President's column
Did you know it's Anti-Poverty Week this week? Or that poverty and severe hardship affects a staggering 3 million Australians, including 739,000 children, who are currently living below the internationally-accepted poverty line. These are hard numbers to ignore.
This year's Poverty in Australia report by the Australian Council of Social Service shows that most of those affected are living in deep poverty, on average living on $135 per week below the poverty line.
More
Principles released for Federal Government's Roads of Strategic Importance initiative
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack has moved the Australian Government's Roads of Strategic Importance (ROSI) initiative forward and publicly released the principles which will be used to guide the identification of priority road corridors.
The Australian Government is set to invest $3.5 billion through the (ROSI) initiative to deliver works such as road sealing, flood immunity, strengthening and widening, pavement rehabilitation, bridge and culvert upgrades and road realignments.
Round 4 of the Mobile Black Spot Program now open
Earlier in the week, the Australian Government released the guidelines for Round 4 of the Mobile Black Spot Program and called for applications from mobile network operators and infrastructure providers, including local government, to the Round 4 competitive assessment process.
The Government has committed $25 million to this round which will provide more mobile coverage to regional and remote areas across Australia. This includes targeting mobile black spot issues at regional and remote 'public interest premises'
ALGA federal election advocacy focus: Promote equitable access to community services
The day-to-day experiences and well-being of communities are shaped by the infrastructure provided by councils such as public pools, libraries and children's playgrounds to name a few.
While some of these facilities are relatively new, many were built decades ago and require significant maintenance and upgrades to ensure they continue to meet the needs of the community. A significant proportion of Australia's local community infrastructure is currently at risk of disrepair
Latest News
Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety - Terms of Reference
Prime Minister the Hon Scott Morrison MP, Minister for Health the Hon Greg Hunt MP, and Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care the Hon Ken Wyatt MP recently announced the terms of reference
Local government shines in VIC Premier's Sustainability Awards
Gannawarra Shire Council has won the Victorian Premier's Regional Recognition Award in this year's Premier's Sustainability Awards for their sustainability focus, featuring the first large scale solar farm and battery storage in Victoria.
Housing affordability improving in major capital cities
The Housing Industry Association's (HIA) Affordability Index for Australia was recorded at 76.3 in the September quarter, which is 1.5 per cent higher than in the previous quarter
Local government first: Free child care support for asylum seekers
The City of Canterbury Bankstown is the first council in Australia to formally offer free early childhood education and care to support local asylum seeker families.
Federal Govt investing in remote business incubators
The Federal Government has announced that it will trial four Community Development Programme (CDP) Business Incubators that will help remote jobseekers turn CDP activities into small businesses
Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation supports consumer education on food waste
The Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation (the Forum) recently met to consider a range of food regulation matters, including food waste.
ACCC authorises SA councils' waste collection tender
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has granted authorisation to Council Solutions and a group of four Adelaide councils to jointly procure kerbside waste collection services
State, local govts must collaborate on digital innovation
State and local governments across Australia and New Zealand will need to take a coordinated approach to driving digital innovation and transformation in order to fulfil the promise of the digital government future
Updated: Tourism Research Australia's Local Government Area profiles
Updated Local Government Area (LGA) profiles by Tourism Research Australia are now available for 215 LGAs. The profiles include visitor numbers, spend and length of stay
Former Mayor to lead Inland Rail consultative committee in Queensland
A fifth Community Consultative Committee (CCC) has been established by the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) for Inland Rail, appointing a prominent former local Mayor to lead its work
Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety - Terms of Reference
Prime Minister the Hon Scott Morrison MP, Minister for Health the Hon Greg Hunt MP, and Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care the Hon Ken Wyatt MP recently announced the terms of reference
Local government shines in VIC Premier's Sustainability Awards
Gannawarra Shire Council has won the Victorian Premier's Regional Recognition Award in this year's Premier's Sustainability Awards for their sustainability focus, featuring the first large scale solar farm and battery storage in Victoria.
Housing affordability improving in major capital cities
The Housing Industry Association's (HIA) Affordability Index for Australia was recorded at 76.3 in the September quarter, which is 1.5 per cent higher than in the previous quarter
Local government first: Free child care support for asylum seekers
The City of Canterbury Bankstown is the first council in Australia to formally offer free early childhood education and care to support local asylum seeker families.
Federal Govt investing in remote business incubators
The Federal Government has announced that it will trial four Community Development Programme (CDP) Business Incubators that will help remote jobseekers turn CDP activities into small businesses
Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation supports consumer education on food waste
The Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation (the Forum) recently met to consider a range of food regulation matters, including food waste.
ACCC authorises SA councils' waste collection tender
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has granted authorisation to Council Solutions and a group of four Adelaide councils to jointly procure kerbside waste collection services
State, local govts must collaborate on digital innovation
State and local governments across Australia and New Zealand will need to take a coordinated approach to driving digital innovation and transformation in order to fulfil the promise of the digital government future
Updated: Tourism Research Australia's Local Government Area profiles
Updated Local Government Area (LGA) profiles by Tourism Research Australia are now available for 215 LGAs. The profiles include visitor numbers, spend and length of stay
Former Mayor to lead Inland Rail consultative committee in Queensland
A fifth Community Consultative Committee (CCC) has been established by the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) for Inland Rail, appointing a prominent former local Mayor to lead its work
Advertisements
Creating a Safer Work Environment with Axon Body Cameras
Click here to learn more about the Hobart Case Study
Parking and Information Officers (PIOs) in Hobart, Tasmania began to receive verbal and physical abuse while enforcing parking laws and issuing fines. Hobart City Council - committed under its Workplace Health & Safety obligations to provide a safe and healthy workplace for their employees - decided to look into body cameras as a possible solution.
They embarked upon an eight-week field trial hoping cameras would help:
- Reduce the number and severity of verbal and physical assault incidents
- Provide Tasmania Police with evidence to prosecute offenders in court
After selecting Axon Public Safety as their body-worn camera vendor, PIOs now activate their cameras when they experience or anticipate a threat, abuse, or assault. They've seen a 40% reduction in number of abusive incidents against Parking and Information Officers and a significant reduction in complaints against PIOs.
To learn more about how body cameras could help your council, visit https://au.axon.com/info/hobart-council-case-study
Local Government target respondents: Council area residents or Council staff
• Telephone surveys
• Online studies
• In-Depth-Interviews
• Focus Group Moderating
"a quality job at a fair price"
Contact Peter Coulthart Mobile 0433 123 353
fieldforce@fieldforce.com.au www.fieldforce.com.au
National Local Roads and Transport Congress
20-22 November 2018
Alice Springs, NT
The Australian Local Government Association's National Local Roads and Transport Congress is only a few months away! This year we are lucky enough to hold the Congress in Alice Springs.
The theme for the 2018 Congress is Connecting Transport Networks Now and into the Future. The key benefit of improved transport connectivity is its transformational effects - making cities and regions more accessible, more liveable and creating opportunities for economic development that could not otherwise exist.
Registration is open with limited spots left for the popular networking dinner at the Outback Quarry!