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Role of local government highlighted in aged care delivery

The Australian Government's Minister for Ageing, Senator Santo Santoro has recognised the challenges for all spheres of government in meeting the ageing population challenge.

In his address to the National Press Club on Wednesday 13th December, the Senator acknowledged a number of initiatives particularly in the areas of delivery of aged care and coordination of ageing services.

Whilst the Senator quoted that the government was "in the final stages of allocating some of the 7,700 aged care places through the 2006 Aged Care Allocation Round", he was also keen to emphasise that other initiatives to address planning of our built environment are just as significant in the delivery of aged care.

This is particularly relevant to local government across Australia, as has been recognised in the cooperative work between the Department of Health and Ageing and the Australian Local Government Association. Senator Santoro highlighted these efforts to "raise awareness of the needs of Australia's ageing population among the planners, architects and developers who create our environment".

Through efforts to "encourage the development of homes and communities that will better accommodate older people in the future", even through simple design considerations such as "stair-free homes, wider footpaths and better street lighting," Senator Santoro acknowledged that achievements can be made to "reduce the burden on residential aged care".

The Senator also highlighted another matter of particular relevance to local communities, being the Government's work on developing a new "Aged Care Funding Instrument". This instrument "will provide a simpler and more objective method of assessing the care needs of residents and the funding required to meet those needs". However, it was "reiterated that residents who are in aged care homes when the instrument is introduced will continue on their existing classification until they are assessed as needing a higher level of care".

This commitment, according Senator Santoro, was "particularly important for homes that are based in rural areas, or which cater for the socially disadvantaged, such as many indigenous communities or people at risk of homelessness".

Minister presents local government resolution to PM

The Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads, Jim Lloyd presented a framed copy of the resolution on the recognition of local government to Prime Minister John Howard at Parliament House last week.

ALGA President Cr Paul Bell said the handover was a proud moment for local government and a celebration of the significant milestone achieved by the passing of the resolution through both Houses of Parliament in September/October.

He congratulated Minister Lloyd on his hard work and dedication to the cause of local government. "We are deeply grateful for Minister Lloyd's passionate commitment and support for local government and are delighted to have someone of his calibre as Minister for Local Government.

"Minister Lloyd is a true champion of local government. He brought the states to the table to end cost-shifting - which impacted on local government by around $500m to $1 billion a year - with the historic signing of the Intergovernmental Agreement.

Not only has he fought hard for road funding and is continuing to fight for the extension of Roads to Recovery beyond 2009, but without him we would not have had the resolution on local government introduced and passed through Parliament."

The wording of the resolution is:

That the House/Senate:

  1. recognises that local government is part of the governance of Australia, serving communities through locally elected councils
  2. values the rich diversity of councils around Australia, reflecting the varied communities they serve.
  3. acknowledges the role of local government in governance, advocacy, the provision of infrastructure, service delivery, planning, community development and regulation.
  4. acknowledges the importance of cooperating with and consulting with local government on the priorities of their local communities.
  5. acknowledges the significant Australian Government funding that is provided to local government to spend on locally determined priorities, such as roads and other local government services.
  6. commends local government elected officials who give their time to serve their communities.

AusLink's strategic regional projects announced

The Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads, the Hon Jim Lloyd MP announced on Wednesday 13 December 2006, 24 large land transport projects across Australia that have been successful in gaining funding through AusLink's Strategic Regional Program. This announcement follows the 4 large projects in Tasmania and Victoria that were announced earlier by the Minister.

Further announcements will follow. Information on the successful projects can be found on the Minister's website.
From the President

Summer is traditionally a time for holidays, for feasting with family and friends, outdoor activities and a particularly enjoyable time for those who watch the cricket.

It is also traditionally a time for bushfires, as we are seeing already with fires causing devastation to communities in Tasmania, Victoria, and NSW.

The ongoing drought which is causing long-term damage to rural and regional communities - with farms, businesses and families all suffering from the effects of the decline in local economies - has exacerbated the pain that is being felt across Australia.

The almost $2b in drought relief provided by the Australian Government with assistance from the states and local government show that when there is a crisis, the spheres of government cooperate and work together.

This is also evident in the response to the bushfires, with the Prime Minister touring Tasmania and Victoria and offering assistance to both State Premiers. Local government has rallied around communities and it has been heart-warming to see the response to the story last week in 'ALGA News' about the 'Help a Mate' drought relief fund set up by Wingecarribee Shire Council, with other councils inspired by Wingecarribee and asking how they too can help drought-ravaged communities. The establishment by MAV of a Drought Taskforce is also an important initiative.

All this made me think about why this cooperation can't happen all the time. Why is it the exception rather than the rule? Across Australia, we are all hearing the same thing. People are tired of the duplication, buck-passing and blame-shifting happening in the Australian political landscape. They want their problems solved and want more cooperation between the spheres of governments.

The signing of the Intergovernmental Agreement on Cost-Shifting between state, federal and local government in April this year was an important milestone and significant reform in this area. However, we must build on this achievement and take practical steps to achieve greater cooperation.

Already, there are encouraging signs of a shift from the entrenched positions taken in the past. This is coming out of the COAG reform agenda, the historic tripartite aged care agreement in Tasmania which the Australian Government, and particularly Minister Santoro, is keen to roll out nationally, and with emerging discussion about the need for a constitutional convention to clarify roles and responsibilities. All this indicates that with the will and a shared agenda, the three spheres of government can put self interest aside and work together for the best interests of the Australian people. This is what communities across this nation quite rightly expect and deserve.

This week Labor leader Kevin Rudd announced a new shadow portfolio of federal/state relations and at the same time brought the talented Bob McMullan in from the cold to take his place once again in shadow cabinet. This is a bold gesture and we will be watching to see how it translates into more detailed practical policies on reforming governance. I will be meeting Mr McMullan early in the New Year to discuss these issues further, just as I have been with the Australian Government, in particular Local Government Minister Jim Lloyd, who always has his door open for ALGA.

The Australian federation was designed to provide a framework where the nation was always greater than the sum of its parts, while ensuring that the states' interests were represented and clearly enshrined in the Constitution. A major objective was for the nation to work as a cohesive whole, not only in times of crisis or disaster. Local government is leading by example, having shown that we can deliver targeted and well-run services to the communities we represent, not only with roads, but increasingly in the areas of health, aged care and the environment. We are a critical part of the structure of this great country. Consequently, local government's omission from the Constitution remains a failing which needs to be addressed. We are looking forward to a full and comprehensive debate about how our system of federalism can be improved and how we can better work together to realise the vision of our founders.

Cr Paul Bell AM
ALGA President

Transport awareness bulletin

The December issue of TARU (Transport and Road Update), from the ARRB Library current awareness bulletin. As this is the final issue for the year, the cover offers a reminder about the range of workshops that will be offered by ARRB Group Ltd. in 2007. Topics covered are bridge design and maintenance, traffic management, transport planning and management, traffic flow, road safety, road management and maintenance, public transport, pavement design, parking and geotechnical engineering. The publication is available on the ARRB website.

Grants for managing emergencies

Local governments and volunteer organisations are being invited to apply for grants which help communities develop increased self-reliance in the face of disasters.

The funding comes through an Australian Government initiative called Working Together to Manage Emergencies, which has set aside $49 million for projects across Australia.

Applications for funding in 2007/08 will close on 2 March 2007. Details of the two programs, including guidelines, application forms and applicant guides can be found on the EMA website.

Funding for local government to prepare for cyclones

The Queensland Government will bring forward a $1 million funding program to better prepare coastal communities in Far North Queensland to deal with the threats to property and infrastructure caused by the ravages of tropical cyclones.

Premier Peter Beattie said the funding would be made available to local governments in cyclone prone areas to investigate and prepare long term shoreline erosion management plans for their shires.

He said the Environmental Infrastructure Program was a three year, $60 million program designed to provide councils with subsidies of up to 50 per cent to address a range of environmental infrastructure needs across Queensland.

"This can be anything from remediation of contaminated lands and storm water management to beach and river erosion works," Mr Beattie said.

Local Government and Planning Minister Andrew Fraser said the Environmental Protection Agency had recently developed generic guidelines and minimum requirements to assist councils in developing shoreline erosion management plans.

"This, coupled with the early release of this funding, will mean that councils will have access to the resources they need to get on with the job." Councils would be invited to apply for the funding early in 2007.

Banksia Environmental Awards Program

Applications now open for 2007 grants. For details: www.banksiafdn.com

Majority in favour of proposed testing for Australian Citizenship

The release of a discussion paper on citizenship testing generated significant interest from the Australian community in the requirements of becoming an Australian citizen.

A senior officer from the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA) advised last month's SCIMA meeting held in Sydney, that some 600 responses had been received by the Department just before the nominated closing date of the 17 November. Whilst no detailed analysis of responses had been undertaken, it was fair to say that the vast majority of repsondents agreed that there should be some sort of formal test.

No date has been announced when Minister Cobb intends to release the results of the feedback at this stage. More than 3.5 million people who were born overseas have gained Australian citizenship since it was introduced in 1949.

Tasmania Tidy Towns Awards

Swansea has been named Tasmania's Tidy Town for 2006 07.

At a presentation ceremony in Burnie, Deputy Premier Steven Kons said Swansea had organised a dedicated group of organisations that formed the basis of their Tidy Town committee, and with the assistance of the Glamorgan Spring Bay Council worked together towards achieving a common goal.

"That level of commitment from the community and willingness to be involved in such a worthwhile cause means Swansea can proudly lay claim to being the state's tidiest town," Mr Kons said. A total of 43 community entries were received in this year's awards, which has been running for 26 years. Mr Kons said $2 million was provided in each of the last two State Budgets for grants of up to $250,000 for local government projects around the State.

Planning Report Card

The National Planning Report Card reveals how the Australian planning system is performing. The results also show that some states are performing better than others but there is still a lot of work to be done. Over 650 Planning Institute of Australia members responded to the online questionnaire and rated their state/territory A, B, C, or D against the 10 criteria.

"Overall the planning system is performing reasonably well against three initiatives. Action on Growth Management, Public Participation and Streamlined Assessment is underway in most states but as a whole the country needs to improve against the other seven criteria," PIA Chief Executive, Di Jay said. "At the very best only 65% of respondents rated their state A or B against any criterion."

Further information on the Report Card can be found at www.planning.org.au

State of the Environment Report

Prime Minister John Howard has defended his government's record after a report sounded a warning on the health of Australia's environment.

The State of the Environment 2006 report found biodiversity - the richness and abundance of life - would continue to decline due to the damaging practices of the past.

It also warned Australians had to make decisions which would enable them to adapt better to where they live in the face of a changing climate.

Mr Howard said the report outlined key achievements by his government in environmental management since 2001, including a four-fold increase in spending, a decrease in land-clearing, boosted protection for the marine environment, good air quality in capital cities and improved water management.

But he said it also outlined challenges including increasing pressure on fisheries, waste reduction and recycling and the poor condition of inland waterways and coastal lakes.

Mr Howard said more needed to be done to counter climate change, suggesting nuclear energy was part of the solution.

"We do need to do even more in relation to climate change and one of the things we need to do is to invest even more heavily in clean-coal technology," he said. The report is available on the www.deh.gov.au website.
Lundy, McMullan: new faces for Labor line-up

Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd has appointed a new front bench which includes Senator Kate Lundy as spokesperson for Local Government, and Bob McMullan in the new portfolio of Federal/State Relations. The full line-up is on the website.

Meanwhile Mr McMullan says he will focus on improving health services in his new portfolio of reforming federal-state relations.

Mr McMullan also takes on responsibility for international development.He said he did not intend to use his new position to advocate a commonwealth takeover of health and education services. Instead he wanted to remove incentives for either tier of government to shirk its responsibilities.

"It won't work by simply saying, `Well, the commonwealth's going to take over more things'," he told ABC radio.

"We just have to get a more rational allocation (of money) and get the structures working in a way that provides incentives to cooperate instead of cost-shifting and blame-shifting."

Mr McMullan said past attempts at improving the federation had led to greater complexity. He wanted to reform the system, focusing particularly on health services.

"Each time we've tried to fix up one of the problems in commonwealth-state relations ... it's like we've built another addition on the house," he said.

"We're trying to get back to looking at the basic architecture of the federation.

"What does it look like, how does it work, how can we make some of the arrangements that affect the lives of ordinary Australians - most directly, of course, health - make those arrangements work better?"

To demonstrate problems in existing arrangements, Mr McMullan cited the example of an elderly person who should be in a nursing home but who was being accommodated in a hospital.

There was an incentive for the commonwealth not to provide that person with a nursing home bed because it would have to pay, whereas leaving them in a hospital would see the state government pick up the cost, he said.

Fed Govt boosts disaster relief funding as bushfires continue

The Prime Minister has announced plans to boost relief assistance to help communities recovering from devastating bushfires and other natural disasters. It comes as major bushfires continue to ravage parts of Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales. Under the new arrangements, small businesses and primary producers will be eligible for grants of up to $10,000. Non-profit organisations and the needy will also be eligible for small grants while individuals will be able to get financial counselling. Mr Howard says more funding will be provided through a community recovery fund for activities like recovery services and the employment of a community development officer to support and facilitate disaster affected areas. It'll also cover funding of commemorative events, advocacy and monitoring services, business advice and support, and economic and tourism development initiatives. Mr Howard says it'll be funded dollar for dollar with the states and territories and is on top of the government's Natural Disaster Relief Arrangements. For more information: www.pm.gov.au

Councils call on Territory Government to come clean on local government reforms

The Local Government Association of the Northern Territory put 172 questions to the Department of Local Government relating to the proposed reform agenda for local government in the Northern Territory. Over 100 delegates travelled to Darwin from all corners of the Territory, demonstrating the importance councils are placing on finding out directly from their Minister answers to their issues.

According to LGANT President, acting Lord Mayor Kerry Moir, "delegates who had travelled so far to try and get the 'real story' expressed their profound dismay that the membership of the advisory board had not been announced, nor had firm details for the reform plan, agenda and timelines for change."

She said rumours and leaks were circulating unnecessarily and raising the levels of anxiety. Resourcing the process of change was also a major issue on which clarity and commitment was sought but not provided by Department officers when they attended the second day of the meeting. Instead, they indicated that they would attempt to answer all the questions by the end of December 2006. Delegates expressed concern that the compact between the government and LGANT in relation to consultation had been broken in that the Association has had no direct input into the actual plans which are apparently before Cabinet.

Delegates emphasised that local government was an essential element of the democratic system of government in the Northern Territory. Its primary responsibility was to serve communities, not just be an arm of either of the other two spheres of government. Delegates from right across the territory revealed that people do not know what is happening and want direct communication about implementation plans, resources, boundaries and service provision. They demanded to hear straight answers from the Minister as opposed to vague assurances from NT Department officials or from newspaper reports. Delegates indicated that current support for the reform process could rapidly evaporate if the model and process for reform was not made public as soon as possible so councils could have meaningful input.

New guidelines for community consultations on airports

The Australian Government has released its new guidelines for community consultations on airports. Minister Vaile's media release and the guidelines can be found online.

The release of these guidelines follows the recent introduction of the Airports Amendment Bill 2006. The Government also announced that it intends to refer the Bill to the Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport for consideration.

Australian Water Ministers meeting

Australia's water ministers met at the end of last month to progress key issues in water reform. The ministers agreed that the implementation of key National Water Initiative actions need to be fast tracked, especially water trading, over allocation, water accounting and data sharing. Interim water trading arrangements in the southern Murray Darling Basin will be implemented by 1 January 2007 and access and termination fees will be set. An initial framework and common chart of water accounts is being developed and water metering standards have been agreed on. Ministers have also agreed to sharing data, experiences and information to enhance effective water management. Ministers also endorsed a national reporting model for benchmarking pricing and service quality for urban water delivery agencies and noted the need for continuing support for the completion and successful implementation of a rural benchmarking model.

Construction drops as interest rates bite

Construction dropped for a second consecutive month in November as rising interest rates continued to bite, according to an industry survey.

The Australian Industry Group-Housing Industry Association Performance of Construction Index (PCI) fell 1.6 points to 47.6. A reading below 50 indicates construction activity is generally declining.

"Three rate rises this year have combined to dent activity in the housing and apartment sectors, particularly in the mortgage heartland of the largest capital cities," said Ai Group associate director, economics and research Tony Pensabene.

However, the report found that commercial construction activity rose to its highest level in the past 15 months.

Mr Pensabene said strengthening activity in commercial and engineering construction is providing a floor under what could have been deeper consequences for the construction sector from recent interest rate increases.

"Despite an underlying shortage of housing supply, consumers and industry will need a period of stability in order for confidence and demand to grow," Mr Pensabene said.

The PCI data was the latest in a number of housing indicators pointing to soft conditions continuing to prevail in the Australian residential construction sector.

"Very low levels of housing affordability are preventing a recovery in resource-poor areas of Australia and are dampening activity in resource-rich areas of the country," said HIA executive director, housing and economics, Simon Tennent.

Diary Note: 2007 NGA to be held in Darwin

The ALGA Board has agreed to hold the 2007 National General Assembly of Local Government in Darwin from 26-29 November. Both the Darwin City Council and the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory have been working very hard to assist ALGA in advertising the NGA07 and ensure the word gets out. More details later.

Quote of the week

"This fork in the road has emerged because John Howard has taken a bridge too far."
    - Kevin Rudd mixes his metaphors in the excitement of victory.

International news  

New York - Three million bees had to be removed from an American couple's home. Beekeepers also extracted nearly 27 kilograms of honey from the wall cavity where the bees had been living for two-and-a-half years in Miami Beach, south Florida.

Jesus Molina told news station WFTV he and his girlfriend had first tried to deal with the insects themselves but had eventually called in the professionals. The beekeepers said the insects got in through a small hole and built a home behind the kitchen cabinet.

Molina told WFTV: "So we're trying to, like, get rid of most of them, but without professional help we can't." The interview was cut short when he ran from the home screaming: "They're biting me!"

State of the Regions report 2006-07