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Democrats embrace 10-Point Plan - major parties yet to formally respond

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ALGA's election document - "A 10-Point Plan to Reinvigorate Local Communities" - has received enthusiastic support from the Democrats, with both major parties yet to formally respond.

Democrat Leader Senator Lyn Allison has warmly embraced the 10-point plan, saying: "We have always understood and supported the importance of local communities and local government and we are happy to commit to the 10 points of your plan. Your proposals to have a sustainable urban regions program and to also push for national assistance to local government to help respond to the future impact of climate change, are particularly good ideas also and we are considering adopting for our own action plans." She also enclosed a copy of the Democrats local government action plan which is available on www.democrats.org.au

ALGA delivered its election document to all Federal MPs and Senators, including Ministers and Shadow Ministers, and key stakeholders on September 6. Labor Leader Kevin Rudd has written to ALGA saying that Senator Kate Lundy, Shadow Minister for Local Government, will respond on his behalf. On previous occasions, Senator Lundy has publicly supported Constitutional recognition for local government and has expressed support for a Local Government Community Infrastructure Renewals Fund, as has the Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads, Jim Lloyd.

Labor federal MP Kelvin Thomson welcomed the document, saying, "I strongly support local government and State and Federal Government investment in local communities through local government."

As of going to press, responses have also been received from Liberal Senator Grant Chapman who has promised to raise the issues with his parliamentary colleagues, from Liberal MP Wilson Tuckey who is considering its recommendations, and from the Nationals Senator for New South Wales, Fiona Nash, who enclosed a copy of the Government's $200m plan for regional Australia. The Liberal MP for Gilmore, Joanna Gash congratulated ALGA on its 10-Point Plan, saying: "Having been a former councillor, I well understand the frustrations of cost shifting and lack of rates funding to achieve what really is a necessity. Our local Mayor, Greg Watson, is a great advocate for your cause in relation to the percentage of GST and whilst we have not made a commitment on this, be assured we do examine every avenue of how we can fund council directly and bypassing the states. So in short, yes, you have my support and will continue to push home the worth of local councils."

Crean outlines Labor's vision for regional governance

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The Federal Shadow Minister for Trade and Regional Development, Simon Crean, has outlined in a recent speech a possible model for regional governance. Mr Crean said that under the model, three key steps would be taken: Resourcing and empowering a viable and more participatory Commonwealth regional development structure; Recognition of local government's role in service delivery and sustainable resourcing of it, and; Better dialogue and improved communications with local government.

ALGA President Cr Paul Bell said he welcomed the debate on the needs of Australia's regions. "Local government favours increased Commonwealth assistance in empowering and strengthening Regional Organisations of Councils as a positive and representative mechanism to deal with regional issues," he said. "I agree with Mr Crean's comments that governments need to better integrate local governments into these structures to ensure they are democratic and truly reflect the aspirations and needs of local communities. This was also reflected in the major outcomes of reviews into the Natural Resource Management and Natural Heritage Trust programs."

Mr Crean said that Regional Development Australia "offers a real opportunity to not only value-add the work of local government but to provide a mechanism to support community champions who have a vision they want to share in their region…by better resourcing the network we can better empower these community champions to develop the local solutions which stack up."

Mr Crean also restated Labor's commitment to the constitutional recognition of local government. "Our commitment to constitutional recognition is not only long-standing, it is genuine. We will act on it." He also mentioned the Council of Australian Local Governments announced last month by the Shadow Minister for Local Government, Senator Kate Lundy. "The Council of Australian Local Governments will provide a forum that allows local and federal governments to meet to discuss issues of national importance and will ensure that local government representatives have a more effective voice at the Council of Australian Governments."

Federal Government drought assistance welcomed by shires

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The NSW Shires Association has welcomed debt write offs and direct assistance to help farmers, businesses and families through the worst drought in living memory.

"Unmanageable debt, accumulated over several years from failed crops, is the biggest problem currently facing drought affected communities," the President of the Shires Association of NSW, Cr Bruce Miller, told this week's Rural Drought Crisis Summit in Parkes.

"The write off of debts by banks, or even a moratorium on debts by the Federal Government, will be the key to getting communities through this period and to giving them a chance to rebuild when, and if, the drought breaks."

Other priorities agreed on at the summit included the need for the establishment of a taskforce on drought, a rates subsidy, a package to help farmers leave the industry with dignity, and a replanting grant.

The Australian Government's announcement of a further $714 million in drought assistance was welcomed by attendees.

"The summit welcomed the Federal Government's announcement of further drought assistance, particularly direct grants to irrigators and increases in off-farm assets limits - but obviously we need to look at the fine print and work out how far it will stretch," Cr Miller added.

"The Associations, with support from NSW Farmers, will now go away and analyse the suggested solutions and issues that came out of today, as well as the Cabinet announcement, with a view to releasing a communiqué by the end of October.

"The good news is that all spheres of Government, industry bodies and community groups are committed to a bi-partisan approach to handling the drought crisis."

The summit, organised by the Shires Association of NSW with NSW Farmers, was attended by around 150 councillors, representatives from government departments, banks, farmers, businesses and community groups.

Meanwhile, the National Farmers' Federation has warned that the situation in the Murray-Darling Basin, especially for perennial crop and livestock farmers, was extreme and deteriorating almost daily as zero-water allocations for irrigators loomed large on the horizon for spring. New measures above the extension of Exception Circumstances (EC) for another six months could be needed to address the crisis in the Basin.
From the President

Recent announcements regarding health reform including the Federal Government's takeover of the Mersey Hospital at Latrobe highlights the need for long-term planning and properly structured funding agreements that will deliver sustainable services to local communities.

Whilst decisions to hand over control of local services to local communities should be supported in principle, long-term funding and appropriate support must be locked in. This is particularly the case where local communities are being asked to take on the additional responsibility of managing such an important service.

The Mersey Hospital proposal announced by Prime Minister John Howard is estimated to be at a cost of up to $45 million a year, and would see the control and management of the hospital's day-to-day operations undertaken by a trust comprising medical specialists and community members.

I note now that the Labor opposition's Shadow Minister for Health, Nicola Roxon, has also hinted that a similar response may be taken if Labor was to be elected, stating that "hospitals might be run by local communities, they might be run by local governments, they might be run by area health services, but that will only be if our negotiations with the States are not able to bring about the sort of reform that we all know is needed".

I welcome the commitment to maintaining our local health infrastructure, and the desire to involve local communities in its management, but I am also mindful of the need for other spheres of government to commit to the funding and sustainability of our health system.

Local government has seen far too many cases where an initial funded transfer of responsibility to local communities equates to a cost shifting exercise in the longer term.

All spheres of government are now party to the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) on Cost Shifting, which provides the principles and framework to ensure that cost burdens are not transferred to local communities, and I call upon all my State and Federal colleagues to adhere to our IGA in the development of policy and funding programs for our health system.

Local communities and local government must not just be seen as a "convenient custodian" for our local health services and facilities, but rather as a partner with State and Federal Governments in managing facilities and providing solutions that are viable and sustainable in the longer-term. Achieving regional and local outcomes should not just be buck-passing and excuse other levels of government from their responsibilities, but rather be a real response to the goal of providing improved health care across our nation. If local communities and local government are to have an increased role in the provision of health services or this role is to be transferred or funded directly, this must only occur in an environment where these communities will not be burdened with the cost or liabilities associated with running these services and facilities into the future.

Cr Paul Bell AM
ALGA President

Promotional opportunity for consideration

The National Local Government Drug and Alcohol Advisory Committee (NLGDAAC) has secured an information booth at the 4th Australasian Drug Strategy Conference (Meeting the future: innovative and effective policy and practice) to be held at Conrad Jupiters, Gold Coast from 22-25 October 07 to raise awareness of how local government across Australia respond to alcohol and other drug-related issues.

Local Government associations and councils are invited to provide copies, samples and give-aways of alcohol and other drug-related reports, brochures, posters, business cards, CDs, DVDs and other collateral for dissemination.

A representative will attend the information booth each day and would be more then willing to promote local government alcohol and other drug-related projects.

If you are interested in participating (ie supplying resource material), please forward to Julia McLauchlan by Thursday 18 October. Refer attached delivery details if forwarding via courier or Aust Post.

Further information: www.police.qld.gov.au/News+and+
Alerts/campaigns/drugconf/

Boost to regional tourism

Tourists tipped an extra $2.5 billion into regional Australia over the past 12 months, helping regional communities cope with one of the worst droughts on record.

According to new research by Tourism Research Australia, international and domestic tourists spent $34 billion in regional Australia in 2006/07, an increase of 8 per cent (or $2.5 billion) on the same period in the previous year.

"Tourism injected an extra $2.5 billion in regional Australia, helping regional communities cope with one of the worst droughts on record. Every dollar spent by tourists helps create local jobs, with tourism in regional Australia already creating more than 200,000 jobs," Tourism Minister Fran Bailey said.

To further support regional areas, Tourism Minister Fran Bailey also announced that Tourism Research Australia will soon release a series of statistical reports designed for local councils in regional Australia. They will aid local governments to better understand the importance of tourism to regional Australia.

"I encourage local governments to recognise the contribution of tourism to regional areas. By helping to grow tourism even stronger, local governments can help create more jobs in a sustainable way," Fran Bailey said.

Labor announces arts policy

Federal Labor released its arts policy framework, titled - New Directions for the Arts.

The opposition when releasing the New Directions for the Arts argues that the policy initiative demonstrates Labor's commitment to a vibrant, diverse and well-supported arts sector in Australia.

The key initiatives include:

Resale royalty scheme
Labor will implement a resale royalty scheme for visual artists. This, in particular, will provide additional support for Indigenous artists who have witnessed a boom in the Indigenous art market.

Supporting Australian Artists
Labor will establish ArtStart to review the current state of artists' incomes and develop policies to redress the fact that many artists are poorly remunerated for their work. ArtStart will be developed in consultation with the arts sector and state and local governments.

An Independent and Transparent Australia Council
Labor will ensure transparent board appointments, simplified funding application processes and a greater voice for practising artists and arts entrepreneurs.

A Strong commitment to Indigenous Arts
Labor will respond to the Senate Committee Report Indigenous Art – Securing the Future to address the issues of sustainability and unscrupulous conduct.

Arts Education for All Students
Labor will work with the states and territories to improve the current provision of arts and music education in schools. Currently only 23 per cent of state school students have access to music education.

Developing the Creative Industries
Labor will develop a Strategic Digital Industry Plan, engaging with the digital sector in the areas of IP, government procurement and export and innovation.

Labor is committed to world-class telecommunications infrastructure and will invest up to $4.7 billion to establish the National Broadband Network in partnership with the private sector.

Planning Institute of Australia pleased with response to 2007 Report Card
Over 900 responses have been received to the PIA 2007 report card. This corresponds to a 50% increase on last year’s response rate, the first year of this initiative.

The Institute will now analyse the data and release its findings on World Town Planning Day, 8 November in Adelaide.

Telecommunications review - submissions sought from local government
Dr Bill Glasson, Chair, Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee, has contacted local government with an invitation to provide written submissions to the Review: "Dear Stakeholder, I am writing to you in the context of your organisation's interest in the availability of services in regional, rural and remote parts of Australia. The Australian Government recently asked me to chair the Independent Committee established to review the adequacy of telecommunications services in regional, rural and remote parts of Australia. The other members of the Committee are Alexandra Gartmann, Mark Needham, Councillor Bruce Scott and Josephine Stone.

The Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999 requires regular reviews to be undertaken as part of the Government's strategy for providing certainty for people in regional, rural and remote Australia that improvements in the telecommunications services that are significant to them will keep pace with the rest of the nation. In addition to conducting public consultations with regional communities across Australia, the Committee will consider written submissions. To assist people who wish to make a submission, the Committee has released a Discussion Paper which is available from the Review’s website. The terms of reference for the Review are included in the Discussion Paper."

Discussion Paper: www.rtirc.gov.au

Submissions close: Wednesday, 31 October 2007

Submissions should include a completed cover sheet and may be lodged by:
email: submissions@rtirc.gov.au
post: Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee
Locked Bag 7001
Canberra ACT 2603
fax: (02) 6271 1580

Questions regarding the Review or the Discussion Paper can be directed to: secretariat@rtirc.gov.au
ph 1800 064 851

Strengthening regions, building partnerships

www.ncver.edu.au/newsevents/
events/regional/forum.html
The National Centre for Vocational Education and Research (NCVER) is offering workshops about how vocational education and training (VET) in partnerships with local employers can contribute to sustainable economic growth and social capital in regional areas. Workshops are currently being held in Townsville, Geraldton, Newcastle and Geelong.

Mobile phone usability study 2007

http://www.novitatech.org.au/
content.asp?p=600
The National Centre for Vocational Education and Research (NCVER) is offering workshops about how vocational education and training (VET) in partnerships with local employers can contribute to sustainable economic growth and social capital in regional areas. Workshops are currently being held in Townsville, Geraldton, Newcastle and Geelong.

Centrelink offers literacy and numeracy training

http://url.edna.edu.au/MV4y
With over six million Australian adults having inadequate literacy levels, it's never too late to improve your reading, writing and maths skills. Centrelink can refer people to the Language, Literacy and Numeracy Programs conducted through the Department of Education, Science and Technology.

Australian Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry at a glance 2007

http://affashop.gov.au/product.asp?
prodid=13638
This 2007 booklet contains up-to-date facts and figures about Australia's agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries. There are overviews of agricultural production, people in agriculture, agricultural exports, farm production, farm incomes, fisheries, forestry, climate, and natural resources.
Facilitator funding approved

The Australian Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Peter McGauran, spoke at the Natural Resource Management (NRM) Facilitators 6th National Forum last week and announced the continuing support and funding of the National NRM Facilitator Network for the next five years.

The National NRM Facilitator Network was established in October 2003 to provide the direct state and regionally based support required to facilitate the introduction and implementation of regional delivery of NRM and to enhance the flow of information between regional communities, NRM bodies and all levels of government. The National NRM Facilitator Network is funded through the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT).

Minister McGauran highlighted the need to engage local government in order to achieve sustainable NRM outcomes through the regional delivery method. In order to do this the Australian Government has partnered with all Local Government Associations across Australia to host a Local Government Facilitator.

If you wish to find out more on NRM or NRM Facilitators in your state please email Jill Brown on jill.brown@alga.asn.au

Australia urged to follow lead of smoke-free NZ

The National Heart Foundation of Australia, The Cancer Council Australia and Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) have supported a call by their New Zealand counterparts for a smoke-free New Zealand by 2017.

Representatives from the Australian health organisations said they welcomed and applauded the establishment of a vision for a smoke-free New Zealand.

Anita Tang, Chair of The Cancer Council Australia's Tobacco Issues Committee, said a comprehensive national tobacco strategy included a range of measures that evidence showed would substantially reduce smoking rates.

"With almost one in five Australians smoking, there is a clear need to do more to reduce the serious risk of death and disease caused by tobacco use," she said.

Ms Tang said measures governments could take to reduce smoking rates included:

  • removing tobacco displays in shops;
  • improving access and availability of nicotine replacement therapies such as patches, gum, lozenges, inhalers and other medicines that help smokers quit;
  • licensing schemes to regulate the retailing of tobacco products;
  • introducing plain packaging for all tobacco products; prohibiting the sale of cigarettes with flavours, aromas and additives that make products more palatable and appealing to young people; and
  • more effective services and supports for those wanting to quit smoking.

Anne Jones, Chief Executive Officer of ASH, said driving smoking rates down to one or two per cent was achievable within 10 years, if governments commit to a fully funded, comprehensive strategy.

Labor announces Skills Australia

A survey of more than 760 producers by the Australian Industry Group found that half of all businesses were experiencing difficulties in obtaining skilled labour. The Labor Opposition has announced it would create Skills Australia, an independent statutory body to advise government on fixing the nation's skills crisis, and develop a highly skilled and innovative workforce for the future. For more information go to www.alp.org.au/media/0907/msedutlootre150.php

Decade of Achievements for Women

The Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues, the Hon Julie Bishop, has released the Decade of Achievements for Australian Women, a publication cataloguing the considerable progress and achievements that have been made to enhance the lives of women.

"Australia is ranked by the United Nations in the top 10 countries for the development and empowerment of women and this publication illustrates how the Government has been working to address the key areas for women in health, ageing, families, safety, leadership, education and workforce participation," Minister Bishop said. The document is available from http://ofw.facsia.gov.au/downloads/
pdfs/decade_of_achievements_full.pdf

Weeds to grab your attention

The Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation, Senator Eric Abetz, and the Assistant Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, John Cobb, have launched a new website - www.weeds.gov.au.

The site is designed to help people identify which plants can be a problem in their local area and provide advice on how to manage them.

The website is part of a national print advertising campaign to highlight the problem of weeds and to prevent their spread in the environment.

Also on the subject of weeds, the Australian Weeds Strategy articulates the integral role that weeds management plays in best practice management of healthy natural resources. The development, monitoring and review of weed management are determined by comprehensive and up-to-date research supported by prevention and early intervention strategies. www.weeds.org.au/docs/
Australian_Weeds_Strategy.pdf

Waste policy reflects sustainability principles, not just economics

Local government's position, reflecting that of the broader community, advocating sustainability principles including resource conservation and environmental protection in waste policy has been supported by the Commonwealth Government's response to the Productivity Commission's final report on the Inquiry into Waste Generation and Resource Efficiency.

Local government welcomes the Commonwealth's rejection of one of the key of the Productivity Commission report (Recommendation 6.1) which advocated the removal of resource conservation and upstream environmental protection objectives from government waste policies. In its response, the Commonwealth acknowledges that 'in most cases, waste policy measures will involve environmental protection and resource conservation objectives. Considerations such as potential improvements in the pattern of how materials are used within the economy, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, water and energy savings, or recycling are important considerations in making decisions about optimal waste management solutions.

"The Commonwealth recognizes these factors can help inform policies aimed at achieving long term environmental sustainability and economic efficiency and help achieve productivity gains. Policy in any given area should not be developed and implemented in isolation from other relevant policy goals. The Commonwealth notes industry and communities are supportive of and are investing in voluntary strategies and actions aimed at enhancing sustainability'."

A full copy of the Commonwealth response to all the recommendations in the Inquiry Report can be found at: www.environment.gov.au/settlements/publications
/waste/waste-efficiency-inquiry-response.html

Local government's response to the Inquiry into a Sustainability Charter

ALGA welcomes the recent release of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Environment and Heritage report on the Inquiry into a Sustainability Charter.

A sustainable future will not be achieved without an integrated and proactive approach in managing the multiple challenges facing Australia's local and regional communities. The Sustainability Charter if adopted by the Government, will be a step in right direction of finally getting a ‘big picture’ perspective and understanding of where we intend and need to go as a nation.

"Whilst local government supports the various actions aimed at tackling natural environmental and ecological issues, the Sustainability Charter would finally highlight the significance of also dealing with Australia's urban environments in a more sustainable manner," ALGA President Cr Bell said.

"The question of urban development and urban management is one of the most important issues facing Australia today and should be tackled in tandem with climate change.

"The recommendations of the Inquiry support ALGA's position on sustainable cities and are consistent with ALGA's election document 'A10-Point Plan to Reinvigorate Local Communities."

"ALGA calls on the Australian Government to adopt the Inquiry's recommendations and to provide sufficient resources to bring the Sustainability Charter into fruition."

WA leads the way in encouraging community fitness

The Local Activity Grants program is an initiative of the Taskforce, in conjunction with the WA Local Government Association (WALGA), made possible through a Lotterywest Grant. The Local Activity Grants program offers matched grants for local governments and community groups to encourage new and innovative approaches to increasing physical activity. These grants recognise a sustainable increase in physical activity requires a cross-government, multi agency approach.

Funding between $5,000 and $60,000 is available to local governments and community groups to encourage innovative approaches to increasing physical activity. Projects may be 12 months or 24 months in length. Matching dollar for dollar funding is required. Rural local governments can provide in-kind contributions.

Round 7 is now open. Applications must be received by 4pm 19 October 2007. For Information sessions on the program please contact Kristian Dawson on 08 94929630

Climate change: emissions trading scheme

The Australian Government has responded to the Task Group Report on Emissions Trading, with its announcement that it would establish a national scheme.

The Department of Environment and Water Resources has issued a discussion paper on maintaining abatement incentives in the lead-up to emissions trading, to commence in 2011.

The Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Malcolm Turnbull, said the Government wanted to ensure that firms undertaking emissions abatement were not disadvantaged ahead of the scheme commencing. "We also want to explore the scope for positive incentives to undertake new, additional abatement," he said.

Minister Turnbull said the discussion paper was part of the design process that would see key details of the emissions trading scheme finalised in 2008. The scheme would be complemented by the national Clean Energy Target. Prime Minister John Howard on Sunday unveiled a clean energy target of about 15 per cent of power generation by 2020. "I encourage industry and other stakeholders to participate in consultations on the discussion paper over coming months," he said. The discussion paper is available at: www.pmc.gov.au/climate_change/
emissions/early_action/

National Youth Roundtable

The National Youth Roundtable is the Australian Government's youth consultation mechanism. It brings together young people aged 15 to 24 years from all areas around Australia and various cultural backgrounds. The Roundtable provides young Australians with the opportunity to meet with the Australian Government to discuss and explore issues that impact on young people.

Applications for the National Youth Roundtable (Roundtable 2008) are now open

Quote of the week

"He was a gallant man, the man who never quit. He was not a man who easy to beat or defeat. To do like this, you must have great talent and also great effort."
Winston Churchill

International news  

UN chief Ban Ki-moon has hailed a high-level summit as a turning point in the fight against climate change and says there is broad consensus for decisive action.

This week's UN summit on climate change in New York had resulted in "a clear call from world leaders for a breakthrough" at key talks to be held on the Indonesian resort island of Bali in December, Ban said.

The Bali talks are aimed at jump-starting talks to find a successor to the Kyoto Protocol, which seeks to curb climate-warming emissions.

The summit was attended by around 150 countries, more than 80 of them at the level of head of state or government, making it the senior most gathering in UN history on global warming.

"I heard the world's leaders confirm that climate change is indeed happening and is largely caused by human activity," said Ban, giving a summary of what was said in the day's speeches.

"The accounts offered by leaders of the most vulnerable nations, especially small island developing states, were particularly telling."

Ban sketched areas where there had been broad consensus but also acknowledged clear areas of contention.

These included whether there should be a long-term goal for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions.

European countries today called for the world to set a target of halving emissions by 2050 compared with a 1990 benchmark and to peg global warming to two degrees Celsius to limit damage to Earth's fragile climate system.

British Environment Minister Hilary Benn also called on the United States to end its opposition to making binding pledges on cutting its emissions.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said: "All the developed countries and the major emitting countries must commit to the objective of reducing emissions by at least 50 per cent between now and 2050."

"Collective action is imperative. The fate of each is linked with that of all. Solidarity is imperative. The poor would be the first victims of our selfishness."

On Thursday The United States hosted a two-day meeting of major carbon polluters, launching a 15-month process to define national goals and identify industrial sectors and promising technology that could be harnessed in the fight against climate change.

State of the Regions report 2006-07