Speeches: 2006
2006 National General Assembly
See also: 2006 National General Assembly
See also: Streaming audio of all speeches and presentations
- Closing address
- November 30, 2006. Canberra
- Cr Paul Bell AM
- … United, local government is a force to be reckoned with and this is our greatest priority over the next 12 months - to make further progress on the three F's - fair funding, fair treatment, formal recognition - and a 4th F - failing and deteriorating infrastructure. We have captured the ears of the Government and the Opposition - the challenge is to maintain their attention. …
- Closing address
- November 30, 2006. Canberra
- Ms Jenny Macklin MP, Deputy Leader of the Oppositon
- … Data from the Federal Department of Employment and Workplace Relations reveals there were more than 9,500 jobs in regional NSW unfilled. With occupations such as information technology, skilled trades, engineers and nurses were in hot demand. And increasingly, businesses are waiting longer and longer to fill vacancies or are being forced to look overseas. …
- Plenary address
- November 30, 2006. Canberra
- Senator Kim Carr, Shadow Minister for Housing, Urban Development, Local Government and Territories
- … Paul - I want to start by acknowledging the valuable work that you have done in strengthening the relationship between ALGA and the Commonwealth. My regret, of course, is that it is a Liberal Minister with whom you work most closely. However, I will take this opportunity to commit a future Labor government to this process of strengthening the cooperative relationship between the local and federal spheres. …
- Plenary address
- November 30, 2006. Canberra
- Mayor Barry Easther, West Tamar Council
- … "Pushing the Agenda" - well, the agenda was certainly given a mighty shove in Beaconsfield on the evening of Anzac Day this year. An emergency, in fact, a disaster on our front door step, is the last thing we in local government really expect to happen to us. And yet it does happen, and indeed is happening, far more frequently than we would like. …
- Transport Strategy launch
- November 30, 2006. Canberra
- Cr Paul Bell AM
- … At the 2005 Congress, where the basis for the strategy being launched was first developed and further refined at the Alice Springs Congress earlier this year, delegates decided to take a significant change in direction so that it extends well beyond the traditional local government emphasis on roads. This is recognition that the 700 plus councils in Australia have a wide range and changing set of transport issues. …
- Plenary address
- November 29, 2006. Canberra
- Senator The Hon Santo Santoro, Minister for Ageing
- … So, here I am - proud to be the Minister for Ageing in the Howard government and proud to be doing all I can for older Australians. Part of that work, as I mentioned the other night, includes preparing Australia as a whole for the inevitable changes that will result from our altered population age structure. Our demography is our destiny. …
- Introduction to the Age friendly built environments symposia
- November 29, 2006. Canberra
- Cr Jenny Dale, Deputy President, Municipal Association of Victoria, Councillor, Indigo Shire Council
- … It's fair to say that ageing and demographic change are rapidly becoming high priorities for many councils across Australia. And it's easy to see why. Seniors - of course - are a significant and growing part of local communities. As Australia's population ages, regional populations will also age - some more than others. …
- Opening address
- November 28, 2006. Canberra
- The Hon Jim Lloyd MP, Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads
- … The Australian Government values our relationship with local government. This is the third General Assembly that I have now addressed. I recall that when I first became Minister for Local Government, in the previous three years you had had three federal local government Ministers. I committed myself then to building a stronger relationship with local government and hopefully providing a consistency. And thankfully the Australian people saw us fit to be re-elected to government and the Prime Minister saw fit to reappoint me as Local Government Minister. …
2006 Regional Cooperation and Development Forum
See also: 2006 Regional Cooperation and Development Forum
See also: Streaming audio of all speeches and presentations
- Plenary address
- November 27, 2006. Canberra
- The Hon Simon Crean MP, Shadow Minister for Regional Development
- … For ten years, the Australian Government has been developing policies and programmes to strengthen regional Australia and improve the lives of those people living in our regions. The Australian Government has invested heavily in the things that are important to regional Australians, such as schools, roads, health care facilities and telecommunications. …
- Plenary address
- November 27, 2006. Canberra
- The Hon Mark Vaile MP, Minister for Transport and Regional Services
- … Thank you for the opportunity to address this important forum as Shadow Minister for Regional Development, I am delighted to be back. Now in its 10th year, this essential forum puts regional issues at the forefront of the national policy debate. Looking for innovative solutions to keep our communities vibrant and economically viable into the future. Australia has many pressing needs and opportunities which must not be wasted. None is more important to our national vitality than to secure the sustainable development of our regions. I've called in the past for a new partnership, a new federalism. I've called for an end to the blame-game and buck-passing by respective state and federal governments. An end to the use of the States by the Commonwealth as their political insurance. Australians are fed up with these games. Further, I called for the proper recognition of the role of local government in the new federalism. …
- Keynote address
- November 27, 2006. Canberra
- Cr Basil Morrison, President Local Government New Zealand
- … Before providing an overview of local government in New Zealand, it is important to avoid any possible confusion in terminology. It is my understanding that "regional" in Australia is what we in New Zealand refer to as "rural". That is, typically more remote communities, relatively low population bases, no major cities included and often heavily reliant on traditional primary sector industries and natural resources. …
- Opening address
- November 27, 2006. Canberra
- Cr Paul Bell AM, ALGA President
- … We are fortunate indeed to have with us Cr Basil Morrison, President of Local Government New Zealand, who I have known for a number of years. Cr Morrison brings with him a wealth of knowledge about local government across the Tasman. Following Cr Morrison's presentation will be the Launch of the State of the Regions report by Professor Peter Brain, Principal with National Economics. …
- Does the skills crisis mean that Roads to Recovery are shorter?
- July 11, 2006. Alice Springs, Northern Territory
- Senator Kerry O'Brien. Shadow Minister for Transport
- … These figures are important, they go to the heart of why it is critical that we apply policy settings for roads and transport in a systematic way. I think it is very clear that what Australia does in the next ten years will determine our fate for the next hundred. This is especially so with regard to investment in critical infrastructure like the road network. …
- Address to the National Local Roads and Transport Congress
- July 10, 2006. Alice Springs, Northern Territory
- The Hon Jim Lloyd MP. Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads
- … The stress on our transport infrastructure continues to grow and ratepayers expect their local councils to deliver more, and better, services. At the same time, the Australian Government is investing more than ever before in our transport infrastructure to ensure Australia can cope with the future demands on our road and rail networks. …
- Keynote address to the National Local Roads and Transport Congress
- July 10, 2006. Alice Springs, Northern Territory
- Dr. Keith Suter
- Creating political strategies for change. … A: Why the pace of change will continue. B: Using the media. C: Using the "future" to generate interest in a campaign
- Opening address to the National Local Roads and Transport Congress
- July 10, 2006. Alice Springs, Northern Territory
- Cr Paul Bell AM. President, Australian Local Government Association
- … Local roads are a critical part of Australia's road system. They are an $80 billion asset, comprising 680,000km of road - or around 85 per cent of the national road network. They provide access to farms and factories, homes and hospitals, shops and schools, families and friends. They are - in short - worth fighting for. …
- Address to the Local Government Association of South Australia
- 30 June 2006, Victor Harbor, South Australia
- Cr Paul Bell AM. President, Australian Local Government Association
- … I am – therefore - delighted to spend time with you here in Victor Harbor to provide you with an overview of local government activities at the national level. In particular, I want to brief you on ALGA's three F campaign – that is, our campaign for fair funding, fair treatment and formal recognition. …
- Launch of findings and recommendations of the National Speakers Series
- 26 June 2006, Canberra
- Mr Adrian Beresford-Wylie. Chief Executive, Australian Local Government Association
- Before I say anything else, I want to convey ALGA's deep appreciation for the support given to local government by the Australian Government. We place a very high value on the fledgling partnership we have developed with the Commonwealth to drive understanding, research and action of ageing issues among Australia's 700 councils. This partnership was instigated by Julie Bishop some three years ago. …
- Address to the Local Government Association of Tasmania Annual Conference
- 21 June 2006, Hobart
- Cr Paul Bell AM. President, Australian Local Government Association
- I'm delighted to be here with you in Hobart to bring you up-to-date with developments for local government at the national level. Before I do that, I'd like to pay tribute to the work of Lynn Mason. Lynn has been a magnificent representative for local government. She has made a substantial contribution at the state, national and international levels. …
- An Australian local government response to ageing communities
- 31 May 2006. Copenhagen, Denmark
- Ms Alley Peck. Assistant Director - Health and ageing policy, Australian Local Government Association
- It's fair to say that ageing and demographic change are rapidly becoming high priorities for many councils across Australia. And it's easy to see why. Seniors - of course - are a significant and growing part of local communities. As Australia's population ages, regional populations will also age - some more than others. …
- Address to the Emergency Management 2006 Conference
- 29 May 2006, Sydney
- Cr Paul Bell AM. President, Australian Local Government Association
- Local government and the national emergency management agenda:
- I'm pleased to be here today to discuss local government's role in emergency management. In particular, I would like to outline the growing importance of the relationship between local government and the Commonwealth. This has come about partly as a result of the increased focus on security issues over the past four or five years. …
- Address to the UCLG-ASPAC: Annual training forum - Liveable cities
- 9 May 2006, Brisbane
Cr Paul Bell AM. President, Australian Local Government Association
… Our meeting here in Brisbane is an important one. Our program today will look at an issue that affects the daily lives of billions of people - the need to achieve liveable cities. In line with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, UCLG last year launched the Millennium Towns and Cities Campaign. … - How local government can save Australia's federal system
- 8 May 2006, Sydney
Cr Paul Bell AM. President, Australian Local Government Association
… National symposium on federalism and regionalism in Australia: New approaches, new institutions? - First up, congratulations to 'AJ' and his colleagues for giving this critically important debate some real momentum. It's not before time. As a nation, we have already passed up two prime opportunities to reflect on the nature of our federation and how it should evolve to meet the nation's needs. … - Address to the Planning Institute of Australia National Congress
- 4 April 2006
Cr Paul Bell AM. President, Australian Local Government Association
… I'd like to do two things today. First - I'll address some of the unfair criticism that is coming the way of planners, councillors and local government generally in recent times. And second - I'll brief you on ALGA's campaign to achieve fair funding, fair treatment and formal recognition for local government. …
