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Coalition commits additional $550 million for local roads

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In the first announcement directly related to local government during this election campaign, the Coalition has announced its 2020 Plan for Local Roads. With this plan the Coalition has committed an additional $550 million for the Strategic Regional Program over six years. This is additional to the $300 million announced in the May Budget and brings the total funding under this program to $850 million.

No administrative details were announced however if it were to operate in the same way as the existing program it would be on a bid basis.

Nationals Leader Mark Vaile in making these announcements also confirmed the Coalition's commitment to the announced Roads to Recovery Program which will be increased from $307 million to $350 million from 2009-10; the Blackspot Program which is being increased from $45 million per year to $60 million per year and the untied local roads grants.

ALGA President Cr Paul Bell welcomed this announcement. He said: "This is sensible investment proposal to improve the transport infrastructure for our communities while the economy was booming and was capable of making this investment and will pay economic, social and safety dividends for many years into the future."

The Coalition also announced a new Program for Development Roads that will provide $300 million over six years for key roads in regional Australia that will assist industry. While no details of the Development Road Program were provided it appears from the initial commitment of $20 million from this Program to the Capricorn Highway in Queensland between Rockhampton and Emerald that both local and state roads will be eligible for funding.

Cr Bell said: "This Program for Development Roads addresses the concerns of local government in regional Australia resulting from increased truck traffic. In particular local government has been raising its concerns of increased truck traffic resulting from the closure of grain lines and the commencement of harvesting of timber plantations."

Details of all the major party transport election commitments and links to announcements can be found on the ALGA election website.

Health debate at National Press Club

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The health debate held at the National Press Club this week made headlines for a number of reasons, however there were some omissions from the debate that will hopefully be addressed by announcements in coming weeks of the election campaign.

Both the Shadow Minister for Health, Ms Nicola Roxon, and the Minister for Health, Tony Abbott, flagged further announcements that will provide detail on the potential changes to the hospital system that may result in increased roles for local communities as well as the Federal Government direct funding local hospitals.

One area light on detail, but of interest to many rural and regional areas, was any response to the rural health issues facing our nation. ALGA together with the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA), Country Women's Association of Australia (CWAA), National Farmers Federation (NFF), and Health Consumers of Rural and Remote Australia (HCRRA) is working to highlight key areas that need to be addressed by an incoming government in respect to rural health.

Announcements made on the day include the Labor proposal to introduce a new national public hospital report card system primarily dealing with the issue of elective surgery waiting times. This would be part of its $600 million investment to address the current elective surgery waiting lists.

This proposal would include such initiatives as funding for the public hospital system to purchase additional capacity from private hospitals, and requirements for State and Territory governments to adhere to strict performance reporting in order to secure funding.

Further information on this can be found at www.alp.org.au/media/1007/mshealoo310.php

The Coalition also announced a four-year plan that would aim to more then double the number of university medical graduates to 3,000 by 2012, as well as a commitment of $100 million to increase the number of GP training places.

The Coalition has also proposed to significantly increase the number of GP training places, with an allocation of around $100 million to provide 900 GP training places per year by 2011.

For further information on this announcement click here.

Melton Shire Council winner of the inaugural Sustainable Cities Awards

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With climate change and water conservation at the forefront of social and political agendas, Melton Shire Council is proof positive that local government is leading the way in creating a more sustainable society.

According to Dick Olesinski, Sustainable Cities National Judge, Melton Shire Council has contributed extensive resources to help encourage local resident participation across a broad range of environmental initiatives. This includes support and guidance for community markets, cultural diversity forums, community leadership training, leisure and open space strategies, environmental improvement initiatives, as well as active lifestyle programs and youth activities.

"Melton's Recycled Water System Development project, Public Place Recycling program and the Waste Management Education & Strategy project, together with the community's overall commitment to the principles of sustainability, encapsulates the Sustainable Cities award ideals," said Dick Olesinski.

"Melton Shire Council has put great emphasis on environmental issues through their own work or in encouraging and supporting the many 'Friends of' groups. These groups, along with the students of Melton, are to be commended on the broad range of environmental improvement activities they are involved with, their desire to reinforce their message of sustainability and to gradually extend their impact into the broader community," he added.

Further information about the Sustainable Cities Awards and details about each of the national finalists/category winners can be found at www.kab.org.au
From the President

Many people have castigated the "me-tooism" of the Federal election campaign and the similarity of the major parties' policies and announcements on several core issues such as tax cuts, health funding and skills.

Here in local government, we have a different take on this because of the value of what is at stake. Bipartisanship is critical for local communities and the local governments that serve them on key issues such as roads, infrastructure, funding and financial sustainability. These are too important to play politics with. Bipartisanship is also essential in terms of constitutional recognition. History has shown that a referendum will not succeed without support from at least both major parties and ideally from the states.

We are now at the end of Week 3 of the campaign, at the half-way mark. So far, both major parties have not released their local government policy statements and we have had a series of announcements on funding of specific roads from the Coalition and Labor, which we have placed on the ALGA website.

However, the stakes were raised on Tuesday with the Coalition's announcement of an additional $550 million for the Strategic Regional Program over six years and a new Program for Development Roads that will provide $300 million over six years for key roads in regional Australia that will assist industry.

Nationals leader Mark Vaile in making these announcements also confirmed the Coalition's commitment to the announced Roads to Recovery Program which will be increased from $307 million to $350 million from 2009-10; the Blackspot Program which is being increased from $45 million per year to $60 million per year and the untied local roads grants.

Labor's Transport spokesman Martin Ferguson committed to the continuation of the Roads to Recovery Program at the Roads Congress earlier this year, but has not made any specific commitments to local roads as yet during the election campaign. Local government and the communities they represent would welcome firm commitments from Labor.

Local government is looking for bipartisan statements on its $250m pa over 4 year Local Community Infrastructure Renewals Fund. With over 1000 examples on ALGA's ideas register, local government has clearly demonstrated the need for a fund for the renewals of community infrastructure to repair the nation’s rundown swimming pools, sporting facilities, ovals and libraries. ALGA believes the funding should be allocated according to a formula similar to the highly successful Roads to Recovery program.

Financial sustainability of local government as documented in graphic detail by the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) study commissioned by ALGA needs to be urgently addressed and is the bedrock issue facing local government which underpins the viability of the third sphere of government. To this end, ALGA is calling on both major parties to commit to a reform of funding between the three spheres of government and for local government to receive at least 1% of direct taxation revenue.

Our arguments are clear and have been backed up by studies undertaken by highly respected financial institutions such as PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Access Economics. It is now time for both sides of politics to show some more of that constructive bipartisanship - 'me tooism' - on issues that are critical to the well-being and prosperity of our nation's communities and to meet the transport, infrastructure and lifestyle needs of its most important resource - its people.

Cr Paul Bell AM
ALGA President

ALGA's 10-Point Plan wins praise from Emergency Management Australia

ALGA's election document 'A 10-Point Plan to Reinvigorate Local Communities' has been described by Emergency Management Australia as 'very comprehensive and if implemented would enable local governments to meet many of their identified needs."

Emergency Management Australia Director-General Tony Pearce singles out the fourth goal of Meeting Future Challenges, saying it is "a worthy addition to the plan." "It has ramifications for emergency management in the areas of climate change, water resources, urban regions and the provision of high-speed broadband."

ALGA has called on major political parties to commit to the plan which includes a call for constitutional recognition, 1% of direct taxation revenue and a Local Community Infrastructure Renewals Fund. The plan is on the ALGA website: www.alga.asn.au

WA moves to 'Design out Crime'

The WA State Government has unveiled the latest strategy to combat crime in residential areas through the use of smart urban design principles.

The strategy would be incorporated in all appropriate Statements of Planning Policy as applied by the Western Australian Planning Commission, and would influence the development of regional, district and local structure plans throughout the State.

Designing out Crime establishes a set of principles for fencing, lighting, the layout of buildings and public spaces, ease of access and passive surveillance. When combined, the aspects encouraged the diverse use of space and removed danger spots.

Funding grants of $260,000 will be provided to local government authorities for Designing out Crime projects. The WA Government has called on local government and the design and construction sector to engage with the Designing out Crime initiative, not only for community safety, but also for economic reasons. The Designing out Crime strategy can be downloaded from www.crimeprevention.wa.gov.au

Review to consider banning smoking in cars with kids

The Heart Foundation supports the proposed reforms to protect Queenslanders from second-hand smoke include prohibiting smoking in vehicles carrying children; banning smoking in pedestrian malls; extending smoking bans to 10 metres from non-residential building entrances; and banning smoking at outdoor events and sporting venues and at bus and ferry stops.

The public is invited to contribute to the review, which will also examine smoking laws in pubs and clubs, where bans could be extended to include high-roller gaming rooms.

Qld Premier Anna Bligh said smoke-free pedestrian malls, including Brisbane's Queen Street Mall, could become a selling point for cities.

"I often find the smoking that happens along there pretty unappealing - it's not a great sight for visitors to the city," she said. "It might be a very good selling point for your city."

The Cancer Council will push for smoking in cars carrying children to be outlawed by July 2008.

Spokeswoman Wendy Reid said each year 21 Queensland children aged under five died from passive smoking.

"Eighty per cent of Queenslanders support such a ban and in fact two-thirds of smokers support a ban on smoking in cars in which children are present," she said. Submissions close on January 31 at www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au

Warning of 'tobacco pushers' targeting council events

Action on Smoking and Health Australia has raised with councils the concerns of health leaders that 'tobacco pushers' are targeting young people with tobacco promotions at music festivals - including the recent Splendour in the Grass festival at Byron Bay on 4 to 5 August 2007.

Increasingly local government is supporting tobacco-free events and Action on Smoking and Health Australia is seeking council support for tobacco-free youth festivals for the following reasons:

  • Tobacco products are not like other ordinary consumer products - they are lethal, addictive and cause nearly 16,000 deaths a year in Australia;
  • Young people are targeted by the tobacco industry - most smokers start as teenagers; and
  • The tobacco industry is turning increasingly to "below the line" marketing at events popular with young people

These concerns have been raised with Federal and State Health Ministers by the health lobby and councils are urged to protect young audiences by requiring that events be tobacco-free as a condition of consent. "Tobacco-free" would include banning tobacco sales, tobacco sponsorship deals and promotions, depictions of smoking, and ensuring that all viewing and spectator areas are smokefree.

State of the Regions report 2006-07
Labor promises $1 billion for national urban water and desalination plan

This week Labor leader Kevin Rudd promised $1 billion to implement a National Urban and Desalinisation Plan to help secure the water supplies of Australia's major cities. The plan is said to drive major desalinisation projects across Australia as well as support water recycling and major stormwater capturing projects nationwide.

The program would provide a 10% Commonwealth tax credit for approved desalination, water recycling and major storm water capture projects developed by the private sector, Local Governments and State and Territory Governments. Local Government will be able to submit proposals for funding assistance to Infrastructure Australia over an 18 month period till the end of June 2009.

Where the project proponent of a water infrastructure project does not pay Commonwealth income tax, support will be in the form of a cash payment.

For more details visit: www.alga.asn.au/Election2007/environment.php/

ALP announcements on childcare

The ALP has announced a range of election promises relating to childcare that will be of interest to local government.

The proposals will see both a change in the tax rebate for childcare from 30 to 50%, and the payment of the rebate quarterly, as well as the investment of $77 million on programs aimed at improving the standard of care, including:

  • $73.5 million in incentives and opportunities to improve the qualifications of child care;
  • new National Child Care Quality Standards, including new quality categories; and
  • $3.5 million for new Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Guidelines for child care centres.

Further information regarding the childcare tax rebate proposal can be found at www.alp.org.au/media/1007/msccloo220.php and information relating to the proposal on childcare standards can be viewed at www.alp.org.au/media/1007/msccfcsloo230.php

Federal Labor's 20 Per Cent By 2020 Renewable Energy Target

Labor Leader Kevin Rudd has promised that Labor would set a 20 per cent Renewable Energy Target for Australia to reach by 2020. Labor says this brings Australia into line with most developed nations including Europe, China and many American states. The proposal is to significantly expand the use of solar, wind and geothermal energy, also known as hot dry rock technology. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the generation of electricity is important in tackling climate change.

For more information.

Greens announce Sun Fund

Greens Senate candidate Sarah Hanson-Young announced the Greens' Sun Fund initiative last week. The Sun Fund is a 10 year, $3 billion structured investment program for renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

The Sun Fund transfers the $300 million in current annual Federal Government subsidies for fossil fuels across to renewable energy. This is said to provide a significant, ongoing investment to underpin research, development, commercialisation and capacity building across the broad range of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

For more information.

Innovative Renewable Energy Support

The Coalition announced its plan to address climate change and a clean energy. A re-elected Coalition Government promises to strongly support innovative renewable energy, through a dedicated $75 million competitive grants programme for new and emerging renewable energy technologies.

For more information.

Election campaign carbon meter

In this new age of climate change awareness, the "Daily Telegraph" has added another meter, the "Campaign Carbon Footprint".

Its latest calculation is that, when it comes to carbon dioxide emissions, John Howard is twice as green as Kevin Rudd - though all it means is that the Labor leader had travelled twice as far as the prime minister in the campaign so far. According to the footprint, Howard has notched up 7,354km, for an emission of 5.6 tonnes of CO2, while Rudd has travelled 15,581km, sending 11 tonnes of the greenhouse gas into the atmosphere.

Regional Cooperation and Development Forum - carbon tax, abatement strategies, community impacts? - Darwin 26 November

The Regional Forum is an annual event designed to critically examine the state of Australia's diverse regions and bring together local government, regional development practitioners, politicians and experts to share and discuss issues of mutual interest and concern.

This year's Forum complements the theme of the National General Assembly of Local Government, in specifically examining the implications and opportunities arising from climate change and its impacts on local and regional communities.

Invited speakers include Dr Peter Christoff, of Melbourne University, and Dr Philippa England , Griffith University who will discuss the Regional implications of climate change from a community perspective and the potential legal challenges that may confront local government in the Future. Officials of the NT Government have kindly agreed to provide a case study on their innovative Savanna fire management program.

A highlight of the Forum is the official launch of the much respected State of the Regions (SOR) Report by National Institute of Economic and Industry Research. The SOR provides an annual stock-take of the economic well being of Australia's regions and their prospects for economic development and sustainable growth.

Delegates attending the Regional Forum receive a complimentary hard copy of the SOR report, and receive a formal briefing on its contents.

For further details on the Regional Forum or to enquire about purchasing an electronic copy of Report, please see www.alga.asn.au or contact Laura Ford on 02 61229400.

MAV annual conference

More than 250 leaders from councils across Victoria gathered in Melbourne yesterday to explore a range of current local government challenges at the 2007 Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) Annual Conference.

MAV Vice-President (Rural), Cr Darryl Argall said the event provides the premier opportunity for council leaders to draw on the collective knowledge and experience of their peers, industry experts and leading thinkers to explore strategies to tackle current issues.

International and local speakers explored a range of challenges facing local government and share their strategies for success on reputation management, economic development, climate change and human rights.

Arts funding for local government

The Australian Government has a range of regional and touring arts programs that support community access and participation in Australia's cultural life:

Playing Australia provides funding to tour performing arts across state and territory boundaries. Applications close 17 December 2007

Contemporary Music Touring Program provides assistance to professional artists to tour within Australia performing original Australian contemporary music. Applications close 5 February 2008.

Festivals Australia funds new arts projects at community festivals. Applications close 15 February 2008 for projects starting after 1 July 2008.

Festivals Australia Regional Residencies funds communities to engage artists to help them develop new locally-themed projects for community festivals or celebrations. Applications close 15 February 2008 for projects starting after 1 July 2008.

Click here for details.

Government Skills Australia workshops

Local government representatives are invited to attend one of a number of free national workshops that Government Skills Australia has scheduled over November/December. These workshops relate to the project to enhance and extend the current Local Government Training Package LGA04, particularly in the specialist areas of Environmental Health and Planning. Those invited include (but are not limited to):

  • Training & Development Coordinators/Manager
  • Environmental Health Officers
  • Planners
  • Training Organisation personnel working within the Local Government sector.

The workshops will inform the development of new competency standards. It is vital that the skills needed for a healthy and successful industry now, and into the future, are identified. You do not need to be a training expert to attend but we do want to hear your views about a range of issues related to Local Government Environmental Health and Planning officers. Including: What are the functions you, and the people who work for you, perform? What skills and knowledge are needed to perform the functions well?

National workshop dates:

Adelaide - 15th November 2007
Perth - 16th November 2007
Sydney - 22nd November 2007
Brisbane - 23rd November 2007
Hobart - 30th November 2007
Darwin - 30th November 2007
Melbourne - 5th December 2007

Register for events online at: www.governmentskills.com.au or contact Joan Whelan (Industry Advisory Officer) - E: joan.whelan@governmentskills.com.au. P: (03) 9349 3911.

Quote of the week

"The world is too big for us. Too much is going on, too many crimes, too much violence and excitement. Try as you will, you get behind in the race, in spite of yourself. It's an incessant strain, to keep pace... And still you lose ground.
Science empties its discoveries on you so fast that you stagger beneath them in hopeless bewilderment. The political world is news seen so rapidly you're out of breath trying to keep pace with who's in and who's out. Everything is high pressure. Human nature can't endure much more!"
Editorial of 'The Atlantic Journal' - June 16, 1833

International news  

Ireland is the world's friendliest country, with people having "a deliciously dark sense of humour", according to a best-travel list compiled by guidebook company Lonely Planet.

The Emerald Isle has "a welcoming attitude towards strangers" and the Irish can find craic (fun times) in boom or bust eras, Lonely Planet said.

Visitors are always "in for a treat" and with "The Troubles" ended, "a cautious optimism reigns supreme, infecting the land once again with the sense that anything's possible".

The top position for Ireland came in the Lonely Planet Bluelist 2008.

Second most-friendly countries was reckoned to be the USA, with Malawi third. Other nations in the top 10 included Vietnam, Thailand, Turkey and Samoa.