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Skills package will not stop need for foreign workers: PM

Welder

The Australian Government will continue recruiting skilled workers from overseas, despite a multi-million dollar skills initiative to be announced today. Local government has increased its use of 457 visas, particularly in Western Australia.

Immigration Minister Senator Amanda Vanstone recently told Parliament that WA had had a 34% increase since 2004-5 in the use of these visas. "The Western Australian councils are also seeking workers from Britain and Ireland - they do not have to worry about Beijing, Beirut or Bombay," she said.

WA Local Government Association CEO Ricky Burges said in the West Australian last month: "Look, we're happy to employ locals, but in effect we just can't get them. Many of the councils are really stretched."

States and territories have sponsored, facilitated, brokered and recruited something like 50,000 overseas workers since 2001. Since 2002 South Australia has more than quadrupled its state sponsored skilled migration intake and Queensland's has more than tripled, as has Western Australia's. The Prime Minister John Howard said the $837 million package was designed to train unskilled Australians so they could fill a growing number of vacancies in Australia's skilled job market.

However, Mr Howard said Australia would still need to bring in skilled foreign workers. "We need a mix of the two and, in any event, the great bulk of people who are coming in, they're coming into jobs where there are shortages of skills," the Prime Minister told ABC Radio yesterday. "Even if you started training half a million people tomorrow, it would be several years before they had the skills needed to fill the jobs and many Australian firms need workers right now."

The scheme centres on a plan to hand out $3,000 skills vouchers to 30,000 people over the age of 25, who did not complete high school and who now needed literacy, numeracy and vocational training. "The whole idea is to give priority to people already in the labor market but who do not have up to year 12 or certificate two qualifications, a surprisingly large number," Mr Howard said.

However, he said there also would be room for unemployed people. The voucher scheme is worth $407 million over the next five years, and will provide high school drop outs the ability to use the vouchers at private technical colleges, TAFEs and federal colleges from January 1 next year.

Further details available on www.pm.gov.au.

Debate on Parliamentary motion continues

Bell and Lloyd

Debate on the Parliamentary motion on local government resumed in the Main Committee of the House of Representatives on Monday. The motion is a milestone for local government and is expected to be passed in the House of Representatives this session.

Speakers this week included Ms King (Ballarat), Ms Owens (Paramatta), Ms Livermore (Capricornia) and Mr Crean (Hotham). Former Labor leader Simon Crean spoke of the need for constitutional recognition and supported the position of ALGA President Cr Paul Bell, AM, that the motion was a step towards this cherished long-term goal.

"However, we must all work to build community support and bipartisan support from all spheres of government before this is achieved through a successful referendum," Cr Bell said. The resolution recommended by the landmark Hawker inquiry into cost shifting has been passed by the Senate.

Federal-state governments appeal over native title decision

Remote landscape

The Australian Government is appealing a court decision which upheld the indigenous Noongar people's claim on more than six-thousand square kilometres of land in and around Perth. Attorney-General Philip Ruddock says the Commonwealth is appealing the Federal Court's decision because it leaves uncertainty surrounding the future of some parcels of Australian crown land.

The decision to appeal comes just days after the West Australian government announced it would appeal the court's decision. Mr Ruddock says while the Commonwealth will mount its own separate appeal it will cooperate with the Western Australia government. Western Australia Attorney General Jim McGinty says his government is appealing the decision by Justice Wilcox to get a clearer understanding of what the ground rules were to embrace native title in the future.

55th anniversary of the Australian Local Government Women's Association

The Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads, Jim Lloyd, opened the Australian Local Government Women's Association Biennial National Conference. "The Australian Local Government Women's Association has been at the forefront of promoting the interests of women in local government since 1951," Mr Lloyd said. "This was very forward thinking for the times when society did not expect women to have careers and roles outside the home."

"It is important that women be involved in decision making at all levels in our society, and it is particularly the case for local government which is the closest level of government to the community."

The Australian Government provided the Australian Local Government Women's Association (ALGWA) with $20,000 in 2005 to assist with the administrative expenses of establishing a Canberra based secretariat for the Association. The 'Women in Local Government' roundtable was held in 2001 and the National Framework for Women in Local Government was published and distributed in conjunction with ALGWA, the Office of the Status of Women and the Australian Local Government Association. This year, the Australian Government announced a $25,000 grant to ALGWA to establish branches in South Australia and the Northern Territory, and a $50,000 grant to review the National Framework for Women in Local Government with funding from the Women's Leadership and Development Program.

The Australian Government also formed the Regional Women's Advisory Council which developed a work plan to encourage informed debate and influence decision making in seven key areas, one of which, Expanding women's representation, directly relates to local government. The National Awards for Local Government has also included a category for increasing women's participation in local government in the last few years. Established in 1951, ALGWA currently has branches in all states and a network in the Northern Territory. Membership is open to all women interested in local government and it is a not for profit, non-party political organisation.
From the President

The vision to provide all Australian communities with high-speed, affordable and accessible broadband coverage is moving a step closer.

Last week, I attended a highly-publicised Telstra briefing on its $1 billion Next G network, and no, I did not get there early enough to cop a drenching when the hotel sprinkler system malfunctioned!

But what has become clear out of all this is that a coordinated approach is needed. Despite the rhetoric, Next G network does not replace the need for broadband fibre-optic cables in regional Australia. Fibre-optic is faster and has the ability to support a much wider range of services than wireless technology which is limited by bandwidth. The Telstra announcement, while fabulous, is a parallel, and hopefully, once the air clears after the ACCC decision is made, a complementary product. The best outcome for customers, including local councils and communities, is a healthy competitive telecommunications market where the broadest possible range of services are on offer.

The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, put it beautifully by saying: "The Government welcomes this addition to the competitive telecommunications landscape in Australia."

Senator Coonan continued, putting the announcement into the broader context of the roll out of fibre-optic cable: "It is an exciting time for the industry and it will only get better when the Government allocates up to $600 million towards large scale infrastructure projects to further increase the spread of high speed broadband to more areas across rural, regional and remote Australia."

"Part of the $878 million Broadband Connect program and a key element of the $1.1 billion Connect Australia package, this investment will encourage telecommunications players and other interested parties to formulate plans to connect every inch of Australia to faster, scalable broadband infrastructure."

The Better Regional Services report commissioned by ALGA last year identified an Information Communications Technology (ICT) capacity divide between larger regional councils and smaller regional, rural and remote councils. The metropolitan and larger regional councils have the resources, capacity and access to infrastructure that is required to be able to implement e-government.

The 433 smaller regional, rural and remote councils are lacking in many of these essential areas and are by themselves incapable of achieving the goal of seamless and consistent service across government. The report went on to say that the most disadvantaged councils were the remote councils which are predominantly in the Northern Territory, Queensland, and Western Australia.

Rural Australia is in danger of suffering from the 'stranded town' syndrome without broadband coverage.

Access to broadband offers connectedness which breaks down isolation and encourages social development and inclusion. Local economies benefit from plugging into the benefits of linking communities and businesses with each other, producers with markets, and to provide rural Australians with access to local government services both online and at their nearest council shop-front. A more connected community can be more engaged in activities in the service sector, such as aged care, transport and developing tourism.

Local councils are strongly placed in this debate which is centred on rural and regional development. Some larger regional council groupings such as the Council of Mayors (SEQ) are in the process of putting together a region-wide bid before the November 30 Broadband Connect deadline.

Local government must be involved at all stages of the roll-out of broadband. State associations will be working with state governments and ALGA will be working with the Australian Government to ensure that a holistic approach is taken and rural and regional communities are at the forefront of the roll-out.

The figures speak for themselves. Last year's State of the Regions report claimed that a $3b investment to extend broadband coverage could create more than 10,000 jobs and provide an annual benefit to the nation of more than $920m a year, or more than $27b over 30 years.

Cr Paul Bell AM
ALGA President

Bushfire season hots up

The Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads, Jim Lloyd, has called on communities across Australia to be better prepared for bushfires this summer, as fires burn in NSW, VIC and SA. He said that Australia will face one of the most serious bushfire seasons this summer.

"So far, we've already seen fires raging across parts of Australia, destroying homes and parklands in the Blue Mountains, and currently burning on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. Each and every one of us has a responsibility to prepare our homes and properties against the bushfire threat," Mr Lloyd said. "The thousands of men and women who volunteer every year to protect lives and property from bushfires are to be congratulated for their efforts in fighting bushfires.

"The Australian Government also stands ready and able to respond with more than $30 million in disaster mitigation funding this year alone.

"Included in this funding is $15 million over 3 years for the Bushfire Mitigation Program, which enables the upgrading of bush fire trails - essential for accessing the seat of fires and for the safety of our volunteers."

The Australian Government is also providing some $5.5 million towards the National Aerial Fire fighting Centre to ensure that once again, the Elvis Skycranes and many other fixed wing aircraft are ready to respond at a moments notice.
Councils gain planning powers over pokies

The Victorian State Government has handed over planning powers for pokies to local governments, and to reduce the number of pokies in capped areas. The announcement, Taking action on problem gambling, provides for 19 capped areas that correspond to local government boundaries, and gives planning powers over poker machine venues to local governments.

Funding for morale-boosting events

Drought-stricken towns across Victoria will share a $12.4 million assistance package from the state government. Funding includes $1.4 million for the councils to host a series of morale-boosting events, while $1.25 million is earmarked for social support agencies such as Vicrelief and Foodbank. Premier Steve Bracks said the package acknowledged the effect of the drought on communities, not just farmers. Part of the funding package includes $1.1 million to keep municipal pools open during summer and $900,000 to bolster mental health services.

Cigarette butts - Day of action

Councils are reminded that the Australian Government is seeking an indication from councils wishing to take part in a national day of action against cigarette butt litter. Environment Minister Senator Campbell wrote to all councils last month seeking an indication of those wishing to take part in the day. Those who participate will receive a support kit, which will include items such as media release outlines which you can tailor to your circumstances, fact sheets, posters, caps, stickers and certificates. If you wish to participate and have not yet let the Department of Environment and Heritage know, please email barbara.butt@deh.gov.au or telephone Barbara Butt directly on 02 6274 1679.

Greenhouse gas emissions trading paper

The National Emissions Trading Taskforce, which reports to Premiers and Chief Ministers of all Australian States and Territories, has prepared a discussion paper Possible Design for a National Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme. The scheme is designed to achieve long term reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in an economically efficient way. It aims to provide a framework for emissions reduction that gives business and the community certainty and predictability. Submissions on the paper are being sought before 22 December 2006.

Exercise Cumpston 2006

ALGA will participate as an observer at next week's Exercise Cumpston 06, to be held 16-19 October 2006, which will be Australia's largest ever health simulation exercise and one of the largest pandemic influenza exercises held in the world. Exercise Cumpston 06 will test Australia's preparedness for responding to pandemic influenza involving widespread human-to-human transmission of a new strain of the influenza virus. The exercise will also provide a significant test of many response elements contained in the new version of the Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza and state and territory pandemic response plans.

Australia lagging in broadband technology

Australia is experiencing a crisis of innovation in telecommunications when it comes to broadband capabilities and is falling behind its international counterparts according to a new report. Swinburne University of Technology's Professor Trevor Barr has looked to an overseas model as an example of best practice in his paper Crisis of Innovation: Looking elsewhere which he presented in Sydney at the 2006 Communications Policy Research Forum.

Minister launches e-learning initiative

The Hon Gary Hardgrave MP, Minister for Vocational and Technical Education has launched a $630,000 e-learning professional development program for the Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET) at the Hospitality Training Association in Brisbane. The e-learning program is designed to help vocational education providers in meeting the demand for quality training. The program is funded through the Australian Government's Australian Flexible Learning Framework, the national training system's e-learning strategy. DEST, 27 September 2006.

Downshifting: participants wanted

Roughly one in four adult Australians have voluntarily reduced their income to pursue a better quality of life. In a new study at the Institute for Social Research at Swinburne University in Melbourne, the housing circumstances and strategies of these people, sometimes called 'downshifters', are being explored. In an era when house sizes are increasing and housing is becoming less affordable, the main question being asked is: how can people who live with less still maintain a roof over their heads? Focusing on families with dependent children, around 50 people will be interviewed for this research. Outcomes of the study will be fed into current housing and work-family policy debates and information about housing preferences and options will be provided to the housing industry. If you live with dependent children (and are either partnered or unpartnered); have voluntarily reduced your income to pursue life quality; live in a rural or metropolitan area in any housing circumstances and would like to participate in this study or find out more, please contact Wendy Stone on 03 9214 4807 or wstone@swin.edu.au.

Local Government and ABS

Local Government and ABS is a free service provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to assist the Local Government Sector gain a better understanding of statistics generally and find data to assist with planning and other community servicing decisions. The September 2006 edition of Local Government and ABS is now available.

World Bank inspects NSW model

World Bank delegates are in Sydney this week to learn from New South Wales' best-practice on-site sewage management system. Delegates from South Asia and the Philippines will meet with representatives from the NSW Government and local councils.

The World Bank Water and Sanitation Program study tour selected New South Wales as a leading example of excellence in on-site sewage management. Councils are also responsible for managing the risk of sewage pollution by administering approvals, educating landowners, inspecting systems and using powers to get systems fixed.

The World Bank delegation will meet Department of Local Government officers and inspected systems at Penrith City Council earlier this week and at Shoalhaven City Council today.

Quote of the week

"Cities are made up of men and women, not walls."
    - Old English proverb

International news  
International Day of Older Persons

In his message for the International Day of Older Persons, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan identifies himself as one of the "600 million persons in the world over the age of 60." He calls on "governments, the private sector, civil society organizations and people everywhere to focus on building a society for all ages - as envisioned in the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing and in line with the Millennium Development Goals and wider global development agenda."

NGA2996 State of the Regions report 2005-06