THE Australian Government announced the Chair and Deputy Chair appointments to Regional Development Australia (RDA) committees across Australia on Tuesday 27 January.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said the three-year appointments will provide leadership to RDA committees to drive economic growth and make the most of the potential capability of their region.

"The RDA committees can play a key role in growing stronger regions across the nation and ensure all three tiers of government work together," Mr Truss said.

"RDA committees will provide advice to the Government on critical issues affecting each region and are an important mechanism to increase access to Australian Government programmes in their communities.

"The committees will also assist local community stakeholders to develop project proposals and direct them to appropriate public and/or private funding sources - including the $1 billion National Stronger Regions Fund."

Regional Development Australia consists of a national network of 55 committees designed to strongly focus on regional economic development and facilitate local projects that aim to make a difference in their local communities.

Among the appointments, former ALGA president Felicity-ann Lewis has been named as Chair of the Adelaide Metropolitan RDA.

The full list of appointments is available online at: www.rda.gov.au

Queensland will go to the polls tomorrow, Saturday 31 January.

In releasing its 10 Point Policy Plan before the election the LGAQ said better funding for local public infrastructure to improve transport links and provide greater protection from natural disasters should be a key election priority for all parties contesting the state poll.

The Plan also calls on the  major parties to ensure that councils are genuinely empowered to make decisions in the best interests of their communities.

The LGAQ has issued the responses received to the plan.

LGNSW has also received its state election priorities prior to the NSW election in March.

LGNSW has called for cost-shifting to councils by the NSW Government to cease, improved funding for roads and public libraries; removing unfair and inefficient rate exemptions; improving environmental legislation and developing mutually agreed guidelines for disability action planning.

The LGNSW priorities document can be access here.

ALGA has welcomed the release of a consultation paper by Environment Minister Greg Hunt which provides options for landfill operators in managing funds collected under the now repealed Carbon Tax.

The consultation paper was released on 22 December 2014.

The consultation paper Handling of Early Collected Carbon Tax Charges held by Landfill Operators is seeking the views of stakeholders on the design of a proposed voluntary framework for landfill operators (which includes a number of councils) on how the funds collected by the operators under the now repealed Carbon Tax may be used.

The paper is broadly consistent with a proposal developed by ALGA and the Australian Landfill Operators Association (ALOA) which, in general terms, was that after meeting all the obligations under the Carbon Price Mechanism, landfill operators should refund customers where it is possible to do so and where it is not possible, should ensure that communities will benefit by the funds being invested to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The consultation paper  provides options for landfill operators to address the issue of funds collected under the now repealed Carbon Tax.

The consultation paper is available here.

Justice Minister Michael Keenan announced on 19 December that the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Natural Disaster Funding had been completed.

The Minister said it was first comprehensive review of disaster funding arrangements in more than a decade and he thanked the Commission for the detailed report that they have delivered to the Australian Government.

Minister Keenan said the Government is now carefully considering the Productivity Commission’s final findings and recommendations. The Government will respond in due course and existing funding arrangements will remain in place for all natural disasters occurring this season.

The final report will be publicly tabled within the required 25 Parliamentary sitting days.

More than one million trees are expected to be planted as part of the first small grants round of the Australian Government's 20 Million Trees Programme.

Environment Minister Greg Hunt said grants totalling $4.5 million have been approved for 57 projects in urban and regional areas around Australia. This funding is going to Landcare and community groups, individuals and organisations to enable them to plant native trees, shrubs and other vegetation in their local communities.

The projects funded in this first round will deliver up to 1.1 million native trees.

Projects include:

• Increasing forage habitat for Carnaby’s Black Cockatoos on Western Australia's Swan Coastal Plain
• Creating vegetation corridors for Ballina’s Koala populations
• Habitat restoration for Leadbeaters Possums and Helmeted Honeyeaters in Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs
• Creating connectivity corridors between dairy farms on New South Wales' south coast Revegetation in areas within Tasmania’s World Heritage listed forests

More information on the programme and the successful projects is available here.

National Road Safety Partnership Program member Uniting Care Queensland will hold a webinar on Friday 5 February to look at the introduction of driver and road safety programs across the organisation's in Queensland.

With more than 250 cost centres and 2,500 vehicles across the state Uniting Care Queensland's Fleet Manager will discuss how the driver safety programs were introduced, the achievements and challenges faces, and the need to review and renew the program.

The Webinar Creating a Driver Safety Culture in the Not for Profit Sector - the Challenges and Benefits  will take place at between 12pm and 12.45pm (AEDT).

More information is available here and places can be booked here.

The National Road Safety Partnership Program offers a collaborative network to support Australian businesses in developing a positive road safety culture, it's about saving lives without the red tape.

ALGA is a partner in the program.

The Education Issues Paper (Roles and Responsibilities in Education), the fourth to be released as part of the Reform of the Federation White Paper process, was released on 23 December 2014.

The Issues Paper is in two parts. Part A discusses childcare and early childhood learning, and schools; and Part B discusses vocational education and training and higher education. Both parts outline the evolution of Commonwealth and State and Territory involvement in education. They also examine pressures on the current arrangements and post questions with the intent of promoting public discussion.

Part A also recognises the prominent role local government plays in the provision of children's services, including child care and early learning.

The Education Issues Paper can be found here.

A national affordable housing strategy must be developed by all three levels of government and housing providers to ensure appropriate housing for older Australians into the future, according to a Position Paper prepared by Aged & Community Services Australia (ACSA).

Adj Prof John G Kelly AM, ACSA CEO, said the Position Paper calls for concessions and reforms to housing, planning and tax arrangements.

"Housing is essential to the safety and wellbeing of Australia's increasing ageing population," Prof Kelly said. "The Position Paper is the result of research conducted by ACSA and extensive consultation with our members across Australia, who are significantly involved in providing accommodation solutions for older Australians."

It contains five recommendations:

• That a joint national affordable housing strategy be developed by all three levels of governments
• That the term ‘seniors accommodation’ be included in the relevant state and territory legislation so that these developments will be given special consideration in planning.
• That government provides zero interest loans and/or innovative funding to upgrade and expand targeted housing solutions for older Australian. This capital assistance would prioritise upgrades to dated independent living unit stock and projects that include accessible design, integrated care services, opportunities for community engagement and support for low income, low asset residents.
• The introduction of a government-supported home equity release scheme with clear guidelines on the amounts of money that could be drawn down and for which purposes.
• That the Commonwealth Government introduce an age pensioners saving account scheme in which older Australians could invest the surplus from the sale of their home. The money in this account scheme would be dedicated to future care and living costs and would be exempt from the asset and income test for the age pension.

The Position Paper will inform ACSA's advocacy to government, submissions to inquiries and meetings with relevant stakeholders.

Many of the recommendations have already been suggested by the Productivity Commission.

The City of Broken Hill has been included on the National Heritage List.

"Australia's Silver City, Broken Hill, is of outstanding heritage value to the nation for the significant role the city and its mining operations have played in Australia's development towards a modern and prosperous nation," Environment Minister Greg Hunt said.

"A National Heritage listing for Broken Hill recognises over 130 years of continuous mining operations, its contribution to technical developments in the field of mining, its pioneering role in the development of occupational health and safety standards, and its early innovation and adoption of environmental regeneration in and around mining operations."

The Minister for Health and Sport and Federal Member for Farrer, Sussan Ley said the National Heritage listing celebrates the city's unique character and heritage.

Broken Hill City Council Mayor, Wincen Cuy, said the announcement was a major celebration for the city, and the nation.

The City of Broken Hill is the 103rd place included in the National Heritage list. For more information click here.

The Australian Rechabite Foundation (ARF)'s small grants program supports research projects which will contribute evidence for policies to reduce alcohol problems and to community-based initiatives that foster change to reduce adverse effects of alcohol.

The ARF has $30,000 to allocate in its small grants program for 2015. Applications close 2 March.

To find out more or to submit an application please email: arfoundation@australianrechabites.org.au