 | |  The Australian Government has promised to consult on changes to natural disaster funding as part of its initial response to the release of the Productivity Commission's final report on Natural Disaster Funding arrangements. In releasing the report on 1 May, Justice Minister, the Hon Michael Keenan, said the Government's view is that the current natural disaster funding arrangements in Australia are flawed and that it is critical to seek ways of enhancing the system to ensure Australia is more resilient in the future. The Productivity Commission Report and an earlier Australian National Audit Office report have both been critical of the current funding system with the Productivity Commission arguing that governments nationally focus too much on recovery at the expense of directing resources towards better-preparing for future disasters, and the ANAO criticising the lack of oversight and accountability for recovery funding under successive Commonwealth governments and highlighting systemic issues with state and local government claims for ineligible expenditure. The Justice Minister reinforced that the Australian Government will always have a role in supporting states affected by natural disasters - and that they will always stand ready to assist communities in need. However both the findings of these two independent bodies make it clear that change is needed. In saying this, however, the Minister has emphasised that the Australian Government is not proposing any radical reductions in the funding support it provides to the states. The Minister has written to jurisdictions foreshadowing consultations on the best way to address the findings of the two reports. The Australian Government has indicated it will provide a full response to the Productivity Commission's final report following these consultations. The Productivity Commission report can be accessed here | | | | |  This year's Regional Cooperation and Development Forum will be held on Sunday 14 June in Canberra and will include the launch of the 2015-16 State of the Regions Report. The Forum is an opportunity for Mayors, Councillors, Regional Development Australia committee members and other key decision and policy makers to gather together to share knowledge and experience to strengthen the ability of Australia's regions to compete in the global economy. This year's Forum and report will examine the critical role played by our regional infrastructure assets and models the productivity benefits from strategic investment in a range of asset classes. Delivering this year's keynote address will be Dr Paul Collits. Dr Collits has had a long and varied career in regional economic development, having worked at senior levels for the NSW Department of State and Regional Development, University of Sunshine Coast and most recently as the Economic Development Advisor at Gosford City Council. This year's Forum also features a session run by senior officials from the Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development, focussing on how to maximise grant outcomes, including feedback from the first round of applications for the Stronger Regions Fund and Bridges Renewal Programs. An afternoon panel discussion will examine the role of Regional Cities in regional economic development. The Chair of Economic Development Australia, Mr Mark Holdsworth will present on the diverse work of EDA with a focus on local government. This year's State of the Regions Report will include regional estimates and analysis of the economic costs and opportunities associated with addressing Australia's underperforming infrastructure. The report will also update economic modelling for the regions and discuss the latest implications for Australia's regions after the mining boom and a lower Australian dollar exchange rate. More information on how to register to attend the Regional Forum can be found here | | | | |  Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Building Approvals show that the number of dwellings approved rose 1.8 per cent in March 2015, in trend terms, and has risen for ten months. This continued strength was driven by increases in new flats, units or apartments in residential buildings. The value of total buildings approved rose 0.9 per cent in March and has risen for nine months. The value of residential buildings rose 2.5 per cent while non-residential buildings fell 2.8 per cent in trend terms. The number of dwelling approvals increased in March in New South Wales (4.4 per cent), Tasmania (3.3 per cent), Queensland (3.0 per cent) and Victoria (1.2 per cent) but decreased in Northern Territory (14.6 per cent), Australian Capital Territory (3.8 per cent), Western Australia (1.9 per cent) and South Australia (1.7 per cent) in trend terms. In trend terms, approvals for private sector houses rose 0.2 per cent in March. Private sector houses rose in New South Wales (1.8 per cent) and Victoria (1.1 per cent) but fell in South Australia (1.3 per cent), Western Australia (1.3 per cent) and Queensland (0.9 per cent). Further information is available here. | | |
| |  The Government will deliver its second Budget next week against the backdrop of a soft Australian economy and an uncertain political environment. The Prime Minister has foreshadowed a budget which will be "dull", "boring" and "frugal", with a focus on restoring trust with families. This suggests a relatively low-key budget with few surprises and no major initiatives beyond what has already been signalled for families. It now appears unlikely that the Budget will contain any new initiatives in the area of local infrastructure, an unfortunate outcome and a missed opportunity for the Federal Government. Indeed, now is the time in the economic cycle when we need to invest in infrastructure which will drive future productivity improvements and growth at both the national and local levels. The major initiatives ALGA is seeking in this Budget include an end to the freezing of the Financial Assistance Grants, which will end up taking hundreds of millions of dollars out of local communities, the establishment of a new Community Infrastructure Program to provide $300 million per annum over the next four years for local infrastructure and a new $100 million annual program focused on strategic regional roads which will enhance regional productivity by improving access for freight vehicles and connectivity between local roads and preferred state and national freight routes. These initiatives lay the groundwork for future prosperity and if they are not addressed in this Budget they will form the core of ALGA's advocacy in the lead up to the 2016 Election. The good news for councils in the Federal Budget will be delivery on the Government's commitments to double Roads to Recovery in the next financial year and also increase Roads Safety Blackspots funding from $60 million to $100 million in 2015-16 and 2016-17. In addition, I hope the Government will also respond positively to our joint advocacy with the Australian Airports Association and the Royal Flying Doctor Service to ensure the continuation of funding for regional and remote aerodromes under the Regional Aviation Access Programme. These aerodromes play an important commercial and social role that needs to be recognised and supported through the continuation of the Programme. Regards Mayor Troy Pickard
ALGA President | | |
| | More than 30 decision-makers from Australia's road transport agencies, police services and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) gathered in Brisbane last week to set national priorities for heavy vehicle road safety to benefit all road users. With 95% of Australia's road freight vehicles now governed by one Heavy Vehicle National Law it is timely to develop a national approach to heavy vehicle compliance and road safety. The recent National Compliance and Enforcement Operations Forum is the first step towards developing a national approach to heavy vehicle safety and compliance with law enforcement agencies now able to share information across agencies and across borders to better target enforcement operations. For more information visit the NHVR's website here. | | | | | The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) this week released its final report into supportive housing to address homelessness. Initially originating in the field of mental health and disability, supportive housing has come to represent an important component in contemporary efforts to end homelessness in Australia. Key findings of the Report include: - Support as an intervention to enable disadvantaged people to become independent from support services (ultimately) can be seen as a form of empowerment and normalisation.
- Consistent with formal intentions and the assertions of professionals delivering supportive housing services, tenants both desire socialising and activities-based communities in supportive housing and experience supportive housing as the positive communities they desire.
- The security and stability afforded to tenants because of the long-term nature of the housing provided was central to their progression to a state where they could think about subsequent life improvements.
The full report can be found here | | | | | The Commonwealth Government has announced that next week's budget will allocate $840 million nationally for two more years of the universal access program which guarantees all four-year-olds up to 15 hours a week at preschool. In 2013, the Council of Australian Governments agreed to 15 hours universal accesses to kindergarten/preschool for children in the year before they start school. The Commonwealth funds five hours and the State Governments fund 10 hours under the National Partnership Agreement on Universal Access to Childhood Education. However, the Commonwealth's funding under the NPA is due to expire at the end of 2015. States and territories have been calling for the program to be continued, with education ministers saying in March a commitment to ongoing funding was urgent. The latest extension by the Commonwealth is only for two years because responsibility for preschool is under review as part of the development of a White Paper on the Reform of Federation. Last week the Commonwealth also announced that it would establish a $246 million two year pilot program to extend support to home care services provided by nannies. The two year pilot will determine whether a more sustainable program can be affordably put in place for in home care nanny services. | | | | | A new report by Per Capita highlights the challenges faced by people in our metropolitan cities and the urgent need for a national urban policy. The report 'Paradise Lost? The race to maintain Australian living standards' finds that Australians are commuting an extra 56 unpaid hours per year compared to 2002. The report concludes that: 'To continue to lift labour productivity, we must lift our investment in hard infrastructure like transport and broadband, as well as soft infrastructure like skills and education.' To maintain liveability and to unlock our metropolitan cities' productive potential, our cities need coordination and investment at a national level in urban rail, roads and fibre to the premises broadband. The full report can be accessed here. | | | | | The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) has welcomed the State Government's significant investment in local infrastructure in its 2015 Budget but voiced concern about how funding for regional and rural roads will be allocated. MAV President, Cr Bill McArthur said the $100 million over four years for sports infrastructure and $50 million for interface councils to maintain vital assets was very good news, and that while there seems to be significant State investment for repairing roads and improving road safety infrastructure it's unsure how much of this, if any, will be allocated to local councils. Other budget highlights include $1 million to review the Local Government Act; the previously announced $5.2 million in funding for roadside weed and pest management over the next two years; $4.2-$4.6 billion investment in public transport and $81 million to assist with the prevention of violence against women. | | | | | The Northern Territory Government has brought down its 2015-16 Budget, which includes a range of new funds for the local government sector. Local Government Association of the Northern Territory (LGANT) President Damien Ryan was keen to receive the news. "There is an infrastructure spend across all council areas, particularly strategic roads with an emphasis on providing access and flood immunity. This is very beneficial to municipal, regional and remote areas," Mayor Ryan said. The budget includes tens of millions of dollars for new and improved transport infrastructure. and also has millions of dollars in provisions for local government. | | | | | This week is Privacy Awareness Week, and to mark the occasion the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has launched a new privacy management framework to assist public and private sector organisations to meet their ongoing compliance obligations and embed a culture that respects privacy. The privacy management framework provides practical guidance on how to establish and implement a privacy management plan, including a four step approach that will help organisations protect privacy and improve their processes. For more information see www.privacyawarenessweek.org and to access the framework click here. | | | | | On May 7 Bathurst, Australia's first inland European settlement, celebrated its bicentenary. As Australia's oldest inland city a year-long celebration is planned with a calendar full of events and activities for people of all ages and interests including outdoor art installations, fashion exhibitions, colonial fair and a spectacular night Illumination and street festival on Saturday 9 May. The bicentenary is a European milestone and in 2015, Bathurst is re-telling this shared history with the Wiradjuri people. A possum skin cloak healing workshop is being held by Bathurst Regional Art Gallery in October 2014 in conjunction with the Wiradjuri Elders and is symbolic of the new history that will be created from 2015. For more information click here. | | | | | The 16th annual National Walk Safely to School Day will be held on Friday 22 May 2015. National Walk Safely to School Day is a community initiative supported by the Pedestrian Council of Australia which seeks to raise awareness of the health, road safety, transport and environmental benefits that regular walking can provide for the long term health of our children. The day aims to promote the health benefits of walking and create regular walking habits, assist children to develop vital road crossing skills, ensure children up to the age of 10 years hold an adult's hand when crossing roads, and to reduce car dependency and traffic congestion. The Pedestrian Council is seeking to engage councils in the initiative. To find out how your council can be involved click here. | | | | | Nominations are now open for the 2015 State and Territory Landcare Awards. The Awards have been running for 25 years and celebrate the many achievements of Landcare across a number of diverse areas, including sustainable farming, Coastcare, Junior Landcare, Indigenous land management, and more. Entries in most states close on 31 May, except for Victoria where they close 21 June, Tasmania where they close on 30 June and the Northern Territory where they close on 28 August. More information is available here. | | | | | Australasia's two road safety conferences, the Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS) Conference, and the Australasian Road Safety Research, Policing and Education Conference (RSRPE) have merged this year to create the premier Australasian Road Safety Conference (ARSC2015) to be held on the Gold Coast from 14-16 October. The conference is expected to attract over 400 delegates working in the wide range of portfolios and industries who contribute to improving road safety outcomes. Entries are open for the 2015 3M-ACRS Diamond Road Safety Award. The award calls for any road safety practitioner from the public or private sector to submit highly innovative, cost-effective road safety initiatives/programmes which they have recently developed that stand out from the standard, everyday practice and deliver significant improvements in road safety for the community. The winner will receive a trip to the USA to attend the 46th ATSSA Annual Convention & Traffic Expo in 2016 to be held in Virginia, USA. More information can be obtained from the Australasian College of Road Safety here. | | |
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