President's column
This week, we acknowledge and congratulate those who have been recognised with awards in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for a diverse range of contributions and service across various fields such as community work and professional endeavours.
I was delighted to see local government award winners from around the nation receive accolades for their achievements and contributions and I extend my personal congratulations to all of them. These individuals don't seek recognition, but give their time and energy to make their communities a better place.
More
2016 Queen's Birthday Honours List
The 2015 Queen's Birthday Honours List has once again recognised the time and effort that many exceptional community members have dedicated to their local community through service to local government.
The Governor-General and Chancellor of the Order of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd), said: "We are fortunate as a community to have so many outstanding people willing to dedicate themselves to the betterment of our nation and it is only fitting that they have been recognised through the Australian Honours system."
Making innovation real in local government: lessons from Boston
What does innovation mean at the local government level and what does global best practice look like?
To help answer these questions, Microsoft has been taking a close look at Boston and the many smaller cities that are contained within it. Their initial focus was to understand how Boston and the wider state of Massachusetts has become a global powerhouse in fields such as biotechnology, computing and robotics. However, the more time they spent looking under the hood, the more they discovered that much of Boston's recent success came down to its reinvention at the local government level.
ALGA 2016 Election Advocacy Focus - Human Services
Local governments have a growing role in the delivery of important services with communities increasingly turning to their council for the provision of facilities and services. These include, but are not limited to, sport, arts and culture, recreation, childcare, aged care and libraries.
Councils' role in the provision and management of social and community infrastructure means that they are best placed to provide opportunities for all residents to actively participate in their community and this helps to build and maintain the connections and networks upon which strong communities are built.
Latest News
Opposition commits to $20m for NSW plebiscite on council amalgamations
The Opposition has announced that it will set aside $20 million in funding for a plebiscite to give communities in NSW a say
Digital Disruption: What do governments need to do?
The Productivity Commission has released a research paper focusing on the role of government in the face of potentially disruptive technological change
Councils encouraged to tackle infrastructure backlog with switch to clean energy
Councils have been urged to consider tailored debt finance to improve their energy performance and reduce emissions from old and poorly maintained assets.
Labor announces a 'Local Jobs for Local People' election promise
The Opposition has announced that it will invest $68.6 million over the next four years to deliver a 'Local Jobs for Local People' program if elected
A salute to the economic army
Economic Development Australia (EDA), established more than 10 years ago, represents economic development practitioners across the country. Their members are primarily employed in local government
Country of origin labelling
On 1 July 2016, a new country of origin food labelling system will commence under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL)
How governments are using new ways to deliver citizen services
City leaders often grapple with the challenges of growing citizen expectations and shrinking financial resources, needing new tools to promote citizen engagement and responsiveness
PhD opportunities for local government in Melbourne
The Australian Catholic University (ACU) has recently established the research Institute for Health and Ageing (IHA) which is offering five PhD scholarships in Melbourne
Opposition commits to $20m for NSW plebiscite on council amalgamations
The Opposition has announced that it will set aside $20 million in funding for a plebiscite to give communities in NSW a say
Digital Disruption: What do governments need to do?
The Productivity Commission has released a research paper focusing on the role of government in the face of potentially disruptive technological change
Councils encouraged to tackle infrastructure backlog with switch to clean energy
Councils have been urged to consider tailored debt finance to improve their energy performance and reduce emissions from old and poorly maintained assets.
Labor announces a 'Local Jobs for Local People' election promise
The Opposition has announced that it will invest $68.6 million over the next four years to deliver a 'Local Jobs for Local People' program if elected
A salute to the economic army
Economic Development Australia (EDA), established more than 10 years ago, represents economic development practitioners across the country. Their members are primarily employed in local government
Country of origin labelling
On 1 July 2016, a new country of origin food labelling system will commence under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL)
How governments are using new ways to deliver citizen services
City leaders often grapple with the challenges of growing citizen expectations and shrinking financial resources, needing new tools to promote citizen engagement and responsiveness
PhD opportunities for local government in Melbourne
The Australian Catholic University (ACU) has recently established the research Institute for Health and Ageing (IHA) which is offering five PhD scholarships in Melbourne
Advertisements
Join the national charge!
The RECHARGE Scheme Australia Limited (RSA) charity supports Councils to provide a more accessible environment for people who use electric mobility wheelchairs and scooters. This includes designated power points for people to recharge their scooter or wheelchair battery.
Users of the RECHARGE Scheme™ tell us they feel increased safety, social connection and improved well-being. They no longer isolate themselves through fear they will be stranded by a flat battery.
The RECHARGE Scheme™ commenced in Victoria in 2006 and is expanding nationally. There are over 700 registered RECHARGE Point™ locations. Key businesses and organisations proudly bear the RECHARGE Scheme™ logo at their premises.
Affiliate Councils can facilitate Recharge Points™ within their own facilities and suitable local businesses. Councils joining the National Pilot Scheme before July 2016 qualify for an introductory membership discount price of $1300 (ongoing cost after 12 months is $300 per annum).
More information: rechargescheme.org.au
Considering clean energy projects for your council?
Meet with the CEFC at the National General Assembly in Canberra
The Clean Energy Finance Corporation is looking forward to meeting with council delegates at the ALGA National General Assembly in Canberra next week.
Our Local Government Finance Program supports councils to invest in clean energy projects, which can help councils to:
- Reduce energy costs
- Deliver on sustainability goals
- Secure committed finance for projects
This week we released our latest CEFC report, Clean energy opportunities for local government. We look forward to speaking with you about what this means for your council. Please come and see us at stand 38 in the exhibition hall.
Otherwise, you can get in touch with us any time at localgovernment@cleanenergyfinancecorp.com.au