National Housing Summit

We are less than three weeks away from our inaugural National Local Government Housing Summit.

This summit will be held at Adelaide Town Hall on Friday 16 August, and the event is an opportunity for us to follow up and expand on discussions we had around affordable housing at our NGA in Canberra earlier this month.

We will also launch new housing research from Equity Economics, and showcase the fantastic and innovative work your councils are doing in this area.

A draft program is now available, which includes a networking reception hosted by Adelaide Lord Mayor Dr Jane Lomax-Smith on 15 August.

Registrations are now open – I hope to see you there!

Energy transition

I was delighted to speak to The Guardian recently about the importance of engaging local government in the planning of renewable energy projects and infrastructure.

Our energy and housing transitions must be carefully managed to ensure communities are supported with housing and infrastructure along the way, with local governments at the centre of this planning.

Importantly, councils have a key role to play in helping deliver on Australia’s emissions reduction and net zero targets, and it’s encouraging around 80 per cent of local governments have already set or are investigating emissions reduction targets.

Energy transition is an important topic for so many of our communities and it’s an honour to represent you on the Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council.

The Council last met on 19 July and you can read the Communique.

Ministerial councils

A key role for ALGA is to represent the voice of local government on the many Ministerial councils.

In the past month, representatives from the ALGA Board attended several key Ministerial councils, including the Environment Ministers’ Meeting, Building Ministers’ Meeting, Water Ministers’ Meeting and the Ministerial Migration Roundtable.

ALGA has engaged Equity Economics to undertake research into the support Australia’s local governments need to help increase affordable housing supply.

This research will be launched at the National Local Government Housing Summit in Adelaide on 16 August.

To inform the research, a short survey has been developed on the barriers councils face in housing development.

The survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete and closes at 5pm (AEST) on Friday 3 August 2024. Individual survey responses will not be made public or identifiable.

If you need assistance with the survey, please email alice.kemble@equityeconomics.com.au.

A major highlight of the 2024 National General Assembly was four new listening sessions held on 2 July on housing and community infrastructure, emergency management, roads and transport and energy transition.

Facilitated by the Melbourne Leadership Group, these sessions featured a free-flowing exchange of ideas and debate between councils, the federal public service and other key stakeholders.

These discussions have been captured in a Listening report, outlining the key themes explored and provides examples of lived experience of participants.

* Please note, this report is a summary of the views of attending stakeholders at each listening session, and the discussions and views outlined in these sessions reflect the personal views of the attendees and does not necessarily reflect the positions of ALGA.

Highly successful 2024 NGA

It was wonderful to welcome more than 1200 of you to our historic 30th National General Assembly in Canberra.

There were so many memorable highlights, including the historic first public speech of Australia’s new Governor General Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC.

During the week, we also heard from Federal Ministers the Hon Catherine King MP and the Hon Kristy McBain MP, as well as Shadow Ministers the Hon Senator Bridget McKenzie and the Hon Darren Chester MP, and many outstanding keynotes and panellists.

I was honoured to speak at the National Press Club on 2 July, where I highlighted how councils improve the lives of Australians every day in many ways that other levels of government simply can’t.

We also considered a record number of your council motions this year, and I look forward to bringing these NGA resolutions to our next ALGA Board meeting, and using them in our federal advocacy.

Win! Second round of HSP funding

At the Australian Council of Local Government Forum on 5 July, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the second stream of the Government’s Housing Support Program (HSP) is now open for applications from state, territory and local governments.

The $450 million Community Enabling Infrastructure Stream will provide funding for enabling infrastructure and community amenity projects, and applications are due by 16 August.

We advocated for this new funding program, and I urge you to think about the shovel-ready projects your councils can nominate.

New reports released

During the NGA, I was delighted to officially launch the 2024 National State of the Assets report Future proofing our communities.

Prepared with the support of IPWEA, the report showed since 2021 the amount of local government buildings and facilities in poor condition has dropped from 10 per cent to eight per cent.

We also released new research from SGS Economics and Planning, which shows a sustainable local government sector could boost Australia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by up to $7 billion per year.

National housing summit

Finally, a reminder to register for ALGA’s inaugural National Local Government Housing Summit at the Adelaide Town Hall on Friday, 16 August. This is an important opportunity to have local government’s voice heard on a complex but pressing issue across the nation.

We will be releasing a more detailed program this week which will focus on the key role we can play addressing Australia’s affordable housing crisis.

I hope to see you there!

Local government inquiry hearing

On behalf of Australia’s 537 councils, I was delighted to appear before the Parliamentary inquiry into local government sustainability in Canberra last week.

During the hearing, I highlighted new ALGA research showing local governments could boost Australia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by up to $7 billion per year, and create more liveable communities if councils were sustainably funded by the Federal Government.

Due to be released this week, the research shows a $1 billion annual investment in local government roads would increase Australia’s GDP by $3.5 billion per year, and an extra $350 million for parks and open space could increase GDP by $900 million per year.

With more responsibilities being forced on to Australia’s councils, I also highlighted a range of solutions to consider and address the financial challenges and funding shortfalls currently faced by local governments.

As part of our comprehensive, evidence-based submission we made five key recommendations to the committee, with the number one priority being increasing untied Financial Assistance Grants for local government to at least one per cent of Commonwealth taxation revenue.

Win! Early payment of FA Grants

In an advocacy win, the Government responded to our call and delivered an early payment of Financial Assistance Grants to councils last week.

This untied funding is critical for councils, and bringing forward 85 per cent of our 2024-25 allocations will greatly assist with budget planning and certainty for the new financial year.

We appreciate every dollar of federal funding we receive, which helps to build and maintain local pools, libraries, cultural centres, cycleways and skate parks that are vital for vibrant, liveable communities.

Meeting with WA Minister Hannah Beazley

I was honoured to meet with Western Australia’s Minister for Local Government Hannah Beazley in Canberra last Thursday.

We discussed the importance of emergency management support for our councils, particularly with increased frequency of emergency events.

We also talked about the Government’s local government inquiry and the long-term needs of councils linked to sustainable funding.

National housing summit

I’m delighted to invite all councils and local government leaders to ALGA’s National Local Government Housing Summit on Friday, 16 August.

The inaugural national summit, to be held at the Adelaide Town Hall, will provide an opportunity for key stakeholders and experts to discuss critical issues to deliver housing across the nation with the aim of forging actionable strategies to support local governments.

NGA countdown

Finally, I can’t wait to see you in Canberra for our historic 30^th National General Assembly in Canberra starting tomorrow.

A record 1230 mayors, shire presidents and councillors from across Australia will converge in the capital for our annual conference at the National Convention Centre.

This year’s NGA will also lead into the Australian Council of Local Government on Friday.

A record number of local government leaders are expected to attend the historic 30th National General Assembly in Canberra from 2-4 July.

Around 1200 mayors, shire presidents and councillors from across Australia will converge in the capital for the annual conference, being held at the National Convention Centre.

This year’s theme is Building Community Trust, which aims to explore the critical importance of trust in governments, between governments, its institutions and citizens, acknowledging trust as a fundamental building block of our nation’s democracy.

There is also a new addition to the 2024 program, with four concurrent listening sessions providing you with the opportunity to have your say about federal policies affecting our communities.  These sessions will be held directly after the Regional Forum on before the NGA officially commences on Wednesday morning.

This year’s NGA will lead into the Australian Council of Local Government on Friday 5 July, and ALGA is thrilled to once again be partnering with the Federal Government to host the ACLG event.

More information here.

The removal and management of illegally dumped tyres in Australia is costing local governments more than $6.5 million a year, according to new research supported by ALGA.

These findings were outlined in the Stockpiling and illegal dumping of tyres report prepared for Tyre Stewardship Australia, and produced with assistance from ALGA members.

The report, released in April this year, also found local governments cleaned up an estimated 300,000 end-of-life tyres in 2022-23. with an average cost of $22 per tyre.  These costs can be up to $31 per tyre in regional areas.

The study showed these costs were almost triple the average cost of disposing of a passenger car tyre, collected through retailers, which is about $7.60.

Councils on the urban fringes are dealing with the most illegally dumped tyres, which is adding to their financial pressure to build community infrastructure and services.

ALGA supports a national mandatory product stewardship scheme as the current voluntary scheme is not functioning properly around Australia.

Read more information about the Tyre Product Stewardship Scheme.

Local government inquiry update

We look forward to presenting to Parliament’s inquiry into local government sustainability after recently lodging our evidence-based submission.

This inquiry is a valuable opportunity to outline the value and services we are delivering in our communities and highlight the funding reforms our sector needs to be sustainable.

I encourage you to continue to engage with your local federal members and senators about the need for financial sustainability, including the importance of restoring Financial Assistance Grants to at least one per cent of Commonwealth taxation revenue.

Together we can highlight how our communities can grow and thrive with more sustainable funding and better partnerships into the future.

LGNZ Infrastructure Symposium

On behalf of Australia’s councils, it was an honour to speak at the Local Government New Zealand Infrastructure Symposium via Zoom last week.

We share a close bond with the Kiwis, as ALGA and LGNZ have enjoyed a strong Trans-Tasman working relationship over many years.

I highlighted our nation couldn’t survive without the vast network of local roads and community infrastructure – managed by our councils – that Australians use and depend on every day.

I also outlined the recent advocacy wins we have achieved to secure more funding for councils to maintain and revitalise our vital local assets.

National Press Club address

Finally, a limited number of tickets are still available for my National Press Club speech on Tuesday 2 July.

To celebrate our 30^th year of gathering in Canberra, I will deliver a televised lunchtime address to highlight the importance of future-proofing local government in Australia.

I hope to see you there.

The exhibition booths for the 2024 National General Assembly in Canberra are sold-out.

However, there are still some last-minute sponsorship opportunities still available, including for the new listening sessions – so don’t miss your chance to be there.

Held at the National Convention Centre, the NGA is an opportunity for local government service providers to engage with more than 1,000 mayors, shire presidents, CEOs and senior council staff.

The NGA will officially open with a welcome drinks ceremony in the Exhibition Hall from 5pm on Tuesday 2 July, and the exhibition area will run until Friday 5 July.

For more information, click here.

On behalf of Australia’s councils, ALGA attended a special exercise from 22-23 May in Adelaide to prepare for an extreme space weather event.

Hosted by the Australian Government, Exercise Aurora 2024 was developed to allow Australia – and local governments – to plan for future space weather events, such as a geomagnetic storm that occurred on May 11 this year.

These types of solar activities have the potential to disrupt communications across the nation for differing lengths of time.

ALGA attended the event to remind emergency agencies, and other levels of government, that during a communications black-out, councils can be a key player in messaging, support, and coordination of emergency services, including through local radio.

A detailed plan, based on the exercise, is being developed between the Bureau of Meteorology, Geoscience Australia, and the Department of Home Affairs.

More information on the historic space weather gathering can be found here.

Small businesses can access free training to protect themselves against cyber attacks, especially during the end of the financial year period.

The latest statistics show 43 per cent of cyber attacks target small businesses, and a single attack can cost an average of $46,000.

The simple online cyber security training is now available through Cyber Wardens, an initiative of the Council of the Small Business Organisations Australia and funded by the Federal Government.  The program is self-paced and quick to complete.

There is also an EOFY guide and other resources to complement online.

Enrol today.

Local government inquiry submission

On behalf of all Australian councils, ALGA lodged a comprehensive, evidence-based submission to Parliament’s inquiry into local government sustainability last week.

We have made five key recommendations to the Parliamentary Committee, with our number one priority being increasing untied federal funding for local government to at least one per cent of Commonwealth taxation revenue.

We also highlighted new research showing if local government annually received an additional $350 million for the maintenance and delivery of quality open space, Australia’s gross domestic product (GDP) would increase by about $856 million each year.

I sincerely thank all of you who have provided your own submissions to the inquiry and highlighted how we can better support our communities to thrive with more sustainable funding and better partnerships.

We look forward to appearing before the committee in the coming weeks to outline our key recommendations and policy principles in more detail.

National Press Club address

I’m excited to see you in Canberra next month for our NGA, and delighted to announce tickets are now available for my National Press Club address on Tuesday 2 July.

Marking our 30^th year of gathering in the capital, I will deliver a televised speech to highlight the importance of future-proofing local government in Australia.

Please note, a limited number of tickets are available for this lunch time event, so be quick!

Save the Date: 2024 Roads Congress

Finally, I’m excited to announce our 2024 National Local Roads, Transport and Infrastructure Congress will be held in Margaret River, Western Australia from 3-4 December.

We are still finalising the details and will share this information with you soon.

ALGA is seeking feedback from 2024 NGA delegates to help shape the new Listening Sessions forum on 2 July.

For the first time, four concurrent listening sessions will feature in the program about key issues will be held during the NGA, providing an opportunity to have a say about federal policies affecting communities.

These sessions will be held after the Regional Forum on the Tuesday afternoon, before the NGA officially commences on Wednesday morning.

The listening sessions provide a platform to discuss the efficacy of Federal Government policies affecting local governments with representatives from the Commonwealth.

We want to hear from you about the following topics:

• National Housing and Community Infrastructure – https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q9HLKVZ
• Disaster Resilience and Recovery – https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q9PN3QP
• Roads and Transport – https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/B8D7Y77
• Energy Transition – https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q9ZQ6Z9

Feedback closes on 17 June 2024.

2024-25 Federal Budget update – Wins and more to do!

In response to ALGA’s advocacy, Australian councils will receive an additional $330 million in federal funding in 2024-25, including a $150 million increase in the Roads to Recovery program, as a result of the recent Federal Budget.

However, the Government has not delivered on their election promise of fair funding increases to Federal Assistance Grants – there has never been a more important time for you to lodge your submission to the Federal Parliamentary Inquiry we secured together, calling for an increase of at least 1% of Commonwealth Taxation Revenue to be allocated to Federal Assistance Grants.

This Budget emphasises the need for a fair and sustainable funding model, and I urge all councils to put forward a submission to the Inquiry, which closes on 31 May. ALGA has developed a guide to support you to develop your own council submissions.

ALGA strongly advocated for increased support for councils, and we were thrilled when the Government announced last November that Roads to Recovery funding would be doubled to $1 billion over the forward Budget estimates, with this commitment reflected in the Budget.

Financial Assistance Grants to councils will increase from $3.115 billion in 2023-24 to $3.27 billion ($155 million increase) next year, in line with the legislated indexation formula.

The Budget papers indicated that for Financial Assistance Grants, the Government will work with states to advance funding to councils earlier than would usually occur, and I have written to the Treasurer to seek clarity that will support you in developing your annual budgets.

ALGA applauds the intent of new housing and active transport funding however, on Budget night we highlighted that having funding only flow to local governments via state and territory governments would limit their success.  We play a key role building enabling infrastructure, as well as cycleways and footpaths, and so should be eligible to apply directly to these new programs

Local Government Conference – Last chance!

Finally, time is running out to secure your discounted tickets for our 2024 National General Assembly, with early bird registrations closing on 7 June.

This year’s NGA will again lead into the Australian Council of Local Government on Friday 5 July.

This will be my last Conference as President and, together, our last chance before the election to come together and collectively advocate to the Government and federal Ministers for the fair funding our councils and communities need.

Local governments can access new information and resources about Australia’s upcoming 3G mobile phone network shutdown this year.

Telstra is planning to switch off its 3G network from 31 August 2024, and Optus from 1 September 2024. TPG Telecom/Vodafone has already switched off its 3G network in Australia.

To ensure communities are fully prepared for this significant shutdown, the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) has established a new website 3Gclosure.com.au, as well as fact sheets about the 3G transition and making emergency calls.

To ensure your local government area is ready for the 3G shutdown, you can also access more information here.

Build up to Federal Budget

We will be closely monitoring next week’s Federal Budget in Canberra to see if the Government finally follows through on its pre-election promise of “fair increases” to Financial Assistance Grants.

The number one priority in our pre-Budget submission is restoring these vital untied grants to at least one percent of Commonwealth taxation revenue, and this is the Government’s last chance to deliver ahead of the next election.

I will write to all councils on Budget night to provide an update and overview of the relevant funding announcements for local government.

Local government inquiry update

A reminder to get your submissions into Parliament’s inquiry into local government sustainability before the end of this month.

While submissions were originally due on 3 May, ALGA successfully advocated on behalf of all councils for a four-week extension to 31 May.

We have also developed a new user-friendly guide to help you draft your council submissions, and highlight what you could do for your communities with fair and more sustainable funding.

IPWEA public works conference

I was delighted to speak at the 2024 IPWEA International Public Works Conference in Melbourne last Thursday.

During my speech and panel discussion, I highlighted how partnering with IPWEA on the National State of the Assets reports helped us successfully advocate last year for significant increases in our Roads to Recovery funding.

We’re currently working with IPWEA on the latest edition of this report, due to be released in the coming months.

Investing in road safety

It was fantastic to see the Albanese Government announce last week they are investing $21 million in the National Road Safety Data Hub.

Australian councils manage more than 75 per cent of Australia’s local road network, and improved data will support better decision-making enabling us to build and maintain safer local roads.

The Commonwealth’s Black Spot Program plays a crucial role supporting councils to address known high risk road safety sites, and last year ALGA’s advocacy delivered a 35 per cent increase in this funding, to be phased in over the forward estimates.

We welcome this new Budget announcement and are committed to continuing to work with the Australian, state and territory governments to address our unacceptable national road toll.

Regional banking announcement

Many regional communities will welcome Westpac’s announcement last week to extend their moratorium on regional bank closures until 2027.

We know the impact branch closures have on our councils and regional and rural communities, which is why we advocated for the Bank Closure Support Protocol through our participation in the Government’s Regional Banking Taskforce.

Supporting our libraries

Finally, I will be speaking at the Australian Library and Information Association national conference in Adelaide this week, highlighting the importance of our local libraries and how they’ve stepped up to support communities during this cost-of-living crisis.

I also encourage your councils to attend and promote a free webinar this Thursday about investing in street libraries.

The webinar is for community workers and placemakers from all levels of government, as well as individuals, interested in learning how Street Libraries can benefit communities.

Register here

With more than 50 per cent of exhibition booths already sold, time is running out to book your booth for this year’s NGA.

Held at the National Convention Centre Canberra, the NGA is an opportunity for local government service providers to engage with more than 1,000 mayors, shire presidents, CEOs and senior council staff.

The NGA will officially open with welcome drinks in the Exhibition Hall from 5pm on Tuesday 2 July, and the exhibition will run through until Friday 5 July.

Sponsorship and exhibition opportunities are still available, but don’t miss your chance to be there.

For more information, click here

ALGA has produced a new guide to support councils with their submissions to the Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport’s inquiry into local government sustainability

The user-friendly guide, which includes links to the latest research on the sector, is available here for all local governments.

Submissions to the inquiry were originally due by 3 May however ALGA successfully secured a four week extension, with written submissions now due by 31 May 2024.

ALGA will provide an evidence-based national submission on behalf of the sector.

But we strongly encourage all councils to provide their own submissions, with a particular focus on what you could do for your communities with fair and more sustainable funding.

Download the guide

Australia’s councils, including in rural and regional areas, are being reminded about the looming shutdown of the 3G mobile phone network this year.

Telstra is planning to switch off its 3G network from 30 June 2024, and Optus from 1 September 2024. TPG Telecom/Vodafone has already switched off its 3G network in Australia.

This change has been underway since 2019 and service providers are working with local authorities and customers about devices and networks that may be impacted.

Older 3G phones, tablets and devices will soon be unable to connect to networks and some 4G enabled phones will also have limited capacity.

To ensure your local government area is ready for the 3G shutdown, you can access more information here. 

Local governments are encouraged to provide feedback on a new issues paper from the Federal Government’s Climate Change Authority.

The 2024 Issues paper: Targets, Pathways and Progress is seeking advice on Australia’s emissions reduction targets, sectoral pathways and progress towards becoming a net zero economy.

The Authority expects to provide advice on Australia’s 2035 emissions reduction targets in October. This will inform the government’s decision on targets to be included in Australia’s next Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement.

Later this year, the authority will also provide advice on Australia’s progress towards achieving its emissions reduction targets.

Submit feedback

Win! Four week extension for local government inquiry submissions

I am pleased to announce that ALGA’s request for a four-week extension for all submissions to Parliament’s inquiry into local government sustainability has been granted, with the new due date being Friday 31 May.

ALGA will provide a comprehensive, evidence-based submission on behalf of all local governments. However, it’s important that the Parliamentary Committee have a full understanding of the challenges facing Australian councils – as well as how we could support our communities to thrive with more sustainable funding – so I encourage all councils to provide their own submissions.

This Federal Government has promised “fair increases” to Financial Assistance Grants and I urge you to highlight what this would mean for your local area.

Curbing kerbside waste to landfill

One of ALGA’s priorities in next month’s Federal Budget is funding support to standardise kerbside bins across the country.

We are committed to doing everything we can to reduce the amount of household waste that is sent to landfill, but confusion around which products can be recycled – and which kerbside bin should be used – remains a significant barrier.

Standardising bin lids across the entire country would allow us to run a national education campaign that would give Australians the information they need to make informed decisions about what they put in their bins, and help us deliver better environmental outcomes.

Planning for climate change

I recently welcomed the Government’s new Heat-Health Risk Index, which will help us as community leaders to better prepare and respond to extreme heat across Australia.

We are at the forefront of climate change adaptation, providing critical services and facilities that protect Australians from the impacts of rising temperatures and heat waves.

From air-conditioned libraries and community centres to tree-lined parks and  community pools, we provide shelter from the elements, especially during the hotter summer months.

This new national heat mapping tool will support us to expand on our local adaptation initiatives and make place-based decisions that will help keep our communities cooler.

The Office of Road Safety is interested in how local governments in Australia can be better supported to undertake network safety risk assessments to prioritise infrastructure investment.

As a result, all councils are invited to participate in a new survey to help identify the skills, support and capabilities local governments need to help in the development of a supporting framework.

The aim is to increase the impact councils can have on reducing the road toll, which remains unacceptably high.

The survey can be found here.

Local governments are invited to join the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors (CCCLM) to measure the Australian Night Time Economy (NTE) for the 2022-2023 period.

Do you represent a council with ambitions to better understand and support economic activity after dark? Are you interested in understanding the performance trends of your NTE over time? This research offers an affordable and low-cost opportunity to gain insights into your NTE’s performance.

The CCCLM night time economy research provides:

• Access to comprehensive data on the number of NTE businesses, employees and amount of sales turnover generated in your LGA over time.
• Insights into and the trading hours and precinct patterns shaping your NTE’s growth.
• Opportunities to contribute to informing future strategies and policies aimed at bolstering Australian NTE vitality.

For more details click here or to express your interest, contact 02 5104 7333 or deborah.wilkinson@lordmayors.org before Friday 26 April 2024.

New Governor General appointed

I was delighted to see Sam Mostyn AO announced as the next Governor-General of Australia last week.

Sam is a humble, dedicated servant of the public good, and a wonderful appointment by the Albanese Government.

Thank you also to outgoing Governor General, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley DCE FTSE and his family for their service.  We were honoured to work closely with him, noting in particular his support for leaders and communities recovering from natural disasters was unprecedented and especially warmly welcomed by Australian local governments.

In recent years, we’ve been honoured to have His Excellency deliver the opening address at our National General Assembly of Local Government (NGA), and I’ve written to Sam asking her to continue this valued tradition.

I’m confident that under Sam’s leadership, we will continue to work effectively across all levels of government to build stronger, more resilient communities, and drive sustainable development across Australia.

Reminder: national inquiry into local government sustainability

A reminder to all councils to lodge your submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee national inquiry into local government sustainability.

ALGA will provide a submission on behalf of local government, but it will also be valuable for the Committee to hear a range of local perspectives from your councils.

The Albanese Federal Government made an election commitment to provide “fair increases” to Financial Assistance Grants which they have not yet met, so it’s important that this inquiry looks for ways that promise will be supported (including retrospectively).

ALGA’s research shows local government expenditure per capita has flatlined over the past decade, while spending by other governments has continued to rise.

This is despite additional responsibilities increasingly being forced onto Australian councils by other spheres of government.

By international standards, investment in Australian councils is low, and this is constraining our capacity to deliver core services, such as maintaining local roads and community infrastructure.

Restoring Financial Assistance Grants to at least one percent of Commonwealth taxation is crucial to ensuring sustainable, productive and liveable communities.

I once again urge councils to make a submission noting these key points, and examples where an increase to Financial Assistance Grants will support your local community to thrive, before the deadline of 3 May 2024.

Book now for 2024 NGA and the ACLG

Last week, I invited all councils to book your tickets for our 2024 NGA, in Canberra from Tuesday 2 -Thursday 4 July.

Our 30^th NGA will be our biggest annual conference yet, and we have released a registration brochure outlining the full week of events, including networking sessions and the Australian Council of Local Government (ACLG) on Friday 5 July.

This year we have a new addition to the NGA program, with four concurrent listening sessions providing you with the opportunity to have your say about federal policies affecting our communities. These sessions will be held after our Regional Forum on the Tuesday afternoon, before the NGA officially commences on Wednesday morning.

I’ll also be speaking at the National Press Club at lunch time on Tuesday and hosting our annual Local Government vs Parliamentarians soccer match early Wednesday morning.

Your councils can still submit motions for discussion and debate at the NGA, with the deadline extended until 30 April.  Please remember your motions must meet the criteria outlined in our discussion paper.

I’m so excited about this year’s NGA and I hope to see you there.

Australia’s local governments are being reminded to book tickets for the 2024 National General Assembly of Local Government (NGA) in Canberra from Tuesday 2 – Thursday 4 July.

The 30^th NGA at the National Convention Centre is expected to be ALGA’s biggest annual conference, and a registration brochure has been released showcasing a week of events, including networking sessions, exhibition details and the Australian Council of Local Government (ACLG) being held on Friday 5 July.

There is also a new addition to this year’s program, with concurrent listening sessions providing delegates with the chance to have a say about federal policies affecting their communities.  The four sessions will be held after the Regional Forum on Tuesday afternoon, before the 2024 NGA officially begins on Wednesday.

Councils are also reminded to submit motions for discussion and debate at the NGA, with the deadline extended until 30 April.  A reminder that all motions must meet the criteria outlined in the discussion paper.

Find out more: https://conferenceco.eventsair.com/nga24/

Win! National inquiry into local government sustainability

Last week, we welcomed the House of Representatives Standing Committee national inquiry into local government sustainability.

With additional responsibilities costing billions of dollars being forced onto Australia’s 537 councils every year, we expect this national inquiry will consider and address the financial challenges and funding shortfalls being faced by local governments.

Financial sustainability is our number one priority, and it’s vital we restore Financial Assistance Grants to at least one percent of national taxation and address the practice of bringing these payments forward with a once-off $3 billion allocation to councils.

ALGA’s research shows Australian councils receive a lower level of funding than comparable nations, so we need to reverse this trend to ensure our councils – and communities – remain sustainable.

I encourage all councils to lodge a submission outlining these key points, and examples where an increase to financial assistance grants will support your local community to thrive, before the deadline of 3 May 2024.

Action! Help us secure more disaster mitigation funding

Our communities have been repeatedly hit by natural disasters over the past two years, with more than 60 percent of local government areas affected across Australia.

ALGA’s 2022 federal election advocacy secured a new $200 million federal Disaster Ready Fund (DRF).  However, the first round of the DRF is already oversubscribed, and we are advocating for a significant increase in this year’s Federal Budget.

We need your support to contact and engage with your local Federal MPs so we can secure this much-needed funding to better protect our communities.

Council on Federal Financial Relations

I was honoured to represent local government and join Australia’s treasurers at the Council on Federal Financial Relations (CFFR) meeting on 15 March.

We know increasing Federal Assistance Grants is an investment in improving service delivery, increasing national productivity and driving higher living standards for all Australians and communities. On your behalf, ALGA will continue to work to ensure councils are more financially sustainable into the future.

Vale David Plumridge AM

I was saddened to hear of the recent passing of former ALGA President David Plumridge AM.

David was ALGA’s national president from 1994-1996, and during his term negotiated a Commonwealth-Local Government Accord with Prime Minister Keating that was signed at our second National General Assembly in 1995.

In his home state of South Australia, he served as President of the Local Government Association of South Australia, as well as a Mayor at the City of Salisbury, and then later as a councillor at the City of Adelaide.

Our thoughts are with his family, friends and former colleagues at this time.

Kicking off our 2024 NGA

I’m excited to see hundreds of mayors, shire presidents and local government leaders have registered for our peak annual event, the 2024 National General Assembly (NGA) from 2-4 July in Canberra.

The NGA begins with the Regional Forum starting on 2 July from 9.00am and runs through until Friday 5 July with the Australian Council of Local Government (ACLG) finishing at 4pm. To ensure you experience the whole week, please make sure you arrive by early Tuesday morning, and book your departure late Friday afternoon.

As part of this year’s NGA, I will also be speaking at the National Press Club on Tuesday 2 July.  We will share details soon about how you can attend this event.

Don’t forget, we also hold our annual Local Government versus Parliamentarians soccer match in the early hours of Wednesday 3 July.  See you on the pitch!

Finally, voting has officially opened for the 2024 National Awards for Local Government to be presented at the ACLG – so make sure you cast your vote here.

Local governments are invited to provide feedback on the Australian Government’s National Adaptation Plan Issues Paper to ensure Australia is better prepared for the increasing risks from climate change.

The plan will form a blueprint for adapting to nationally significant climate risks, and is based on world-class science of the National Climate Risk Assessment and on extensive consultation.

Have your say and lodge a submission here.

The consultation closes on 11 April 2024.  Councils can also register for a webinar on 26 March to learn more.