 | |  ALGA is pleased to confirm that the international speaker for this year's National Local Roads and Transport Congress will be Professor John Woodrooffe, a transport research scientist and Director of the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute's Commercial Vehicle Research and Policy Program. John has more than 35 years of involvement in all matters heavy vehicle as well as specific knowledge of Australian conditions, particularly Performance Based Standards (PBS) Heavy Vehicles. John is an international expert in vehicle productivity, large vehicle stability and control, efficiency and transport safety. John has been a member of various vehicle-related OECD technical expert working groups, most recently on the project Heavy Vehicles: Regulatory, Operational and Productivity Improvements. This international task force examined regulatory concepts and future truck technology for sustainable road transport. His current research focus includes the effectiveness of crash avoidance and connected vehicle technologies, particularly the interaction of large heavy vehicles with light vehicles. The topic that John will speak on is Transport reform, the current United States story. John's forward-looking research work will provide valuable insights to our leaders and decision-makers attending the Congress on the evolving US transport reform agenda and what new heavy vehicle-related initiatives we can expect to arrive in Australia in the near future. Registrations are now open for the Congress. Please click here for more information. | | | | |  Minister for Justice Michael Keenan this week announced $3.7 million in funding for projects to help communities prepare for, respond to and recover from natural disasters and emergencies. The funding will go towards 22 nationally-significant projects under the National Emergency Management Projects (NEMP) program in 2015-16. Some of the projects funded include: - $257,000 to support the Queensland Farmers' Federation to develop tools to assist farmers and the agricultural industry to better manage the impact of natural disasters on their businesses
- $150,000 to support Volunteering Australia to strengthen the attraction, support and retention of emergency management volunteers
- $200,000 for the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council to develop a national capability roadmap to improve the effectiveness of emergency services and management organisations
- $145,000 to support the University of Adelaide to develop communications resources for emergency managers to support culturally diverse communities.
The NEMP program is an open and competitive grant program established as part of the Disaster Resilience Australia Package to fund emergency management projects of national significance. It funds projects that deliver and support major national emergency management capability and development activities. The 2015-16 projects were rigorously assessed and recommended by the Australia-New Zealand Emergency Management Committee, which includes senior emergency management officials from each state and territory. More information about the successful 2015-16 projects is available on the Attorney-General's Department website. | | | | |  The Building Ministers' Forum (BMF) recently met in Melbourne to agree on a range of significant outcomes of relevance to the Australian building and construction industry and the wider community. The BMF progressed a range of building matters, including strategies to minimise the use of building products that don't conform to relevant state/territory building laws, including minimising the health and safety risks posed by potentially non-conforming building products and materials making their way into the Australian building and construction supply chain. As part of this discussion, the Forum agreed to limit variations to the National Construction Code. In particular, Ministers resolved to reduce local government red tape by removing the opportunity for local planning schemes to exceed the requirements of the National Construction Code. Read the communique from the BMF here. The BMF is a body of Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers responsible for building and plumbing regulation. The Forum oversees the implementation of nationally-consistent building and plumbing regulation through the Intergovernmental Agreement for the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB). | | |
| |  Last month I wrote to Mayors and Shire Presidents inviting them to ALGA's 2015 National Local Roads and Transport Congress. Since that time, the Congress program has rapidly developed with most speakers now confirmed. An updated program will be mailed to you shortly for your information. This year's Congress will be focused squarely on the importance of collaboration and fostering strong working relationships across council boundaries, cities, regions and states. As we approach the next Federal Election, it is vital that all political parties recognise and commit to supporting the important role of local government in delivering essential services to communities that link them with the rest of the world. We have two eminent speakers confirmed for the Congress including international speaker Professor John Woodrooffe and keynote speaker Philip Davies, CEO Infrastructure Australia. Professor Woodrooffe has a very broad 35 years of international experience in the heavy vehicle industry. He will speak to delegates about the evolving US transport reform agenda, providing valuable international insights for delegates attending the Congress. His presentation will be sure to prompt discussion on what new heavy vehicle-related initiatives we can expect to arrive in Australia in the near future. We're also looking forward to hearing from Philip Davies, a highly qualified engineer and experienced infrastructure executive with more than 25 years experience in shaping policy, delivering nationally-significant infrastructure projects, and leading reform within the infrastructure sector with valuable experience in both the public and private sectors. The provision and maintenance of sustainable local infrastructure is key to our nation's success and getting this message across to the Government, the Opposition, the Australian Greens and other important stakeholders requires a strong local government presence in Ballarat in November. I urge every council to come to Ballarat and have their say at this important event. Regards, Mayor Troy Pickard
ALGA President | | |
| | ALGA News has received more than 250 responses to its recent short survey, which sought readers' views on whether the newsletter meets their interests. It was encouraging to see that a high proportion of respondents (50%) read ALGA News on a weekly basis with many of them very satisfied with the newsletter and its content (40%). However, the responses to the survey also identified areas for improvement with an considerable number of respondents (206) wanting to see more on examples of council best practice. We're still analysing the survey results and identifying areas where action can be taken to make the newsletter more interesting for its readers. Any changes will likely happen over the coming months, but we'll be sure to let you know! Thank you to all the subscribers who participated in the survey over the past few weeks. | | | | | Community volunteers are now being sought to join Regional Development Australia (RDA) Boards in South Australia. This includes Chair positions in RDA Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island and RDA Yorke and Mid North, as well as the Deputy Chair position in RDA Whyalla and Eyre Peninsula. The RDA is a national network of Boards made up of local people volunteering their time and energy to develop solutions to local issues. President of the Local Government Association of South Australia Dave Burgess said he would encourage all high-quality applicants to apply. Further information, including an Expression of Interest form and information booklet, can be found at http://www.rda.gov.au/, by contacting 1800 505 938 or email rdaeoi@infrastructure.gov.au. | | | | | Fixing Country Roads is a program providing targeted funding to local councils for road projects that will eliminate connectivity constraints on local roads in NSW and reduce the cost to market for local businesses. A call for proposals for the second round of Fixing Country Roads funding will be announced in September 2015. Round two will be a two-phase process, similar to the first round. The initial phase will be a call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) in which applicants will be asked to demonstrate how their project will: - help solve transport access constraints
- facilitate access between local, state and/or national networks.
Shortlisted EOI applicants will progress to the second phase in which full applications will be invited. We will provide further information when the round opens in September. More information on the program is available on the NSW Government website. | | | | | This week saw the announcement of a consortium selected to deliver emergency management professional development products and services on behalf of Emergency Management Australia. The consortium includes the Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council, the Australian Red Cross and the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre. The consortium will aim to commence the delivery of contemporary professional development products and services for the emergency management sector later this year. This will include the delivery of professional development courses and workshops, school education program, knowledge management services and volunteer support. Read the announcement at this link. | | | | | Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) has released a consultation paper on a review of Safe Food Australia, an explanatory guide to the food safety standards in Chapter 3 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. Safe Food Australia, used as a practical tool by both industry and regulators to help understand and implement safe food handling practices, is being reviewed to address current food safety issues and trends, provide new guidance for mobile vendors and home-based vendors and to update the evidence referenced in the guide. Submissions to the review can be made through submissions@foodstandards.gov.au by 18 September 2015. More information about the Safe Food Australia review is available on the FSANZ website. FSANZ is also calling for submissions on a proposal to remove mandatory allergen labelling requirements for certain foods and ingredients where processing results in negligible amounts of protein being left in the final product. The products being considered are certain glucose syrups made from wheat starch, fully refined soy oil, soy derivatives (tocopherols and phytosterols) and distilled alcohol from wheat or whey. The closing date for submissions is 23 September 2015. More information on the allergen labelling proposal is available here. | | | | | The Assistant Minister for Social Services, Senator Mitch Fifield has announced the release of the Commonwealth aged care advocacy services consultation options paper. The Department of Social Services commenced the review of Commonwealth aged care advocacy services earlier this year to identify how individual advocacy services can best support consumers to effectively interact with the aged care system and be empowered to apply informed decision making and actively exercise choice. A Consultation Paper outlines key elements for a future programme and seeks to explore key stakeholder perspectives on the options presented. The review will seek to: - explore how individual advocacy is currently being delivered across residential, home care and Commonwealth HACC services
- consider what is working well, what could be improved, current challenges and gaps
- identify differing client needs, including those from special needs groups
- define individual and independent advocacy services
- consider how consumer choice, decision making and the protection of consumer rights can best be supported by a Commonwealth funded individual advocacy programme.
Consideration of systemic advocacy is not in scope for the outcome of this review. The closing date for submissions is 4 September 2015. The following documents have been prepared to assist the feedback process. Feedback is requested via the feedback form to advocacy@ahaconsulting.com.au. | | | | | Violence against culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) women was under the spotlight when community and business leaders, academics, specialists and other key stakeholders gathered at a recent national roundtable. Minister for Social Services, the Hon. Scott Morrison, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women, Senator the Hon. Michaelia Cash and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Services, Senator the Hon. Concetta Fierravanti-Wells spoke at the national roundtable. State and Territory Government Minsters responsible for women's safety also attended to discuss priority areas for action. This was the first time a roundtable of this type had been held. A family safety pack was launched at the roundtable with information on Australia's laws regarding domestic and family violence, sexual assault and forced marriage. The pack aims to reduce violence against women from CALD backgrounds by ensuring they understand their rights and where to get support if needed. It also aims to strengthen support for women coming to Australia on a Partner Visa, by providing information on the family violence visa provisions and available support. | | | | | This week the Government announced Australia's first ever strategy for advancing the interests of indigenous peoples, which provides a framework for Australia to work with our international partners and the United Nations to influence international policy to advance the interests of indigenous peoples in Australia and around the world. The strategy aims to encourage greater Indigenous Australian participation in shaping Australia's aid program, building on their experience in delivering services in regional, rural and remote communities. The strategy will also promote Indigenous Australian engagement to support our economic integration with Asia. The strategy will be guided by pillars to achieve this vision including: - The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAA) will work with its partners to influence international policy to advance the interests of indigenous peoples in the international community
- DFAT will strive to deliver international programs that improve outcomes for indigenous peoples
- DFAT will encourage Indigenous Australians to apply for DFAT-funded opportunities to engage in and develop people-to-people links with the international community
DFAT will conduct a mid-term review of the strategy in 2017 and a final review in 2020. You can access the Indigenous Peoples Strategy at this link. | | | | | The Government has released resources to help culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community groups and organisations to access culturally-appropriate aged care. The resources come in two parts. The first is the Overview to improve aged care access for your community which provides guidance on the Australian aged care industry. The second resource is the Guide to improve aged care access for your community which provides more detail on how to assist CALD communities to have greater access to home care and residential aged care in local communities. The overview and guide also provide information on the available funding options and other information including: - how CALD community groups and organisations can establish themselves as a home care or residential aged care provider
- delivery of services through partnership with an existing provider
- encouraging existing providers to deliver services to CALD communities.
The overview and guide are available to download on the Department of Social Services website | | | | | Government Skills Australia (GSA) has advised that it will be ceasing business operations as of 24 December 2015. After nearly 10 years of working with the community safety, government, and water industries in Australia to develop workforce skills, GSA has been unable to continue to attract funding in the new industry skills and training package development landscape. CEO, Karen Taylor, said: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for you drive, passion for and input to the work of Government Skills Australia, and wish you and your industries all the best for the future. I strongly recommend that you continue to make your voices heard regarding the future of training and skills development in your industry and, where possible, you continue to work collaboratively with all stakeholders from your industry." | | |
| | |  Australian Landscape Conference 2015 ART AND NATURE: Conflict and Harmony in the Landscape With a stunning line up of key international and thought provoking speakers, this conference is not to be missed! Speakers this year are particularly relevant for Local Governments with their focus on addressing challenges of increased urbanisation. Civic landscapes, design of green networks for marginalised communities and sustainability are integral to the speakers' philosophies. With increasing awareness by planners that art, civic design and stimulating landscaping can all promote urban renewal, this conference is perfectly timed. The conference begins with Martin Rein-Cano (Berlin) who argues that English style landscaping is boring and that we must inject a much greater artistic impulse into our landscaping. There are 12 brilliant presentations (10 international and 2 Australian) and the ALC provides a unique five day program. No better environment exists to meet like-minded people, networking and exchanging ideas than at ALC 2015. With the 16 practical workshops (four by international speakers), the ever-popular Friday garden tour, relaxed Saturday night speakers’ dinner and the ALC is a must attend conference for planners, gardeners, designers, managers and anyone with an interest in landscape design! Early bird registration (before June 30) now open. CPD points apply. www.landscapeconference.com Melbourne Convention Centre
September 18 - 22, 2015
Registrations: Sue Forge- e: sueforge@icloud.com 043 818 1578 |
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