Local government to pursue fair funding, fair treatment and formal recognition
3 November 2005
Around 600 local government leaders will gather in Canberra for the National General Assembly of Local Government at the National Convention Centre on 8-10 November. A one-day Regional Cooperation and Development Forum will be held on Monday 7 November.
Key issues will include the need for fair funding for local government, fair treatment of local government (particularly in relation to cost shifting), and formal recognition of local government within the Australian Constitution. The Assembly will focus on the importance of partnerships and debate 60 motions under four broad themes: local government financing, population and ageing, the environment and infrastructure.
Regional Cooperation and Development Forum
Monday 7 November
| 9.30 | Cr Paul Bell, ALGA President - Opening Address |
| 9.45 | Mr Garry Weaven, Executive Chair, Industry Fund Services - Keynote address |
| 10.30 | Dr Peter Brain, Executive Director, National Economics - State of the Regions report |
| 12.10 | Hon Warren Truss MP, Minister for Transport and Regional Services |
| 4.45 | Hon Simon Crean MP, Shadow Minister for Regional Development |
| 12.30 | Media conference: Launch of State of the Regions Report 2005-06 Murray Room, National Convention Centre, Canberra |
National General Assembly of Local Government
Tuesday 8 November
| 9.00 | Opening ceremony and President's address by Cr Paul Bell |
| 9.30 | Hon Mark Vaile MP, Deputy Prime Minister - Opening address |
| 9.45 | Mr Phillip Adams - Keynote address |
| 11.00 | Concurrent sessions - debate on motions on population and ageing and local government financing |
| 12.30 | Rally for fair funding, fair treatment and formal recognition Open area adjacent to National Convention Centre Expo Hall |
| 1.30 | Plenary sessions - debate on motions on environment and infrastructure |
| 3.30 | Indian Ocean Tsunami |
Wednesday 9 November
| 9.00 | Mr Bernard Salt - plenary address |
| 9.45 | Motions from Tuesday's concurrent sessions |
| 11.00 | Concurrent symposia - the arts, radiation safety and managing emergencies |
| 1.45 | Concurrent symposia - health and ageing, natural resource management, 'thinking globally, acting locally' |
| 3.45 | Hon Julie Bishop MP, Minister for Ageing |
| 4.05 | Debate on motions |
Thursday 10 November
| 9.00 | Fair Share Campaign - session on cost shifting - Cr Paul Bell, ALGA President |
| 9.30 | Hon Jim Lloyd MP, Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads |
| 10.00 | Senator Kim Carr, Shadow Minister for Local Government |
| 11.15 | Mr Jim Soorley, former Lord Mayor of Brisbane |
| 12.00 | Hon Kim Beazley MP, Leader of the Opposition - Closing Address |
All General Assembly and Regional Cooperation and Development Forum sessions will take place at the National Convention Centre in Canberra.
For full program details and motions for debate, see the NGA website.
- Contact:
- Cr Paul Bell AM, ALGA President - 0418 791 596
- Rohan Greenland, ALGA Public Affairs - 0412 85 9434 / 02 6122 9434
