s Digital Local Government program. This means local residents will have access to Moonee Valley City Council’s development application process via a 3D mapping/modelling application that will make planning more transparent. In addition, map overlays will be used to display real time information concerning planned roadwork, council services, activities and events. “The NBN bandwidth allows us to make 3D mapping and modelling of proposed developments and council services a reality.” Moonee Valley City Council Mayor, Narelle Sharpe said. Moonee Valley City Council will receive over $340,000 in funding to deliver the online 3D mapping/modelling application, with Council contributing around $131,500. The quantum of funding is subject to the negotiation of a funding deed. Moonee Valley City Council is partnering with Yarra City Council on this project. Information sharing applications over the NBN are a great way to enhance frontline support delivered by councils to their communities; both for general customer service and for services that require significant consultation, such as building and development applications. For more details on the Digital Local Government program visit www.dbcde.gov.au/digitallocalgov | | | | | The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) is financing street lighting upgrades which help councils make significant savings on their energy bills and cut carbon emissions. CEFC CEO Oliver Yates said street lighting was a major cost for Australian councils with more than 2.28 million streetlights nationwide representing energy and maintenance costs of more than $400 million a year and responsible for an estimated 30 to 60 per cent of council carbon emissions. “Councils and their ratepayers pay the energy and maintenance costs of street lighting even though they do not own the assets,” he said. “We’re helping councils reduce those costs by providing finance to create outcomes that benefit their communities.” Victoria’s Baw Baw Shire Council will use CEFC finance to upgrade its street lighting to cut carbon emissions by an expected 18 per cent and save more than $160,000 a year. Baw Baw Mayor Murray Cook said more than 2,660 mercury vapour street lights would be upgraded in a $1 million project which had received $550,000 finance from the CEFC and a grant from the Australian Government’s Community Energy Efficiency Program (CEEP) for the remainder. “Street lighting is responsible for about 40 per cent of our council carbon emissions. Switching to more energy efficient street lighting will help reduce our overall emissions levels by about 18 per cent,” Cr Cook said. | | | | | The Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIICCSTRE) has developed a 'Clean Energies Supplier Advocate' program. As many councils are implementing targets for energy efficiency and clean energy generation, it is important for councils to have access to those who can provide the technology and hardware they need. The Department will be holding four workshops/exhibitions across the country: - Melbourne, 20 August
- Sydney, 12 September
- Brisbane , 15 October
- Adelaide, 21 November.
Those interested should contact Ange Nichols ANichols@cleanenergycouncil.org.au | | |
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