 | |  We are pleased to confirm that Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Tourism, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, will attend and speak at the 2015 National Local Roads and Transport Congress in Ballarat, held from 17 to 19 November. Mr Albanese will speak on the second day of the Congress. The Congress has always been, and continues to be, critical in providing a platform for councils to engage with the Federal Government and Opposition on road and infrastructure policies and initiatives. Given the increasing fiscal pressure on the Federal Government and Budget decisions such as the freeze to the indexation of Financial Assistance Grants, it is more important than ever that local government present a united front when dealing with the Government on road and transport issues. For a copy of the updated program and to register for the 2015 National Local Roads and Transport Congress, please visit the ALGA website. | | | | |  The Minister for Communications, the Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, has approved changes to the carrier powers and immunities to support multi-technology rollouts of high-speed broadband. The changes took into consideration the comments and concerns outlined in ALGA's submission on the consultation draft on amending carrier powers and immunities. The amendments to the Telecommunications Regulations 2001 and the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 1997 (LIFD) include: - making definitions of fixed-line communications facilities in the LIFD technology neutral
- providing for a small number of new types of facilities on an ongoing basis
- allowing thicker overhead communications cabling to be classed as low-impact facilities
- permitting some facilities to be attached to the outside of multi-unit buildings and allowing some larger facilities to be installed inside multi-unit buildings
- making earlier temporary amendments to the LIFD made on 30 March 2015 (and which came into effect on 2 April 2015) ongoing
- removing temporary geographic restrictions on the installation of hybrid fibre-coaxial facilities in pilot areas.
The Minister also emphasised the need for the NBN to use the powers and immunities responsibly. The amending instruments are available online at: Telecommunications Amendment (Designated Overhead Lines) Regulation 2015
Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 1997 (Amendment No. 3 of 2015). | | | | |  As part of ALGA's ongoing national campaign urging the Federal Government to restore indexation of Financial Assistance Grants (FAGs) as soon as possible, councils have been providing on-the-ground examples of the real impact of the freeze to their communities. Burnie City Council in Tasmania is having to make operational adjustments due to the freeze. These include the consolidation and reduction of services provided to the community such as changes to the operations of the Makers' Workshop and existing child care operations, and winding up non-profitable controlled entities. Bass Coast Shire in Victoria is being forced to make a choice between reducing the level of services and increasing rates at a higher level than would otherwise be the case. It has had to make decisions on reducing mowing local parks, reducing community grants programs, and reducing the opening hours of waste transfer stations, customer service centres and libraries. These stories go a long way in raising the Federal Government's awareness of the real impact of their decision to freeze FAGs indexation. If your council has examples of how the freeze to FAGs has affected your community, please feel free to send it through to ALGA on alga@alga.asn.au You can also assist the campaign by: - passing a resolution within your council acknowledging the importance of FAGs to the delivery of local services for your community (if you haven't already) and advising your State/Territory Association and ALGA
- ensuring FAGs are acknowledged in your council's annual report to demonstrate to both Government and your community the significant role of FAGs in the long-term financial sustainability of your council
- writing to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, the Hon Warren Truss MP, raising the importance of the financial sustainability of local government for our communities, the importance of FAGs to your own council's budget and sustainability, and urging Mr Truss to support the restoration of the indexation of FAGs as soon as possible.
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| |  The meeting late last week of the Council on Federal Financial Relations in Canberra has put a focus on tax reform and the opportunities for more efficient and sustainable revenue arrangements to address the growing challenges and financial pressures facing all governments, including local government. As it currently stands, Australia's tax system is not serving local communities well. Generally, local government as a whole is raising as much revenue as can be reasonably expected through its own tax effort. Grants from other levels of government are an important revenue source to help councils meet community needs. Those grants have been falling as a proportion of tax revenue and communities are feeling the squeeze. A comprehensive review of the tax system, in parallel with a review of how the Federation should work, is essential. All levels of government and the community need to be involved in the review of taxation, and in looking at how we raise and distribute the tax revenue we need to deliver the services and infrastructure our communities need and want, within the framework of the six principles for the taxation reform outlined by the Treasurer, the Hon Joe Hockey MP: - It must promote a stronger economy building jobs, growth and opportunity
- Any reform must be fit for purpose in the modern economy
- Tax changes must encourage workforce participation and ensure families control their own money
- Generally, you should not be taxed until you have earned the income
- Reform must encourage innovation and opportunity, and reward for effort
- As best as possible, the revenue raising capacity of each tier of government should be aligned to responsibilities of funding and service delivery.
I have urged Mr Hockey and Minister for Finance, the Hon Mathias Cormann that any revenue mechanisms and tax sharing arrangements being considered as part of the reform should acknowledge the essential role of local government as the third tier of government in delivering governance, services and infrastructure at the local level. We should not downplay the possible implications of the tax reforms on local government's ability to raise the revenue necessary to deliver these important services. This taxation reform process presents a vital opportunity to address the current challenges of revenue and service delivery facing all governments and local government will continue to play an active part in both the tax reform and Federation reform to help achieve a well-designed tax system that is fair, efficient and sustainable. You can read the communique that came out of the meeting of the Council on Federal Financial Relations at this link. Mayor Troy Pickard ALGA President | | |
| | The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) has released new auction guidelines for the second Emissions Reduction Fund auction on 4 to 5 November 2015. The auction guidelines outline information about how the auction will be conducted. The auction will continue as a pay as bid, sealed bid format, and include a new variable volume threshold to determine successful auction bids. The threshold allows the CER to purchase between 50 and 100 per cent of the volume of abatement offered at auction below the benchmark price. Bidding will be conducted in a single round through AusTender. More information about how to use AusTender is available on the CER website. The CER has also released an updated code of common terms that forms the basis of carbon abatement contracts, which all participants will need to accept to be eligible to participate in this auction. Additional information about carbon abatement contracts is now available. Auction qualification and registration forms will be available in the client portal. If you wish to participate in the November auction but have not yet registered your project, your completed project application must be received in full by the CER by 18 September. To register your project you will need to complete a project application in the client portal. The CER website has more information. | | | | | The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has released a report titled Research into the Australian debt collection industry that examines the debt collection industry in Australia. The report aims to provide greater understanding of the industry and identify structural issues or operational practices that may lead to problematic behaviours within the sector. It also highlights some concerns regarding debt collection approaches that impose additional costs on consumers already in financial distress. The findings of the report are relevant for councils that participate in debt collection activities, in particular the collection of overdue rates and fees, as part of their daily functions. Both the ACCC and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) enforce Commonwealth consumer protection laws relating to debt collection and have recently updated their joint Debt collection guideline for collectors and creditors. This guideline assists creditors, collectors and debtors to understand their rights and obligations within the industry, and ensures debt collection activity is undertaken in a way that is consistent with consumer protection laws. The guidelines are available on the ACCC website. | | | | | The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) is seeking stakeholder comments in relation to the performance audit of the Award of Funding under the Mobile Black Spot Programme administered by the Department of Communications. The objective of the audit is to assess the effectiveness of the Department’s assessment and selection of base stations for funding under the first round of the Mobile Black Spot Programme. The ANAO is examining whether the Department has: - established sound governance arrangements for the programme
- developed appropriate programme guidelines reflecting the policy intent and objectives of the programme, and whether the programme was accessible to potential applicants
- assessed applicants in a consistent, transparent, accountable and equitable manner.
The audit is not examining the performance of the Department of Communications in negotiating and managing funding agreements. The ANAO is also seeking comments and views on: - the consistency, fairness and transparency of the Department's activities
- the effectiveness of the Department's engagement with your entity in relation to the programme
- any other matters related to the audit criteria outlined above.
Comments should be lodged by 11 September to blackspotaudit@anao.gov.au or the address below: Dr Mark Rodrigues
Senior Director
Performance Audit Services Group
Australian National Audit Office
GPO Box 707
CANBERRA ACT 2601 Comments will be consolidated into themes or trends and the final findings from the audit are expected to be completed in mid-2016 when the audit report will be tabled in the Federal Parliament. | | | | | More than nine million homes and businesses across Australia are expected to be ready to connect to the NBN network and more than four million to have signed up for an NBN service by 2018, according to the NBN 2016 Corporate Plan recently released. The introduction of additional technologies, a projected boost to the size of the construction workforce and newly-signed agreements with the construction industry are anticipated to see the total number of premises that are able to connect double over each of the next three years to 9.1 million. At the end of the period, 4.4 million families and business owners are expected to be active on the network, an eight-fold increase on current figures. The NBN has a goal to activate eight million homes and businesses by 2020 and going forward, it has identified that a significant step change in performance will be needed if NBN is to fulfil its objectives in the timeframe and within the peak funding envelope. Find out more about the NBN's performance, risk management and operational plans in the Corporate Plan available on the NBN website. | | | | | The Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government (ACELG) has launched the inaugural Erica Bell Local Government Essay Prize, named in honour of the late Associate Professor Erica Bell. The theme for the first essay competition is 'local government matters' and ACELG is inviting essays that explore innovative ideas about advancing local government and preparing the sector to meet the challenges of 21st century Australia. The essay competition is open to the local government community; essays will be shortlisted under the following categories: - elected member (councillor, Mayor etc)
- local government sector employee (includes councils, counties, shires, local government associations and state and federal government departments of local government)
- community member (a member of the community with an interest in local government
The winner of the essay competition will receive funding of $2000 to undertake a relevant professional development or study opportunity. Find out more about the inaugural Erica Bell Local Government Essay Prize on the ACELG website. | | | | | Councils have been encouraged to support the fight against poverty by organising or taking part in an activity that highlights issues of poverty and hardship during this year's Anti Poverty Week to be held from 11 to 17 October. The main aims of Anti-Poverty Week are to: - strengthen public understanding of the causes and consequences of poverty and hardship around the world and in Australia
- encourage research, discussion and action to address these problems, including action by individuals, communities, organisations and governments.
Participation by local government and involvement of local communities is an essential part of Anti-Poverty Week with a variety of activities organised last year by councils across the country such as forums, walks, seminars, film screenings and workshops. Support Anti Poverty Week this year by registering your event or activity on the Anti-Poverty Week Calendar of Activities. If you're stuck for ideas, click here for some helpful tips or follow the Anti-Poverty Week Facebook page. | | | | | Cottage Cheese Farm Pty Ltd has recalled Cottage Cheese Farm Goats Fetta Cheese from Cottage Cheese Farm and Middle East Bakeries in Victoria due to microbial (E.coli) contamination. The recall has been issued for products with the use by date markings of 03 Jan 16, 05 Jan 16 and 06 Jan 16. Food Standards Australia and New Zealand has advised that food products contaminated with E.coli may cause illness if consumed and any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice and should return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund. Click here for further information about the recall. | | | | | A report that evaluates the impact of investment into Tasmania's rail freight network has illustrated that savings that can be gained through major transport infrastructure upgrades in Tasmania. The report demonstrates that running a dual-mode road and rail freight system in Tasmania delivers higher benefit than a road-only system, with $159 million in savings to the state's economy estimated over the five years to 2019. The research also found that for the financial year 2013-14, the use of rail rather than road to transport freight in Tasmania delivered savings to the community of approximately $26 million through reduced costs related to road accidents, pollution and road maintenance, and through freight cost savings to business and industry. The report notes that well-designed projects would substantially lift transport efficiency, yielding economy-wide benefit. Read the full report at this link. | | | | | Recent land use statistics from the ABS have found that the total rateable value of land in South Australia has increased from around $159.1 billion to $241.5 billion between June 2006 and June 2011, covering approximately 98.4 million hectares. The statistics also showed that 'residential' land was the highest valued land use in the state with a rateable value of $118.3 billion and $183.1 billion in 2006 and 2011 respectively. This increase of $64.8 billion included $2.8 billion of additions, $1.3 billion of reductions and a positive revaluation of $63.3 billion. 'Livestock Grazing' was the most extensive land use type in South Australia experiencing a net increase of 242,800 hectares from 59.0 million hectares to 59.2 million hectares over the ABS report period. The 'National Parks, Conservation Areas, Forest Reserves and Natural Water Reserves' land use type was the second largest land use category by area in South Australia, with 19.6 million hectares in 2011. The release of the Experimental Land Account Estimates for South Australia follows that of the Great Barrier Reef Land Account in 2014 (after the pilot in 2011), Queensland Land Account 2013 and Victoria Land Account in 2012. The ABS aims to provide these statistics to demonstrate a method for reporting change in land use, rateable value and land cover. More information is available on the ABS website. | | | | | The Victorian Government has recently announced up to 40 scholarships to fund training for council staff across Victoria. Up to 55 per cent of the cost of an eligible university-accredited course will be funded, aiming to help council staff improve efficiencies and provide a whole-of-council approach to incorporating an understanding of climate change in their service delivery. The Centre of Local Government, University of Technology Sydney (CLG:UTS) will deliver the course and training to local government in rural Victoria on 29 September and 17 November 2015. Scholarships are open to executive and senior management council staff and more information can be found on the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) website at www.delwp.vic.gov.au. | | |
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