President's column
The restoration of indexation to Financial Assistance Grants (FAGs) announced in last year's budget was warmly welcomed by our sector, but we were left picking up the pieces after the three-year freeze permanently reduced the base level of the FAGs payments.
Will this Tuesday's Federal Budget help fill the gap?
With the permanent dent made to our core grant stream, this year ALGA urged the Government to help local communities build their economic resilience by investing in infrastructure, investing in job creation and providing continued support for essential community services.
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Applications now open for Round 2 Smart Cities and Suburbs Program
Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, has announced that applications are now open for Round Two of the Government's Smart Cities and Suburbs Program, which commits $22 million to support local governments to solve local problems.
"Local governments are encouraged to make submissions that deliver innovative, technology-based approaches to improve the liveability and increase the productivity and sustainability of Australia's cities, suburbs and towns," Mr Fletcher said.
ALGA Vice-President Damien Ryan joins climate advisory panel
ALGA Vice-President and Alice Springs Mayor Damien Ryan has been announced as an expert advisor to Australia's largest local government climate network.
The newly-announced Cities Power Partnership expert advisory panel will provide specialist guidance to the climate network, which currently has 70 member councils who together represent more than 8 million Australians. The advisory panel will meet annually to help to set future direction for the partnership.
Latest News
Five-year funding for vital car safety program
The Federal Government has marked National Road Safety Week by announcing the continuation of funding for the critical work of independent vehicle safety consumer organisation
Victoria aims to eliminate e-waste through council partnerships
Product stewardship program, MobileMuster, has partnered with local battery recycler, Envirostream, to offer councils new recycling bins that collect mobiles phones and all types of batteries
2018 Regional Telecommunications Review to commence
Minister for Regional Communications, Senator Bridget McKenzie, has announced the committee which will undertake the next review of telecommunications services in regional, rural and remote areas
Australia's 2018-19 Humanitarian Program
Australia operates a dedicated Humanitarian Program that offers resettlement for refugees and others overseas who are in humanitarian need, and protection for people who arrive
Building Ministers discuss compliance and enforcement
The Building Ministers' Forum (BMF) recently held its first meeting for 2018 and discussed the findings of an independent report with recommendations to improve Australian building safety and compliance
Final report into dairy inquiry released
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) recently released its final dairy inquiry report in which it analysed the performance of the dairy industry and the
Five-year funding for vital car safety program
The Federal Government has marked National Road Safety Week by announcing the continuation of funding for the critical work of independent vehicle safety consumer organisation
Victoria aims to eliminate e-waste through council partnerships
Product stewardship program, MobileMuster, has partnered with local battery recycler, Envirostream, to offer councils new recycling bins that collect mobiles phones and all types of batteries
2018 Regional Telecommunications Review to commence
Minister for Regional Communications, Senator Bridget McKenzie, has announced the committee which will undertake the next review of telecommunications services in regional, rural and remote areas
Australia's 2018-19 Humanitarian Program
Australia operates a dedicated Humanitarian Program that offers resettlement for refugees and others overseas who are in humanitarian need, and protection for people who arrive
Building Ministers discuss compliance and enforcement
The Building Ministers' Forum (BMF) recently held its first meeting for 2018 and discussed the findings of an independent report with recommendations to improve Australian building safety and compliance
Final report into dairy inquiry released
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) recently released its final dairy inquiry report in which it analysed the performance of the dairy industry and the
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Optimising Building Performance in Local Government
National Conference | 31st July & 1st August 2018 | Sydney
Modernise your building assets through new technologies & maintenance practices.
The management and maintenance of buildings is an escalating challenge for councils due to limited budget, the increasing technical challenges of maintenance work and the development of new technologies that aid facility management.
The Optimising Building Performance in Local Government conference is designed to highlight best practice from across Australia and bring attendees examples of quantitative savings on maintenances practices and new technologies that they can embed in across the built council assets.
This conference will focus on
- How to extend the life of your assets through innovative facility & asset management practices
- How to implement new technologies to improve building performance
- How to renovate building to meet building compliance
Who will attend?
Senior stakeholders from Local Government with responsibility for:
- Building maintenance
- Facility management
- Building services
- Environmental corporate sustainability
- Built assets
ALGA members save $100, quote CC*ALGA when registering.
Download the conference program and see who is speaking
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Local Government Regulation & Compliance Conference
24 - 25 July 2018, Sydney
The national conference will examine strategic approaches to regulatory compliance. Strategies will be evaluated and successes measured. The forum will provide a platform to discuss how the sector as a whole can strive for consistency. High-level strategic themes will be tackled so that lessons can be applied across all compliance divisions within local government.
Key learnings:
- Deliver regulatory strategy whilst meeting community expectations
- Overcome the challenges of regulating growing & diverse communities
- Evaluate strategic approaches & define measures of success
- Strive for standardised & consistent approaches to regulation
- Hear from international best practice examples towards local government regulation
- Implement a strategic problem-solving approach to regulatory challenges
Download the conference program and see who is speaking
ALGA members save $100, quote CC*ALGA when registering.
National General Assembly of Local Government
Australia's Future Make It Local
17-20 June 2018 Canberra
There is not much time left to book registrations to attend the largest, most influential local government conference in Australia which occurs just once a year.
The Australian Local Government Association's National General Assembly, held in Canberra, attracts representatives from all 537 councils across the states and territories.
The theme for the 2018 Conference is Australia's Future: Let's make it local. It reflects Local Government's ability - and potential - to influence the political agenda for the upcoming federal election.
Registration are still open with limited spots left for the popular networking dinners! Also, take the opportunity to register for the National Regional Forum to engage in the most up to date and contemporary issues facing Australia's regions. This forum addresses all regions, including metro.
To view the NGA Program please click here.