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Council sustainability 'roundtable' expected in late May

Meeting table

A special meeting of the Local Government and Planning Ministers Council is expected to be convened in late May to discuss the financial sustainability of rural and remote councils. The ministerial council was scheduled to discuss the issue at its next meeting in August, but is now expected to hold a special meeting in Sydney on May 26 at the suggestion of NSW Minister for Local Government, Kerry Hickey. ALGA President, Cr Paul Bell, supported the move saying it would help highlight the financial plight faced by all Australian councils. "I welcome the roundtable and the recognition by both state and federal governments that councils are under serious pressure and need additional support." Mr Hickey has strongly backed ALGA's campaign to secure fair federal funding for local government. "The Federal Government is sitting on a huge budget surplus of about $12bn", Mr Hickey said this week. "There is plenty of money to help our rural and remote councils deliver better services for ratepayers." ALGA has commissioned a major study on local government financing which will build on work undertaken by state associations. The findings will be presented to both the Australian Government and Opposition later this year.

Transport, childcare likely winners in mid-term Budget

Child on a swing

ALGA is anticipating a modest mid-term Budget to be delivered next Tuesday with relatively few new spending initiatives. Transport and childcare are likely to be two exceptions. The key theme of the Budget is expected to be "investing in Australia's future". The Budget is also likely to include further tax relief, measures to keep older people engaged in the workforce and new welfare initiatives. Fresh funds are expected for the Hume Highway in NSW and the Bruce Highway in Queensland. There is also speculation that further funding might be made available for the regulation reduction incentive fund, an initiative that provides funding for councils to streamline small business regulation. ALGA wants additional funding for the program, but calls on the Australian Government to take a more strategic approach to build on the national reform agenda set by the Council of Australian Governments. ALGA's Budget submission calls for financial assistance grants to be replaced with a share of at least 1% of Commonwealth taxation revenue and additional funding for local government in a range of important areas including information technology, transport, health and ageing, skills shortages and infrastructure.

Allan report calls for 20% boost in federal funding

Australian banknotes and coins

Federal financial assistance grants to local government should be boosted by 20% to make up some of the ground lost in the past two decades. This is one of the key recommendations contained in the final report of the independent inquiry into the financial sustainability of councils in NSW chaired by Professor Percy Allan. The report, released on Wednesday, finds that local government is facing major challenges, including an infrastructure funding crisis, an inadequate revenue base (exacerbated by rate pegging, deficient federal government grants and cost shifting), skills shortages and increasing demands placed on councils by the community and other spheres of government. The report's major finding is a huge infrastructure renewal backlog of more than $6bn that is expected to grow to almost $21bn over the next 15 years. The report makes 49 recommendations, including a $900m increase in council funding to address the infrastructure crisis. This should be raised through increased federal and state grants, higher rates and fees and council expenditure savings. It also calls for federal financial assistance grants to be set at a fixed percentage of GDP and that this be lifted from 0.18% of GDP (2003-04) to 0.22%. Alternatively, it suggests that the grants be set at 0.86% of all taxes, including GST, or 1.27% of total income tax.
From the President

Full marks to Professor Allan and his independent inquiry team for their landmark report on the financial sustainability of local government in NSW. Congratulations also to the NSW Local Government and Shires Associations for grasping the nettle and commissioning and warts and all review of the financial health of the state's 152 councils. The report makes sober reading. It is now abundantly clear that local government and the communities we serve have been bled dry by our state and federal counterparts over a period of many years. Among the key recommendations, the report calls on the Commonwealth to increase financial assistance grants to local government by 20% to restore part of the reduction in general purpose grant funding as a proportion of GDP in the past two decades. More importantly - it argues - the increased funding would partially reverse the decline in local government's share of the Australian tax base (received as rates plus grants) from around 6% in the 1970s to about 4% today. As ALGA News has reported, local government in Australia now has the fourth lowest share of taxation among the 30 industrialised nations of the OECD. There is now growing momentum for change. ALGA has commissioned a national economic study that will build on the work of the NSW independent inquiry and work done by other state associations on the financial sustainability of local government. It will present a comprehensive case for change. We will present this case to the major parties later this year and we will expect full responses and commitments as we approach the 2007 federal election. As we move forwards, I am encouraged by the support we are getting from local government ministers around the country - federal and state. There is, at least, recognition of the problems we face. We now need to turn that recognition into action.

ALGA President

Councils urged to help spread flu message

The National Institute of Clinical Studies is encouraging councils to help fight flu this season by publicising a new website. Recent research undertaken by Institute into influenza vaccination rates amongst 'at risk' groups under 65 has shown an alarmingly low rate of only 42% even though these people can develop life threatening complications from influenza. One of the major barriers to vaccination is a lack of awareness about who is actually at risk, so the Institute has developed a website, to raise awareness and equip both health professionals and consumers with accurate, evidence-based information and resources to ensure we raise this figure to a safer level.

EPBC Act planner's guides available

The "Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act Project" is wrapping up at the end of June and is offering to post remaining copies of its EPBC Act Guide for Planners to interested councils. The guide has been written to help those involved in local or regional land use and natural resource planning integrate the Act into their processes. The guides are free, and the Project will cover postage. Mailouts of large numbers of guides are possible. To order, please send an email to Tracey Rich trich@wwf.org.au with the number you require and your mailing address.

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Municipal Association of Victoria
The Future of Local Government Summit 2

1 & 2 June 2006 - Sofitel Hotel, Melbourne

Local government must adapt to changing world circumstances to remains relevant, focused and valued for building strong and successful communities. It must take the lead to self-determine its future role and directions, rather than have it imposed by government. To achieve this, local government must first determine its preferred vision and embrace reforms that ensure ongoing social, economic and fiscal well-being for municipal organisations and the communities they represent.

A future roadmap for the sector was first explored at the 2005 Municipal Association of Victoria's inaugural Future of Local Government Summit, attended by more than 300 participants. This year's Summit will explore a range of potential reform and community strategies and agree on a participative process for local government to progress nationally.

Some of the world's leading academic and local government change strategists will examine global perspectives on future possibilities for the sector, with case studies from the UK, USA and New Zealand. The Summit provides both learning and participative opportunities and should be attended by anyone in local government who wants to be inspired, inspire others, demonstrate leadership and share ideas to help inspire a future vision for the sector.

The conference program and registration information is available at www.mav.asn.au/summit2006.

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Monash University
Postgraduate Degrees in Infrastructure Engineering and Management

at Monash University

In the 21st century, management of Infrastructure is an exciting and vital challenge. Skilled professionals are required to maintain aging infrastructure, integrate new infrastructure into existing systems with the minimum of disruption, and expand infrastructure in regions of the world with rapid growth. Realising these needs, the Department of Civil Engineering at Monash University is offering an off-campus learning (distance education) degree program in infrastructure engineering and management. The postgraduate coursework program is structured as follows to cater for the needs of professionals from a range of backgrounds

  • Masters of Infrastructure Engineering and Management
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Infrastructure Engineering and Management
  • Graduate Certificate in Infrastructure Engineering and Management

Entry and articulation options
Entry options cater to varying educational backgrounds and qualifications. Articulation options from Graduate Certificate to Postgraduate Diploma to Master Degree are also available.

Mid-year in-take now available
Semester 2 2006: Applications Close: Friday 9 June 2006
Semester 1 2007: Applications Close: Friday 19 January 2007

Benefits of studying via off-campus
Study when and where you like. There are no classes to attend. All units are accessible via the web together with comprehensive printed notes. Interact with other students and lecturers via on-line communication tools (email, discussion groups, chat rooms) available in each unit's web site.
National code for wind farms

A discussion paper on a proposed national code for the construction of wind farms has been released this week by Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell. He said a national code would provide the basis for consistency, certainty and community confidence in wind power as a future source of energy. The number of wind farms across Australia has grown rapidly over the past decade, rising from 20 in 1996 to 444 today. Senator Campbell said a key component of the code "should take into account the wishes of the local community, often most fairly expressed by the local council". A roundtable of stakeholders will be held to further develop the code.

Climate change workshops for councils

The Australian Greenhouse Office is holding free two-hour climate change and risk management guidance workshops in all capital cities over the next two months. These workshops are aimed at councillors, senior managers and specialist risk managers. The workshops will be based around a new publication, Climate Change Impacts and Risk Management: A Guide for Business and Government. Further information from Anna van Dugteren on 02 6274 1119 or download the registration form.

National awards now open

Local government bodies throughout Australia are invited to enter the National Awards for Local Government, now in its 20th year. Award entries can be made on-line through the website of the Department of Transport and Regional Services. Entries close at midnight (EST) on 13 June. The 2006 Awards feature 18 categories across four broad areas of local government business. A brochure listing all categories is also available on the DOTARS website. For further information please contact the Awards Team on 1800 065 113 (Freecall).

SCORD meets in Mandurah

ALGA attended the Standing Committee on Regional Development (SCORD) in Mandurah, WA, last week to discuss a variety of regional development issues ahead of the next meeting of regional development ministers in July. The meeting covered cross-jurisdictional support for regional manufacturing, Indigenous participation in the resources sector, the impact of regional skills shortages, the importance of information and communication technology, implementation of the regional development framework for co-operation, and the ongoing status of the National Regional Research Network. A key focus of discussion was the the need to develop and agree on a package of relevant regional performance indicators to assist with policy development and evaluation. The Ministerial Regional Development Council will next meet in Alice Springs on July 13.

Opening up events to everyone

A new guide for event organisers aims to bring down the barriers to participation for people with a disability. Accessible Events - a Guide for Organisers, developed by Meeting Events Australia (MEA) and the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, helps organisers to make their events more accessible to the millions of Australians with a disability. The Commission would like to hear from councils that have developed their own guide so that they might be referenced as additional resources. Comments on additional material that should be included in the guide should be sent to Michael Small at the Commission michaelsmall@humanrights.gov.au.

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Red Nose Day 2006
Make Your Council a SuperHero

SuperHero Councils Red Nose Day 2006

SIDS and Kids is seeking help from local government throughout Australia to promote the 19th Red Nose Day 2006 to their local communities through local media during the month of June commencing on Thursday June 1st.

Through the Red Nose Day Super Hero Council program councils can access an online media kit with pre formatted media releases and photo opportunities for good news stories and to demonstrate council's support for Red Nose Day and assistance making the community aware of the issues surrounding Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Still Births in Australia.

To access the full media kit and background information from SIDS and Kids just click on the link and download the information in word format which can be easily used by your council's media unit to make your council a SuperHero.

Super Hero Councils Media Kit Download Link

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Australia Post logo
Bank@Post and Postbillpay

now at a post office near you

Bank@Post is the new name for Australia Post's agency banking service, which offers services such as withdrawals, cash and cheque deposits and checking of account balances for over 70 financial institutions.* Today Bank@Post is available at over 3,100 outlets across Australia. By the end of 2006 this number will grow to 3,300, with most of the newly enabled outlets in regional and remote areas gaining agency banking services.

Postbillpay services are also available in these outlets, enabling ratepayers to pay almost all their regular household bills in one location. Postbillpay customers can also pay bills by phone or over the Internet. "The extension of Postbillpay and on-line Bank@Post services demonstrate Australia Post's ongoing commitment to supporting local government, local community and small business" says Terry Stephens, from Australia Post.

Australia Post's retail network is one of the nation's largest, with over 4,000 outlets. Small businesses operating as licensed post offices (LPOs) are a vital part of this network. Many licensed post offices are operated by families who are ratepayers in the community. Just over half of all LPOs are located with other businesses such as newsagents, general stores and chemists and often provide local employment opportunities. In remote areas they are often the sole provider of over-the-counter banking transactions.

* Limits apply on withdrawals. Checking account balances can only be done with some financial institutions.

2006 National Local Roads and Transport Congress
UCLG-ASPAC Liveable Cities Forum, Brisbane, 8-11 May 2006
State of the Regions report 2005-06