ALGA News

From the President

It is a truth universally acknowledged that local government is the sphere of government that is closest to the people.

As such, local government across Australia has been faced with the challenge of meeting community expectations and this carries with it obligations to provide for developments that are more energy and water efficient. These expectations have risen in recent years, given both the uncertainty surrounding global climate change and the actual climatic conditions that we have been experiencing.

Many councils have responded through the development of local planning and building controls that enable a response that is tailored to local conditions and also address emerging issues and advances in design, materials and other related technology.

The challenge for local government, however, has been providing this much needed response within the frameworks and legislative requirements at both the State and Commonwealth levels.

Some jurisdictions, such as New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory have responded with the development of consistent building sustainability assessment tools and targets which have at the very least provided a uniform and more rigorous approach to ensuring developments are more sustainable.

Where difficulties arise however is when local governments have been required to "step-in" and respond to emerging issues or expectations where other levels of government have either not yet responded, or are unable to do so in an efficient and responsive manner.

The issue of local government interventions into areas that may be considered the domain of the Australian Building Code is a case in point. Local government has established planning policies and controls that often deal with the efficiency, sustainability or access for buildings, which in turn are designed to deliver more favourable land use outcomes. Developments in sensitive water catchments is one classic example that comes to mind.

Unfortunately this has been seen by some as reckless and unnecessary or unwarranted intervention by local government. However in the majority of cases, local government's response is simply to guarantee that our buildings and many other developments are achieving more sustainable environmental, social and economic outcomes. Many Australian communities no longer accept the quick fix approach and expect and demand that built environments can also can deliver medium and long-term sustainable benefits.

Where other alternatives arise, local government is happy to apply the legislation and controls that are available through State and Federal legislation. However where this legislation is unable to respond in a timely manner, local government does not apologise for initiating intervention through the planning mechanisms under its control.

Having said this, the Australian Local Government Association is currently participating on a joint taskforce with representatives from all State and territory jurisdictions, the Commonwealth and the Australian Building Codes Board in examining ways to better manage planning and building delineations and their respective role in achieving more sustainable outcomes. This work is in direct response to recent concerns expressed by the Council of Australian Governments.

Local government fully accepts the need for cooperation between all spheres of government to provide a more effective response to climate change and sustainability. Balancing the costs of changing requirements or standards for building and development with the long-term economic, social and environmental benefits needs to be achieved, but enabling an "on the ground" response to such important challenges in a timely fashion remains paramount. As with most things of life, getting the right balance is the key challenge.

Cr Paul Bell AM
ALGA President

Beattie admits he 'stuffed up'

Queensland Premier Beattie has withdrawn threats to sack councils if they conducted amalgamation ballots.

Mr Beattie has admitted he "stuffed-up" by legislating to stop referendums on controversial council mergers after an opinion poll revealed most Queenslanders wanted a say on the issue.

Citing new government-commissioned research which found 52 per cent of Queenslanders believed referendums should be held on the mergers, Mr Beattie said his government had been too heavy handed in its approach to the issue.

Prime Minister John Howard last week introduced legislation to override the Queensland laws but the bill will not be passed by the Senate until next month, meaning councils that hold votes in the meantime were risking the sack and councillors fined.

Mr Howard welcomed the backdown by Mr Beattie on his plan to stop Queenslanders from participating in referendums on the local government amalgamations.

"Mr Beattie's decision to withdraw his legislation has come in response to sustained pressure from my Government to give Queenslanders a say on the amalgamation issue," he said. "If my Government had not acted as we did, Mr Beattie would have continued to act in an arbitrary jackbooted fashion, trampling over the rights of the people of Queensland."

Mr Howard said that "…if there is a strong expression of opinion in local government areas that choose to go ahead with the ballots, the Queensland Government may be forced to reconsider those amalgamations."

The state's Local Government Minister Andrew Fraser declined to sack a central Queensland shire that hosted a vote on the issue and Mr Beattie said others were now free to hold referendums of their own, using federal money.

"We will obviously pull back from any measures that would stop councils having a vote," Mr Beattie said.

Indigenous engagement in rural industries

The Australian Government is seeking innovative ideas to increase the involvement of Indigenous Australians in our agriculture, fishing, forest and related industries. Applications are now open under the Rural Indigenous Engagement Pilot Program for grants of up to $50,000 for innovative projects that create links between Indigenous Australians and rural industries. Projects are sought that promote awareness of rural Indigenous employment opportunities, connect Indigenous people with industry mentors, or develop communication and leadership skills. Applications close 31 August, 2007. More information on: www.psmaff.gov.au/releases/07/07051sl.html

Changes signalled to local government financial reporting

Readers involved with financial reporting by local government will be interested to learn of the proposal by the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) to withdraw AAS 27 Financial Reporting by Local Governments and replace it with a new approach to regulation of public sector financial reporting. Developments and the approach to be followed are outlined here.

The Board has recently issued an exposure draft, ED156 Proposals Arising from the Short -term Review of the Requirements of AAS27, AAS29 and AAS 31 (ED), for consideration and comment. The ED proposes significant changes to the specification of accounting standards governing financial reporting by public sector entities.

Present public sector accounting standards, which require an accrual accounting approach to financial reporting, date from the first half of the 1990s and follow what is known as a 'industry based' rather than an 'issues based' approach. In the industry based approach currently followed separate standards exist for particular 'industries'; in the public sector Local Government, Government Departments and Whole of Government entities, and each standards addresses the totality of issues understood to relate to the specific circumstances of the particular entity type. By contrast, in a topic based approach, accounting standards are concerned with specific matters - topics - that concern entities of various types: in this approach a standard might address accounting issues relevant to a variety of entity types; public, private, profit generating or not for profit.

The proposed changes, if adopted, will see the end of the public sector accounting standards as they have been known: there will be no more AAS 27. It, and the other two issues based standards, will be replaced by a new, issues based, approach composed of two parts. Firstly, existing standards will be broadened where necessary to accommodate reference to particular public sector aspects of a topic, for example, AASB 116 Property, Plant and Equipment will be amended to cover infrastructure, cultural and heritage assets held by public sector entities. Secondly, three new 'topic based' standards concerned with issues specific to public sector financial reporting will be created. These will be concerned with the following issues, administered items, land under roads and disaggregated disclosures.

The decision by the AASB to move to an issues based approach to public sector financial reporting is consistent with the Boards policy of developing principle based accounting standards that will be applicable to all types of entities, both for profit and not for profit entities, which are transaction neutral and apply to similar transactions irrespective of the nature of the entity. The amendments proposed in the ED are an 'intermediate' measure pending a more fundamental, long term, review of public sector accounting intended by the Board. This review will take into account the implications of the project to harmonise Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and Government Financial Standards (GAAP/GFS), and conceptual work in progress or planned by International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB).

More detailed information can be obtained by interested readers from the ED document obtainable from the AASB and the Policy Paper which can be down loaded from the AASB web site.

(Article by Tom Rowles, senior lecturer, School of Accounting and Law, RMIT University)

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Local Government Sustainable Development Conference 2007

 

The 2007 Local Government Sustainable Development Conference in Melbourne on September 11-12 will focus on reducing the carbon footprint, water sustainability, waste minimisation and developments in the built environment within the local government field.

The 2007 conference is being organised by Hallmark Editions and Environs Australia, the local government environment network, and follows the successful inaugural sustainable development conference held in Sydney last year.

The 2007 conference will incorporate the Sustainability Awards organised by Environs Australia. The 2007 Awards will recognise the contributions made by environment professionals as well as councillors in progressing sustainability at the local level. There will be three Gold Awards and six Silver Awards announced. For more details of how to enter the Awards, please visit www.environs.org.au

The conference has been designed to assist local government practitioners to identify, plan and implement best practice sustainable development solutions, particularly related to reducing the carbon footprint. It will showcase leading edge examples of outstanding environmental initiatives by Australian local governments.

Local Government professionals, at the forefront of developing sustainability strategies, will present their experiences and lessons learnt in implementing sustainable development programs.

Best practice case studies on water minimisation, greenhouse emissions control, and minimising environment impacts of the built environment will be revealed. The conference has been structured as an intensive learning experience to enable attendees to immediately use the information.

At a Gala Dinner on the evening of Day 1, Environs Australia , the local government environment network, will announce the winners of the Sustainability 2007 Awards for Local Government.

The detailed Agenda for the 2007 Conference can be found at http://www.halledit.com.au/conferences/
sustainability/2007
For registration inquiries, please contact Denise McQueen on (03) 8534 5000
or email denise.mcqueen@halledit.com.au

Labor health reform proposal

Labor Leader Kevin Rudd yesterday announced that Labor would inject an additional $2 billion into the Australian health care system as part of its National Health Reform Plan if it is elected.

The proposal also comes with a caveat that that a Rudd Labor Government would look to take financial control of Australia's 750 public hospitals if State and Territory Governments have not begun implementing an agreed National Health Reform Plan by mid-2009.

The program seeks to improve health outcomes through the formation of a National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission to formulate an action plan tasked with achieving

• immediate investment in improving our health system and our hospitals;
• financial incentive payments to State and Territory governments who deliver better outcomes for patients using their health and hospital system; and
• dedicated funding for investment in community-level non-hospital health services.

Further information on the proposal can be found at: www.alp.org.au/download/now/070823_dp_
new_directions_for_australian_health.pdf

New in-home childcare places

The Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, recently announced the successful Home Care places under the funding initiative.

The 1200 additional places are part of the "In-Home Care" program that provides options for care outside structured childcare services, or where they may not be available due to location or work hours. Care is provided in the child's home by approved carers. The places are funded from the additional $8 million (over four years) directed to the IHC program under the 2007-2008 Budget.

The program has been developed to address gaps in servicing due to parents working shift or unusual hours as well as for families living in rural or remote regions of Australia that may have difficulties in accessing existing child care services.

The guidelines for the funding and rebates have also been modified with incentives provided to services, with higher rates of support being provided where services employ carers in rural or remote areas. Families using the services may also be subsidies such as the Child Care Benefit and the Child Care Tax Rebate.

Further information on the program can be found at: www.facsia.gov.au/internet/facsinternet.nsf/
childcare/families-in_home_care.htm

Australian Logistics Council Workshops

The Australian Logistics Council (ALC) is made of key stakeholders in the Australian logistics industry. It is supported by the Federal Government. It provides leadership within the freight logistics industry by encouraging industry collaboration on issues of national interest.

ALC has been commissioned by the Federal Minister for Transport and regional Services, the Hon Mark Vaile to develop a new National Transport and Logistics Strategy.

ALC is hosting a series of workshops around the country to hear the views of people in the transport and logistics industries but also to hear from infrastructure providers including local government.

Councils are asked to contact the ALC on 1300 785 236 or Abigail.Brooke@austlogistics.com.au to obtain more information. Information is also available from www.austlogistics.com.au/index.php

This is an excellent opportunity for councils to present their views on freight developments in their area and the impact that it is having on their communities.

Australian Bureau of Statistics - Review of the Australian Standard Geographical Classification

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has just released an information paper for comment that may be of interest to many councils. The paper, "Review of the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC)" outlines proposed changes to the way that census data will be both collected and presented.

These changes will see a move away from the traditional "collector district" approach that many councils would be familiar with.

The proposed changes have been driven by issues identified by ABS in the lack of adaptability and flexibility in the current approach.

The proposal brings together all the geographical boundaries used by the ABS.

The most significant changes from the current ASGC are:

• The existing structures have been simplified and now all the geographic areas are built up from mesh blocks.
• A hierarchy of new statistical units will be developed based on the identification of "functional areas". These units are expected to be more stable than the existing ASGC structures.
• Existing units such as Census Collection Districts and Statistical Local Areas will no longer exist.
• Mesh block based concordances to commonly used geographies such as local government areas, suburbs, electorates and postcodes will be published annually. The Australian Statistical Geography publication itself will only be updated in Census years.

For further information please email geography@abs.gov.au with the words "ASGC Review" in the subject line. Formal written submissions will be received up to Friday 5 October 2007, and can be sent to geography@abs.gov.au

An information pack can also be found at: www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup
/1216.0.55.001Main+Features12007?OpenDocument

ATUG's Regional Communications Roadshow comes to Queensland

The Australian Telecommunications Users Group will be running three free of charge workshops in Queensland from 28-30 August.

The purpose of the Roadshow is to bring together broadband technology providers and telecommunications experts with members of local communities to increase awareness and to ensure broadband is available to assist business and personal communications. Local government is encouraged to go along. In attendance will be a representative from the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts who will provide an update on the Government's programs for regional Australia. The workshops are in Townsville on Tuesday 28 August at the Mercure Inn from 5.30pm; Bundaberg on 29 August at the Old Bundy Tavern from 5.30pm; and Goondiwindi on 30 August at Goondiwindi Training and Technology Centre from 5.30pm. RSVP to patrick.sinclair@atug.org.au or 02 9495 8905. For more information, go to www.atug.com.au/RegionalRoadshow07.cfm

Protecting Australian families online

The Minister for Communications, Information Technology, and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, announced that from this week Australian families will be able to download free filters for their home computers and get practical advice about internet safety from a dedicated hotline and web address.

Every Australian family and library will have access to a free filter through the $84.8 million National Filter Scheme. Parents, grandparents and carers will be able to download or order on a CD-ROM an accredited and tested internet content filter. All filter vendors under the scheme will be required to continually update their products to allow for advancements in technology and actively discourage the circumvention of their products.

Senator Coonan said parents, grandparents and carers can visit www.australia.gov.au/netalert and call 1800 880 176 from 8am - 10pm seven days for advice about managing online safety, as well as access to free internet content filters, and information about how they work.

Govt seeks to sign up states after water bill passes

The revised version of the federal government's $10 billion plan to take over management of the Murray-Darling Basin will go ahead after passing federal parliament late last week.

Federal Water Resources Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the Prime Minister would shortly be writing to the four Murray Darling Basin Premiers with a proposed Inter Governmental Agreement giving the four Basin States the opportunity to support continued and more comprehensive water reform into the future.

For more on the Water Bill, the Minister's second reading speech and a video of the speech is on his website. Copies of the Bill and the Explanatory Memorandum can be downloaded from the Parliament website

Butts to blame for over half NSW's litter

Smokers are responsible for more than half of all litter in NSW, a state government report shows.

The NSW Litter Report 2006 surveyed 100 sites across the state, from riverbanks to construction sites, and found cigarette litter at every one of them.

Butts and empty cigarette packets accounted for 59 per cent of all litter, an increase since the last report two years ago.

The report found litter had increased 6.5 per cent in NSW and eight per cent in the Sydney metropolitan area.

Littering had fallen 41 per cent in regional NSW, it found.

Beverage waste such as coffee cups and drink bottles was the second biggest offender, making up 13 per cent of all litter counted.

Local councils in NSW have imposed 10,000 fines for littering over the past 18 months.

Bulky Goods Retailers Association invites consultation

The Bulky Goods Retailers Association (BGRA) wishes to introduce itself to ALGA members in order to promote awareness of this very distinct retail sector and foster an understanding by Australian local governments of the issues surrounding bulky goods development.

The BGRA is the peak national body representing bulky goods retailing in Australia. Established in 1999, the Association's vision is to provide competitive, convenient and accessible retail and showroom facilities that add value to communities and enhance the character of established retail areas.

The BGRA has a strong focus on property planning and development, representing the interests of its members, the retailers, and sponsors who include property developers and agents.

Executive director Philippa Kelly says that because there is no national approach towards bulky goods planning policy, and because many state governments are conducting reviews relating to the definition of bulky goods and the location of new developments, there is a genuine need for local governments to consult with the BGRA on planning issues relating to bulky goods.

For further information visit the BGRA website at www.bgra.com.au or phone Philippa Kelly on (03) 9859 0534 or email pkelly@bgra.com.au.

High speed metropolitan broadband

The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, has welcomed Telstra's upgrade of its Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) cable network in metropolitan areas to provide high speed broadband.

"The Government is delighted with Telstra's announcement that it is upgrading its cable network to provide the fastest broadband services Australia has ever seen at a blistering 30 megabits per second," Senator Coonan said.

Telstra's announcement is a major advancement in the Australian broadband investment debate.

"Telstra has invested in a fixed high speed broadband network in commercial metropolitan areas and it has done so without any taxpayer funding and most importantly without winding back competition and consumer regulatory safeguards," Senator Coonan said.

Senator Coonan said a mix of technologies is always the best solution, especially for the widely variable conditions in a country the size of Australia.

"Australia will now have multiple high speed broadband networks including cable, WiMAX, ADSL2+ and following the completion of the competitive assessment process, another high speed broadband network, likely to be fibre."