The team at Australian Local Government Association would like to wish you a happy and safe holiday season! We would like to thank all our readers and advertisers for your support during the year and we look forward to your support and involvement in ALGA News in 2016.

This is the final edition for 2015 with the first edition of 2016 returning on Friday 29 January.

You can subscribe to ALGA News and find information on advertising on our website.

The ALGA office will be closed from 24 December 2015 and will reopen on 4 January 2016.

The Government has recently signed into law a new Australian Design Rule (ADR) that will better protect motorists involved in side impact crashes.

The ADR, which will begin in November 2017, was approved by Minister for Major Projects, Territories and Local Government, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, this week and follows the development of an international standard for side impact crashes.

"This ADR is based on United Nations Global Technical Regulation (GTR) 14, which sets strict performance criteria for light passenger and commercial vehicles in side impacts with a narrow object such as a pole.  However, it will also improve occupant protection in other side impacts, including car- to-car impacts," Mr Fletcher said.

"It is estimated that this measure will save 128 lives and avoid 195 severe or moderate brain injuries over 15 years, while providing net benefits to the community of $417 million."

More information is available in Mr Fletcher's media release and on the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development website.

On December 15, Commonwealth, state and territory Environment Ministers met in Melbourne to progress environment issues of national significance.

At the meeting, Ministers endorsed the National Clean Air Agreement which will deliver actions to reduce air pollution and improve air quality through cooperative action between industry and government at the national, state and local level-ensuring Australians continue to enjoy clean air into the future.

Three key initial actions under the Agreement include:

• the introduction of emission standards for new non-road spark ignition engines and equipment (such as garden equipment and marine outboard motors)
• measures to reduce air pollution from wood heaters, including the adoption of new emission and efficiency standards for new wood heaters and sharing best management practices across jurisdictions, and
• strengthened ambient air quality reporting standards for particle pollution.

During the meeting, Federal Minister Jamie Briggs also outlined the Government's new cities and the built environment agenda which seeks to improve the productivity, liveability and accessibility of Australia's urban environments. Ministers noted the need for ongoing deep cooperation and partnerships across the Commonwealth and with states, local government and the business community to achieve transformative change in cities.

Read the full communique from the meeting at this link.

The outcome of the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) recently held in Paris sets the scene for increased efforts to address climate change and ALGA strongly supports the Australian Government's commitment, through COP21, to holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°c above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°c above pre-industrial levels.

Managing the effects of a changing climate will require the efforts of every level of government in Australia. During the COP21 negotiations, there was a strong focus on the roles of cities in reducing greenhouse gas emissions with local government leaders being called upon to mitigate the risks of climate change.

While much can be done to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in all parts of Australia, ALGA welcomes COP21's acknowledgement of the importance of sub-national governments, including local governments, in addressing and responding to climate change.

On 19 November 2015, the Minister for Major Projects, Territories and Local Government, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, announced Round Five of the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Programme (HVSPP).

Both state and local governments are eligible to apply under this round with the Australian Government offering to contribute a maximum of 50 per cent of the total project cost.

A reminder has been issued for local government proposals under Round Five of the HVSPP, which commenced on 2 December and will close on 10 February 2016.

If you have any questions about Round Five of the HVSPP, please contact the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development via email on HVSPP@infrastructure.gov.au or call 02 6274 6758.

Further information about the HVSPP is available at this link.

The Government is helping community organisations in Victoria and Queensland lower their electricity bills and do their bit for the environment under the Solar Towns Programme.

Up to $300,000 will be made available to community organisations in each of the four regions across Victoria and Queensland to install solar photovoltaic cells or a solar hot water system on their premises.

Community organisations located within the City of Monash, the Mount Alexander Shire, the Macedon Ranges Shire and the Town of Sunbury in Victoria and those within the electorates of Bonner and Moreton in Queensland can now apply for grants to purchase and install renewable energy systems.

The Solar Towns Programme is an opportunity for communities to engage at a local level with clean renewable energy. Round 3 of the programme is now open with applications closing at 2:00PM (AEDT) on 12 February 2016.

Further information about the program, including details of how to apply, is available on the Department of Environment website.

The Australia Council for the Arts has announced $10.4 million of investment in Australian arts through its September grants round, which received a strong response with almost 1,700 applications.

The investment includes $3.7 million for 166 projects by individual artists, $1 million for 39 group projects, and $5.7 million to support 85 projects by small to medium arts organisations.

Australia Council Chief Executive Officer Tony Grybowski said: "Nearly a quarter of the successful applicants are based in regional or remote areas, and almost a third of all projects have a regional component. This is important in ensuring that regional audiences benefit from stories told by their own communities, as well as increasing access to work toured between metropolitan and regional areas."

The September grant results are available on the Australia Council for the Arts website.

Applications are now open for the next grants round, which closes on 2 February 2016.

The ATO has opened community consultation on its Digital by default initiative, as it continues its push to deliver better products and services for all taxpayers. The proposed change will deliver a simpler, easier, more flexible and adaptable way of interacting digitally with the ATO and puts the taxpayer experience at the forefront of service delivery.

Deputy Commissioner Michelle Crosby said the Digital by default initiative will require most taxpayers to use ATO digital services to send and receive information and payments, except where they do not have the ability to do so.

"We have released a consultation paper and are seeking feedback from all sections of the community. We want to make sure we have a fully-rounded understanding of the support needed to transition to digital services, the approach we take for those who cannot use digital services, and any concerns people might have," Ms Crosby said.

To provide your feedback, please visit the ATO website. The opportunity to provide feedback on the Digital by default consultation paper will close on 15 January 2016.

New country of origin labelling for Australian food is a step closer with the Government calling for the community and businesses to have their say on its proposed reforms.

A Consultation Regulation Impact Statement has been released which outlines issues to consider in implementing the reform agenda. The consultation includes an opportunity to comment on a draft information standard that sets out the rules around food products and the proposed new labelling requirements.

Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Barnaby Joyce said: "We are determined to deliver a meaningful and clear country of origin labelling system for food and we are well on the way to making that happen.

"Concerns about country of origin labelling have been going on for too long. The changes we have flagged will finally address those concerns so that Australian shoppers can have confidence about the origins of the food that they buy."

The consultation closes 5pm AEST 29 January 2016.

For further information on country of origin food labelling and to comment on the Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement, visit https://consult.industry.gov.au/cool-taskforce/cool

The Government has released a discussion paper on ways of maximising value for money from its investments in northern Australia's infrastructure through private sector involvement.

The paper invites the private sector to bring forward innovative funding and delivery proposals for projects to be delivered under the $600 million Northern Australia Roads Programme.

"The Government is keen to test the market to see what the appetite is for delivering innovative investment in road transport infrastructure in the north," Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, The Hon Warren Truss MP, said.

"Our focus is on delivering outcomes for Northern Australia - and we will choose whatever works best, be it a private sector proposal or delivery by government. And what works for one particular road may not work for another."

Minister for Major Projects Paul Fletcher said it was important to test whether private sector ideas could allow more to be delivered for the funds committed by government.

"We are therefore seeking the private sector's input on realistic and workable concepts and innovative models that will maximise the value of public investments in northern Australia road infrastructure," Mr Fletcher said.

Copies of the discussion paper are available on the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development website

The Department of Environment has released a new strategy to protect and manage Australia's heritage for the next 10 years, including the possibility of a national lottery as a source of funds.

Announcing the strategy, the Minister for the Environment, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, said it sets out the priorities for the next decade and the actions to be taken to support and promote Australia's natural, historic and Indigenous heritage.

"Commitments in the strategy include a more creative online presence for national heritage-listed sites to raise awareness of the fascinating stories connected with our heritage places. There will also be a renewed focus on encouraging partnerships to boost tourism opportunities in the heritage sector," Mr Hunt said.

A range of innovative new funding sources will also be explored, including the feasibility of adapting the United Kingdom's national lottery model, which this year alone generated £375 million (A$780 million) for heritage projects.

Nominations for new places to be included on the National Heritage List are now open and will close on 18 February, 2016.

A copy of the strategy is available on the Department of Environment website and  information on the National Heritage List nominations process can be accessed at this link.