From the President
There is significant and growing community concern about the effects of climate change and Australia's role as a country that mines and exports large quantities of carbon. On top of this, the severe drought we are experiencing has raised questions about the connection between our weather patterns and global warming.
Al Gore's movie, An Inconvenient Truth and the doomsday scenarios outlined in the Stern report mean that climate change has moved from an environmental issue to one that is pressing on the nation's consciousness - and importantly for the Australian Government, it is becoming an economic and social issue.
In the last week or so, the Prime Minister, Treasurer and Industry Minister have announced investments of millions of dollars in solar energy and carbon reduction technology in Victoria, Queensland and as part of Australia's involvement in the Asia-Pacific Partnership, or AP6.
The Stern report, by former World Bank chief economist Sir Nicholas Stern, has warned that unchecked global warming will devastate the world economy on the scale of the world wars and the Great Depression.
The 2006-07 Australian Crop and Livestock Report, released in the past few days, reveals that the drought is estimated to reduce economic growth in Australia in 2006-07 by around 0.7 percent from what would otherwise have been achieved.
Public opinion polls, from AC Nielsen to Newspoll, show that there is widespread concern about global warming and that the majority of Australians want the Australian Government to commit to targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Prime Minister said yesterday that that it is not in Australia's interests to be panicked into measurers that will hurt industries, which give Australia a natural advantage. "We have gas, we have coal, we have uranium - we have all these things and I do not intend to allow this whole debate to impose on these industries unfair burdens."
In February this year, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), of which the Australian Local Government Association is a member, announced its Plan for Collaborative Action on Climate Change. This plan includes actions for national collaborative work in several areas of climate change response, including the development of a National Climate Change Adaption Framework. ALGA has commented on the draft framework which will be provided to COAG in 2007.
Climate change is an issue that is shaping up to be a significant point of debate in the lead-up to the Federal election and local government needs to be responsive to community concern in a measured way.
For example, good planning and design of homes (including orientation and building materials) can significantly reduce the energy required to heat and cool housing, resulting in significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Incentives to incorporate more greenhouse friendly features to homes have the potential to provide substantial benefits in the long run. The use of solar panels, rain water tanks and solar hot water systems should be further encouraged and made easier to attain.
This needs to be balanced against issues such as housing affordability, structural safety and health, and visual and cultural amenity. As responsible and accountable decision makers, local governments' role in approval processes must be protected from undue interference.
Given the growing concern about climate change, and its global implications, it should not be forgotten that local government is the level of government that is the closest and most responsive to community needs. Climatic conditions and geography are varied across Australia and it makes sense to ensure that building design complements local conditions.
On the strategic planning front, reducing unnecessary car based travel, protecting natural environments, encouraging more sustainable economic activities, are just some of the desired outcomes that can be implemented through a coordinated and community supported planning framework.
The 'think global, act local' approach to tackling climate change is vital to the health and future of our planet. Local communities are wanting to play a part in reducing greenhouse gases and are a critical part of this effort. Local government working with their communities will be at the forefront of providing advice and assistance on ways to deal with this issue, the footprint of which is looming large on the Australian landscape.
Cr Paul Bell AM
ALGA President
Citizenship Bill Amendment
Federal Government backbencher Alan Cadman says extending the qualifying time for citizenship demonstrates a commitment and pride to Australia by potential citizens. The Australian Citizenship Bill introduced last November initially required people to have lived in Australia for three out of the previous five years to qualify for citizenship. However a proposed government amendment has raised it to four years. Presently a person seeking citizenship needs to have lived here for two of the five years. Labor has stated it will support the legislation before Parliament, despite opposing the extension of the qualifying period.
National Recycling Week
National recycling week is on again from 6-12 November. To coincide with the week, Planet Ark will launch a new national recycling hotline and website to highlight to people what they can recycle in their local area. Recycling locations will be provided for 672 local government areas. The aim of the new website is to reduce the amount of material ending up in landfill and make it easier for everyone to recycle. Councils wishing to promote National Recycling Week can access a sample media release to promote the event in their area.
ALGA works on skills shortages issue
ALGA has joined with a forum of the peak professional associations to work together on the skills shortage issue.
The National Local Government Skills Shortage Committee includes ALGA and participation from all the major professional bodies representing managers (LGMA), engineers (IPWEA), planners (PIA), librarians (ALIA), community service workers (LGCSAA), building surveyors (AIBS), environmental health officers (AEIH), finance (LGFP), parks and leisure (PLA), and human resource (LGHRM) professionals.
This is a first for such a representative group of local government to come together to tackle an industry wide issue.
The forum is committed to ensuring that local government services continue to meet community needs and expectations through a range of leadership, image, careers and employer of choice initiatives.
The committee has confirmed the appointment of Bev Kliger as the Skills Shortage Project Manager. Bev is consulting widely with industry stakeholder groups to develop a draft national strategy.
Councils that are active in implementing skills shortage initiatives are encouraged to forward details to Bev at research@lgma.org.au
Attracting and retaining staff masterclass workshops
As an immediate first step, the Skills Shortage Committee of peak bodies is piloting a series of one day 'Attracting and Retaining Talent' Masterclass workshops. Participants will be provided with solutions, ideas and strategies, and work through a pro-forma strategic attraction and retention plan.
Topics include gathering the data, targeting talent, employee value propositions, organisation culture, and maintaining the momentum. The workshops have been designed to be of interest across all professions.
Serious consideration needs to be given to how local government attracts and retains staff, and how it presents itself to the wider community. Workplace culture is also a critical element in becoming an employer of choice.
The first workshops will be held in Melbourne (21 November), Sydney (22 November) and Brisbane (4 December) with expressions of interest also being taken for workshops across the country in 2007.
Download the Registration brochure, visit www.ipwea.org.au or contact Lita Somogyi at 02 8267 3001 for further information.
Rents tipped to rise
Rents are tipped to skyrocket over the next five years due to a housing shortage across the country. Research firm BIS Shrapnel says it expects national building commencements to fall for a third straight year, dropping five per cent to 142 thousand-500 new homes in 2006/07, following a four per cent drop in 2005/06. BIS Shrapnel says it will inflame the country's already tight rental market, which is struggling to meet increased demand from a growing population.
National Leadership Achievement Award Program for women
Applications are open for the Australian virtual Centre for Leadership for Women (CLW) 2007 national Leadership Achievement Award for women.
The CLW Leadership Achievement Award has been established to recognise women in the community who use their own initiative to create and implement projects for the benefit of the community and in collaboration with the community. The Leadership Achievement Award is open to all Australian women 18 years and above. Individuals can nominate themselves for the Award or be nominated by someone else.
As CLW's primary vision is to promote women and their achievements, applications for this Award should indicate a commitment to gender equality and women's empowerment. The Project being discussed should be respectful of gender, race, religion and age.
The 2007 Leadership Achievement Award is being sponsored by NRMA Motoring and Services.
Details of this Award including statements of support from prominent female politicians as well as information about the Winners of the 2006 Award is at: CLW Leadership Achievement Award.
Or you can access the info at the menu for www.leadershipforwomen.com.au
Applications close on 22 December 2006.
Announcement
Developing a Disability Action Plan
At the recent Access Forum held at City of Sydney, Graeme Innes Human Rights and Disability Discrimination Commissioner delivered a simple message to local government throughout Australia, "a community that is not accessible is not sustainable". The Commissioner went on to say, "Many local government authorities, such as City of Sydney, actively plan and commit resources to ensuring their services are accessible by developing a Disability Action Plan (DAP). It is not just the 20% of people currently identified as having a disability that will benefit from a more accessible community. It's the fact that local government is in a perfect position to ensure today's services do not exclude or compromise tomorrow's citizens." The Commissioner delivered eight points for designing and sustaining an accessible community.
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CEOs to present at Local Government Economic Development Conference
16 - 17 November 2006. Melbourne
The CEO of the City of Salisbury, Stephen Hains, and the CEO of the City of Wodonga, Peter Marshall, will be amongst the council leaders to address the Local Government Economic Development Conference on the strategies being pursued by their respective municipalities to generate investment and jobs.
The two-day conference is being held in Melbourne on November 16-17 for economic development managers, senior council managers and councillors across Australia. It will also be attended by regional development authorities and state and federal government development agencies. More than 200 delegates are expected to attend the event. The full conference document is now available at www.halledit.com.au
On the evening of Day 1 of the Conference, the 2006 Economic Development Excellence Awards for Local Government will be presented. The National Awards are being coordinated by the Economic Development Association of Victoria. Last year's inaugural awards attracted nearly 70 entries from councils across the country.
The theme of the two-day conference is Creating the Framework for Economic Growth and Jobs. This conference will provide insight into leading economic development management strategies being adopted by local governments across the nation. It will focus on leading examples of how councils have been able to generate positive outcomes in their communities in terms of attracting investment and creating jobs.
This conference will be heavily focused on case studies so as to enable delegates to draw important lessons from leading councils. It will provide a unique opportunity to network with economic development managers in local government from all parts of the country.
For more details see www.halledit.com.au
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Extension of time for Connect Australia applications
The deadline for submitting proposals under the Broadband Connect Infrastructure Program and the Clever Networks program - Innovative Services Delivery element, have been extended to Monday 18 December. "This follows views expressed by some applicants who believe a brief extension would enhance the overall outcomes for both programs," the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, said this week. Applications can still be received for the Broadband Connect Infrastructure Program from 29 November and Clever Networks from 27 November 2006.
Call for greater council role in childcare
NSW Liberal backbencher Jackie Kelly believes there is a greater role for local government in the provision of quality and flexible childcare.
Ms Kelly was responding on the Nine Network this week to a survey from consumer watchdog Choice showing available, affordable and high-quality child care was still out of reach for many Australian families.
Sixty-four per cent of respondents said they had been on long waiting lists for child care, 44 per cent said they were unable to get the days they wanted, and 28 per cent were concerned about the lack of diversity.
Ms Kelly said regulation had reduced the range of childcare services available. She said that local government must play its part, particularly in areas like Sydney CBD where real estate prices were so high.
"I think that's where a planning issue for the local government, when they put in so many jobs into an urban planning area they need to set aside areas and say, 'We provide this many jobs in this area, you must also set aside this area for a childcare centre'," she said.
"Or even if council takes one floor out of a high rise building and then leases that out as a strata owner ... (which will) keep the rentals reasonable in the CBD for child care."
Ms Kelly said a recent 17 per cent pay rise for childcare workers had contributed to the increase in childcare costs. "High wages are good, but it just keeps ramping up the cost of child care," she said.
$24.9m to expand Victorian Home and Community Care
Extra funding of $24.9 million will expand Home and Community Care services for frail older Victorians, younger people with disabilities and their carers.
The Australian Government Minister for Ageing, Senator Santo Santoro, and Victorian Aged Care Minister Gavin Jennings today announced a boost for some 500 Victorian HACC agencies.
"Home and Community Care services are vital to the quality of life for many frail older people and younger people with a disability," Senator Santoro said.
"They provide basic support services that help people to maintain their independence and live with dignity in their own homes."
Mr Jennings said the extra funding would provide 478,000 more hours of nursing, allied health, domestic assistance, personal care and delivered meals to vulnerable Victorians.
"This includes an extra 119,000 hours domestic assistance, 82,000 hours personal care and nearly as much again for assessment and allied health services such as physiotherapy," he said.
"About 220,000 Victorians receive HACC services through some 500 local councils, health services and non government agencies."
WALGA calls for consultation over council election changes
Local Government in Western Australia is protesting at State Government actions to push through changes to Local Government election processes without any consultation to the sector.
The Local Government Amendment Bill 2006 was expected to contain changes to the date of Local Government elections from May to October, the result of extensive consultation with the WA Local Government Association, WA Councils and the State Government which would allow newly elected Councillors more time to participate in the setting of Council budgets.
In addition to this, the Bill proposed to remove the first-past-the-post voting system and apply the proportional system of voting and was included without any consultation with Local Government.
Association President Cr Bill Mitchell said the association had launched a State-wide advertising campaign opposing the proposed election changes and attempting to raise awareness that the State Government is trying to take control of local communities.
"The process breaches both the State/Local Government Partnership Agreement on consultation and the recently signed Intergovernmental Agreement," he said. "It shows that the state Government would rather control communities than consult with them."
Cr Mitchell said the Association encouraged Councils to express to the Premier and Members of Parliament their concern and alarm at the unilateral decision making of State Government and to hold the WA Minister for Local Government accountable for these actions.
Drought Update
A coalition of councils along the Murray River has warned they'll campaign against the Victorian and New South Wales governments in upcoming elections, unless radical action's taken to secure water supplies for regional towns.
The group has warned the Hume Dam, a crucial supplier of water to a large number of towns will be dry in 24 weeks.
It says every day half the flow down the Murray River is going to artificial environmental flows before evaporating in lakes in South Australia.
Ken Trewin, Mayor of Wakool Shire Council and group spokesman says the drought should immediately be declared a national emergency.
He says all environmental flows to the Murray-Darling river system should be suspended immediately and all permanent water trading within the system should be halted.
Meanwhile Gilgandra Shire Council in country NSW has voted to explore cloud seeding in a bid to ease the crippling drought.
NSW local government conference
Management of the water crisis facing New South Wales dominated discussions at the state's local government conference this week. At the conference, councils investigated ways of using grey water. The platform for next year's state election was also discussed along with road infrastructure and its effects on Sydney suburbs. Former prime minister Paul Keating called for political donations from developers to be banned and urged local councils to stop the property industry from building 'ugly developments.' "Local government is, more often than not, the only sentry at the gate between the interests of developers and the interests of the wider community," he said.
New Tas Local Government Minister
Tasmanian Premier Paul Lennon announced Steve Kons as Tasmania's new Deputy Premier after an emergency sitting of Labor caucus in Hobart. Former deputy premier Bryan Green was arrested and charged after a police investigation into a deal involving the Tasmanian Compliance Corporation (TCC). Michelle O'Byrne will become Minister for Community Development and Minister Assisting the Premier on Local Government. Graeme Sturges will take on the role of parliamentary secretary.
Federal-state relations at a crossroads, says BCA
Business Council of Australia President Michael Chaney has urged a new approach to fix endemic problems in federal-state relations that are costing Australia billions in wasted government spending and lost economic opportunity.
This comes as the BCA launched Reshaping Australia's Federation: A New Contract for Federal-State Relations that proposes a 12-point plan, including a federal convention to help map out a new way forward for the future.
"Australia's system of federal-state relations is at a crossroads. The effectiveness of our current system of federalism will be determined by which road it takes in the next few months," Mr Chaney said.
"The BCA is calling for a new contract for federal-state relations to overcome blockages and tackle overdue reforms to keep our economy on track," Mr Chaney said.
BCA research reveals federal-state inefficiencies are already a major economic issue costing taxpayers at least $9 billion a year. These inefficiencies require an additional tax burden of $1100 a year to be imposed on every Australian household.
Reshaping Australia's Federation identifies costs to the economy caused by overlap, duplication and cost shifting between the Commonwealth and the states, unnecessary state taxes and overspending on programs because of lack of oversight or accountability.
It highlights that education, health, infrastructure and taxation are among the key areas where 'dysfunctional federalism' is causing inefficiencies that are holding the economy back.
A priority of Reshaping Australia's Federation is the creation of a `common market' that allows the free flow of people, goods and services around the country.
It proposes giving the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) a year to make significant progress with harmonising key business regulation. If COAG fails, the Commonwealth will need to step in and provide leadership to create a common market.
"Our current federalism arrangements were established in the days of the horse and buggy, but to compete in a global economy we need a new, efficient contract between the Commonwealth and states to drive us into the future," Mr Chaney said.
Reshaping Australia's Federation: A New Contract for Federal-State Relations is available at www.bca.com.au.
Quote of the week
"Not to hurt our humble brethren (the animals) is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission - to be of service to them whenever they require it... If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men."
- Saint Francis of Assisi (mystic and preacher)
International news 
Dutch computer grid
An increasing number of Dutch towns have opted for municipal fibre networks, whether co-funded by local governments and housing associations or developed by commercial enterprises. An interesting computer-grid system has developed from this, first attempted in the Amsterdam suburb of Almere in 2004 and recently launched. The idea is to combine municipal networks with the combined computing power of business and residential subscribers for research calculations, and taking advantage of the computers' free hard disk space. Grandly, the scheme was touted as developing a supercomputer city. Almere is one of 18 projects of the EC's BEinGrid research program to assess the possibilities of grid computing. Transferring data on this scale requires fibre networks, and the fact that it can be done in conjunction with computer grids opens the door for innumerable commercial applications. That the Netherlands is in the forefront of both of these developments strengthens the argument that in coming years jobs, prosperity and a range of social benefits in Europe will follow where broadband infrastructure is strongest.
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Local Road Safety & Traffic Engineering Conference
The two-day Local Road Safety & Traffic Engineering Conference focuses on road safety and traffic engineering for local roads, including pedestrian and cyclist safety. It includes local roads and traffic areas from residential streets to shopping precincts and rural roads.
It will be held at Darling Harbour Sydney between 14-15 November, and is being supported by major road bodies in Australia including Austroads, ARRB Group, the Australian Automobile Association, The National Transport Commission, Monash University Accident Traffic Research Centre, AAPA and the Australian Road Forum.
Conference Convenor, Scott Matthews, CPEng, said that a variety of practical presentations will be made on the conference theme with particular emphasis on what individual councils are achieving with respect to these issues.
Case studies will be a particular feature of the conference with extended discussion periods to enable strong audience participation and interaction. Topics will include:
- local area traffic management solutions
- speed on local streets
- parking
- traffic management plans
- road safety audits
- litigation
- line-marking
- signs
This conference will be of direct relevance to council engineers and officers, councillors, consultants and contractors within the traffic engineering and road safety areas.
To obtain the conference brochure or to register to attend, visit www.halledit.com.au/conferences/traffic or contact Denise McQueen on 03 8534 5021 or email denise.mcqueen@halledit.com.au
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