President's column
Over the past week, the ALGA Board has considered the potential motions submitted by councils for debate at the National General Assembly (NGA) next month. More than 130 motions were submitted this year coming from a variety of councils across the country with the issues raised reflecting the breadth of challenges that councils face on a daily basis.
The motions cover a broad range of topics including Financial Assistance Grants, Roads to Recovery and other government grant programs, freight improvements, rate capping, tax reform, community infrastructure funding proposals, affordable housing, preventative health, early childhood education, discrimination, migration and settlement, climate change and the environment.
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Julie Collins confirmed to address Assembly next month
Shadow Minister for Regional Development and Local Government and Shadow Minister for Employment Service, the Hon Julie Collins MP will address this year's National General Assembly of Local Government (NGA) on Wednesday 22 June.
Ms Collins is a strong advocate for communities and has recently talked about the need for infrastructure investment and longer-term planning in communities to increase productivity. Ms Collins' advocacy fits well with this year's NGA theme, Partners in an Innovative and Prosperous Australia, which focuses on the role of local government as a partner not just in providing essential services to communities but also on broader issues of importance to the nation, particularly in the context of the upcoming Federal election.
$30m promised for local parks and environment
The Coalition recently announced that it would deliver a $30 million funding package to support local parks and environments if elected this July.
The funding package includes a $24 million investment for a new Improving Your Local Parks and Environment Programme to support the local parks and green spaces that make our communities more liveable, healthy and sustainable and a $5 million Solar Communities Programme to help local community organisations go solar.
Local government has long been involved in shaping and enhancing the overall local landscape and contributing to the health and wellbeing of the community by providing and maintaining parks, nature reserves, gardens walkways and promenades.
ALGA 2016 Election Advocacy Focus - Roads
The maintenance of the local road system is one of local government's major tasks and in most councils, it is the single largest item of expenditure. Total expenditure on local roads by councils is estimated to be in excess of $7 billion.
An ALGA study released in 2010 into local road funding found that the funding shortfall to simply maintain, rather than improve, Australia's local roads to 2025 is around $1.3 billion annually. The continued underinvestment in local roads hinders local and regional social and economic development and productivity of the nation as a whole. Therefore, all the major political parties should commit to the permanent doubling of the Roads to Recovery funding.
Latest News
$60m additional investment into Mobile Black Spots Programme
The Prime Minister has committed to an additional $60 million investment in the Mobile Black Spot Programme
$286m FAGs instalment for councils across the country
Local councils across the country will benefit from the final instalment of funding for 2015-16
Councils' permit turnaround time improving
Heavy vehicle permit processing times by local councils have improved in three of the five participating states
Important information about medical alarms and NBN
NBN has released important information about the potential impact of the NBN rollout on medical alarms
Development of new Great Artesian Basin Strategic Management Plan
A new Great Artesian Basin Strategic Management Plan will be developed to guide governments, water users and other stakeholders
Food Standards Australia New Zealand anniversary events
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is celebrating two significant anniversaries in 2016
$60m additional investment into Mobile Black Spots Programme
The Prime Minister has committed to an additional $60 million investment in the Mobile Black Spot Programme
$286m FAGs instalment for councils across the country
Local councils across the country will benefit from the final instalment of funding for 2015-16
Councils' permit turnaround time improving
Heavy vehicle permit processing times by local councils have improved in three of the five participating states
Important information about medical alarms and NBN
NBN has released important information about the potential impact of the NBN rollout on medical alarms
Development of new Great Artesian Basin Strategic Management Plan
A new Great Artesian Basin Strategic Management Plan will be developed to guide governments, water users and other stakeholders
Food Standards Australia New Zealand anniversary events
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is celebrating two significant anniversaries in 2016
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15-16 August, Sydney Australia
Asset management is an essential component of good governance within the public sector, and should be aligned to, and integrated with, an entity's strategic, corporate and financial planning. Australian government built asset value surpasses $600 billion and with a stock of aging assets, various departments are focusing on achieving greater value for investments.
Public Sector Asset Management 2016 will address how to improve asset management strategies, and a few highlighted sessions include:
- Asset Management Planning for Informed Decision Making and Operational Reality
- Developing an Asset Management Plan with the Desired Balance of Cost Risk and Performance
- Integrating Financial Sustainability and Levels of Service to Meet Community Requirements
Draw on the expertise from more than 15+ expert asset management speakers
- Brian Frankham, Director - Asset Performance Management, NSW Department of Education
- Joe Mathew, CEO, Asset Institute
- Michael Killeen, Asset Manager, Transport for NSW
- Param Seenithamby, Principal Engineer - Roads & Structural Assets, City of Sydney
- And many more
download the agenda for more information.
2016 NATIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY: Partners in an Innovative and Prosperous Australia
The NGA Registration Brochure is now available, download your copy here.
Under the theme Partners in an Innovative and Prosperous Australia, delegates at this year's National General Assembly of Local Government (NGA) will look at the many ways local government is being innovative both here and overseas. As a responsive, pragmatic and dynamic level of government, councils innovate with technology, with their resources and in practical ways within their organisations and communities.
The NGA brings our sector together providing a platform for thought provoking discussion and serious consideration of the development of policies on issues of national significance. This year, the NGA will celebrate and examine the key role of local government in helping to build the economy and sustainable communities of the future. Through the NGA, delegates will be able to learn from the ideas and experiences of other councils and gain valuable ideas for their own councils.
Local government is a pragmatic and hands-on level of government. Our focus is the provision of services, infrastructure, planning and coordination at the local level.
Register your attendance at this year's NGA here.