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The Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC), in collaboration with the Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS) and the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), is conducting an online survey to: Identify current career pathways within Road Safety Identify current career barriers to entering or progressing in a Road Safety career Identify current drivers that attract+
Posted 15 September, 2022 -
A key advocacy win secured by ALGA and its member associations in the lead up to this year’s election was a new $200 million per year federal disaster mitigation fund. At present, less than 5% of all disaster funding in Australia is spent on disaster mitigation and community resilience. This figure needs to rise to+
Posted 14 September, 2022 -
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reaffirmed his support for Australian councils, including his commitment to re-establishing the Australian Council of Local Government. Speaking after his CEDA State of the Nation address in Canberra last week, the Prime Minister said he wanted to re-engage directly with local government. “I believe, for example, that community infrastructure funding,+
Posted 12 September, 2022 -
ALGA President Linda Scott has paid tribute to the life and achievements of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, while providing councils with guidance on protocols following her passing. “On behalf of the nation’s 537 local governments, I extend my deepest sympathies to all members of the Royal family, following the death of Her Majesty Queen+
Posted 9 September, 2022 -
I was so humbled to attend last week’s Jobs Summit to represent all of you – 200,000 Australians working in our 537 local governments in more than 400 occupations. Contrary to popular opinion, our local government workforce looks a little like me – a majority of women, on average slightly younger than the average Australian+
Posted 2 September, 2022 -
Around nine in ten Australian councils are now experiencing skill shortages – an increase of 30% from just four years ago – and two thirds of councils have had local projects impacted or delayed as a result. ALGA President Linda Scott said there are a range of factors that are making it increasingly harder for+
Posted 2 September, 2022 -
ALGA has called for local government infrastructure to be included in Infrastructure Australia’s remit moving forward, through an independent review into this body. ALGA’s submission highlights the key role councils play planning, building and maintaining the roads and facilities that communities rely on every day, as well as the ongoing challenges councils are facing maintaining+
Posted 2 September, 2022 -
Working with its member Associations and Our Watch, ALGA has helped produce two webinars for councils to support them to prevent violence against women in their communities. One of these webinars has been developed primarily for elected members, while the other is targeted towards local government staff. These webinars support a local government toolkit which+
Posted 2 September, 2022 -
Registrations are now open for the 2022 National Local Roads and Transport Congress, to be held in Hobart Tasmania from 2-3 November. This year’s event will focus on how local government can help address Australia’s transport productivity challenges and the road safety crisis on our local roads, while building sustainable and resilient infrastructure. The Congress will+
Posted 2 September, 2022 -
ALGA President Linda Scott will represent Australia’s 537 councils – and the 190,000 Australians they employ – at the Federal Government’s Jobs and Skills Summit at Parliament House this week. Cr Scott said she would be advocating for more support to help councils address jobs and skills shortages across the country. “Around nine in ten+
Posted 31 August, 2022 -
ALGA recommends funding a Disability Inclusion Officer in ALGA, and also in every State and Territory Association, to enable each Association to assist the councils in their state/territory, to increase the capacity of Local Government to provide local solutions and drive social change. It would also enable councils to be more agile in responding to+
Posted 31 August, 2022 -
A Perth metropolitan council has made lighter-coloured roofs mandatory under its local planning and design approval processes. The Town of Bassendean’s new sustainable development policy stipulates that the roofs of all new houses built within its local government area must have a solar absorptance of 0.5 or less. The policy also requires new or upgraded+
Posted 26 August, 2022 -
I’m excited to announce that I’ll be representing Australia’s 537 councils – and the 190,000 Australians they employ – at the Government’s Jobs and Skills Summit at Parliament House next week. If you have a story or information you would like us to share at this event please let us know. Right across our nation+
Posted 26 August, 2022 -
One of 19 NSW councils created in a round of forced amalgamations in 2016 has won the right to be demerged, with three others looking to follow. NSW Minister for Local Government Wendy Tuckerman this week said the Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council would be demerged on the recommendation of the state’s Local Government Boundaries Commission. Mrs+
Posted 26 August, 2022 -
Local government is responsible for an estimated $467 billion in infrastructure and $248 billion in land, which includes local roads and community assets such as sporting, arts and cultural facilities, parks and gardens, and public libraries. These public assets make a meaningful contribution to national productivity and are critical in building strong, healthy and resilient+
Posted 18 August, 2022 -
South Burnett Regional Council, City of Gold Coast, Logan City Council, and Maribyrnong City Council were all recognised at the 2022 Australian Road Safety Awards, presented at Parliament House last week. Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Senator Carol Brown commended all the award winners on their efforts to save lives and reduce injuries on+
Posted 12 August, 2022 -
In December 2021 the federal government announced its new ‘CRISP’ program: the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot. Based on the popular 40-year-old Canadian model, this program is expected to support 1,500 refugees referred by the UNHCR to the Australian government for resettlement between 2022 and 2025. The CRISP program involves locals forming groups to+
Posted 12 August, 2022 -
Voting is now open for the 2022 National Awards for Local Government. For 36 years these awards have showcased the achievements of Australian councils, highlighting excellence and innovation across the sector. The 11 award categories in this year’s Awards are Creativity and Culture, Productivity through Infrastructure, Regional Growth, Cohesive Communities, Road Safety, Addressing Violence against+
Posted 12 August, 2022 -
We had a major win for local governments at last week’s Infrastructure and Transport Ministers’ Meeting in Melbourne, where an independent review into National Heavy Vehicle Law reform was tabled. ALGA has advocated throughout this review for councils to retain their right to manage heavy vehicle access on their local roads, and this was supported+
Posted 12 August, 2022 -
ALGA welcomes the Climate Change Bill 2022 and the Climate Change (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2022. Working in partnership with other levels of government, councils can deliver highly effective climate change projects that can mitigate against the production of greenhouse gas emissions, and assist our communities to be better prepared and better able to adapt to+
Posted 12 August, 2022 -
In 2022 ALGA commissioned AEC to undertake an analysis of the importance of Financial Assistance Grants to local government, which found that these untied federal grants contribute more than 20% of annual operating revenue for nearly one in four Australian councils. Financial assistance to local governments from the Commonwealth is relied upon by all councils to provide+
Posted 2 August, 2022 -
As we celebrated the first sitting week of the 47th Parliament in Canberra, your ALGA Board also met to finalise National General Assembly motions and discuss post-election ALGA priorities. I was honoured to be in Canberra to congratulate former ALGA Vice President Tracey Roberts MP on her first speech, and welcome former mayors and councillors,+
Posted 29 July, 2022 -
Climate change, habitat loss, invasive species, and mining continue to threaten at-risk species and ecosystems, the latest State of the Environment report says. Released last week by Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, the State of the Environment Report 2021 paints a sombre picture of the overall outlook for the Australian environment. Among other things, the+
Posted 29 July, 2022 -
New national environment laws enforced by a federal environmental protection agency have been flagged by Environment Minister Tanya Pliberesek. Speaking at the National Press Club last week after the release of 2021 State of the Environment Report, Ms Pliberek said a “fundamental reforming” of national environment laws was needed to restore damaged landscape, repair coral+
Posted 29 July, 2022 -
ALGA President Linda Scott said the Australian National Audit Office’s review of the Building Better Regions Fund was a timely reminder of the importance of fair and transparent federal funding. “Formula based funding programs such as Financial Assistance Grants and the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program are completely transparent, and benefit every Australian community,”+
Posted 29 July, 2022 -
ALGA President Linda Scott has welcomed the climate bill introduced by the Government into Parliament this week, while highlighting the role councils can play in helping meet national emissions targets. “The 2021 Australian Local Government Climate Review found that more than 70 percent of responding councils have set or are planning ambitious emissions reduction targets+
Posted 28 July, 2022 -
WIN! Advocacy for increased disaster mitigation spending rewarded. We applaud the Albanese Government for prioritising greater investment in long-term disaster mitigation measures that will grow the resilience of our communities. Floods that have again devasted Greater Sydney, the Hunter Valley, and surrounding areas show resilience spending must be ratcheted up. That has been ALGA’s long-standing+
Posted 15 July, 2022 -
The Emergency Response Fund will be remodelled to allow local and state governments to apply for more disaster mitigation funding. Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt told a Sydney newspaper last weekend that the government was committed to changing the ERF Act to enable more investment in mitigation projects. “The fact that we’ve got a+
Posted 15 July, 2022 -
A predictive analysis tool to improve road maintenance is a step closer to being rolled out with new trials set to begin in NSW. The Asset AI initiative involves installing sensors on garbage trucks and buses that can track road deterioration, including identifying potholes before they form, and prioritise road repairs. The tool was pre-trialled+
Posted 15 July, 2022 -
Kristy McBain has flagged Constitutional recognition of local government as likely to be on the radar of a second-term Albanese Labor government. Interviewed by a national media outlet this week, the Regional Development, Local Government and Territories Minister acknowledged councils have long campaigned for constitutional recognition, saying that “I think it will be a priority+
Posted 1 July, 2022 -
Internal migration to the regions has reached a five-year high, with young people leading the way, according to the Regional Australia Institute (RAI). The RAI’s Regional Movers Index report for the March 2022 quarter shows the number of people moving to regional areas rose by 16.6 percent, almost double pre-pandemic levels, with most being Millennials+
Posted 1 July, 2022 -
We had a big win at our 2022 National General Assembly last week when our new Minister Catherine King committed to working with Minister Kristy McBain to re-establish the Australian Council of Local Governments. This is an annual meeting with the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, Mayors, Shire Presidents, and councillors that was founded under the+
Posted 1 July, 2022 -
Local government leaders from around Australia gathered in Canberra from 20-22 June 2022 for the 28th National General Assembly of Local Government (NGA). This event was held on the traditional lands of the Ngunnawal people, and the Assembly paid its respects to their elders past, present and emerging, and acknowledged the vital and ongoing contributions+
Posted 22 June, 2022 -
Today councils from across Australia have come together at the 2022 NGA in Canberra to support the people of Ukraine, unanimously passing the following motion: “We the delegates of the 2022 National General Assembly of Local Government stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and its legitimate elected democratic governments in seeking peace, security and stability+
Posted 21 June, 2022 -
Speaking to councillors yesterday afternoon at the National General Assembly (NGA) of Local Government in Canberra, Leader of the National Party David Littleproud said excluding local government from Cabinet was a mistake by the previous Government. ALGA President Linda Scott it was encouraging to see growing support for including local government in national decision-making. “We welcomed+
Posted 21 June, 2022 -
The CSIRO has attributed a 29 percent reduction in plastic pollution along Australia’s beaches and coastline to strong local government measures. New research by the national science agency builds on a 2013 survey where researchers circumnavigated the entire continent inspecting beaches and other coastal areas in 100km increments. Then, in 2019, they used a targeted+
Posted 17 June, 2022 -
A pilot program to improve the collection and recycling of agricultural plastics has begun in Victoria’s Lodden Mallee region. Collection sites at the Mildura Rural City Council landfill, the Swan Hill Rural City Council landfill, and North West Ag Services in Ouyen are accepting table grape covers and irrigation tubes from horticulture and grain silo+
Posted 17 June, 2022 -
I’m looking forward to next week’s National General Assembly, and with close to 1,000 mayors and councillors set to attend, it’s going to be our biggest NGA in almost a decade. From Sunday through to Wednesday, we will explore the partnerships we have – and the partnerships we need – to deliver real progress in+
Posted 17 June, 2022 -
Congratulations to our new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his new Labor Federal Government. In a massive win for councils and our communities, the local government portfolio was elevated to Cabinet this week with the appointment of our new Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, and Local Government, the Hon Catherine King MP. Former Bega+
Posted 3 June, 2022 -
A Sydney council trialling recycled glass in road repairs is reporting significantly higher compaction rates and road-base strength. Using small pieces of glass in the sub-base of asphalt to try and reduce the occurrence of potholes, the Canterbury Bankstown Council said results showed a 20 percent greater compaction in the road surface, meaning it is+
Posted 3 June, 2022 -
The Commonwealth should lift spending on extreme weather resilience measures to $200 million a year for five years, Australia’s peak insurance body says. In a flooding and future risks study published last month, the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) also calls on the states and territories to match this funding of $1 billion over five+
Posted 3 June, 2022 -
On behalf of Australia’s 537 councils, ALGA President Linda Scott has congratulated incoming Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his new Labor Government. “We look forward to working with our new Federal Government to build a stronger future for our nation that leaves no community behind,” Cr Scott said. “Working together we can deliver a better+
Posted 23 May, 2022 -
Place-based initiatives are the key to meeting the growing demand for housing in the bush, the Regional Australia Institute says. New research by the RAI released last week suggests the influences driving regional housing markets differ markedly, a fact not always fully appreciated by policymakers, industry and regional leaders. RAI CEO Liz Ritchie said the+
Posted 20 May, 2022 -
Development of the Second National Action Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction has been stepped up with the release of a discussion paper. The National Recovery and Resilience Agency (NRRA) has carriage of the action plan and is seeking feedback and comments to inform its development. The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) is also involved in+
Posted 20 May, 2022 -
Working together, Australian councils have secured billions of dollars for our communities in the lead-up to tomorrow’s Federal Election. This includes commitments from both major parties to extend the $2.5 billion Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program. The Coalition has committed an additional $500 million to this program if re-elected, and Labor has pledged $750+
Posted 20 May, 2022 -
Australia’s 537 councils have secured billions of dollars in additional funding for Australian communities in the lead-up to this year’s Federal Election. ALGA President Linda Scott said these funding commitments from the Coalition and Labor will see more federal funding provided to every Australian suburb, town and region. “We often see election commitments targeted to+
Posted 17 May, 2022 -
Labor’s proposed $250 million expansion of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program would benefit every Australian community through better local sporting facilities, new and upgraded libraries and playgrounds, and safer roads. ALGA President Linda Scott said local governments had strongly advocated to both major parties for more LRCI funding in the lead-up to+
Posted 4 May, 2022 -
The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) and the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) are calling on the next Federal Government to include local government representation on National Cabinet. ALGA President Linda Scott said including local government on National Cabinet and key ministerial meetings and forums such as the Council on Federal Financial Relations would help create+
Posted 2 May, 2022 -
All councils are encouraged to pass a motion supporting ALGA’s Federal Election Priorities at their next council meeting. A draft council motion can be downloaded here. ALGA has prepared a range of creative materials that councils can use to participate in the national “Don’t Leave Local Communities Behind” Federal Election campaign. These materials can be+
Posted 28 April, 2022 -
As the Federal Election nears, we’re stepping up to back your calls for the Australian Local Government Association to be on National Cabinet, the nation’s peak decision-making forum, as well as a voting member of all relevant Ministerial meetings and forums, including the Council on Federal Financial Relations. Thank you to Baw Baw Shire, the+
Posted 22 April, 2022 -
Disaster relief funding has been set aside to rebuild flood-impacted libraries and community facilities in NSW in a departure from historical practice. Usually, only public assets deemed essential (roads, bridges, levees public hospitals, schools and hospitals, etc) qualify for DRFA support when directly damaged by an eligible disaster. However, an omnibus of support measures announced+
Posted 22 April, 2022 -
The federal government is to examine Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) spending with a view to strengthening reporting requirements for the states. Announcing the review last week, Federal Emergency Management Minister Bridget McKenzie, pictured, said the Commonwealth had allocated more than $12 billion to the states following disasters over the past decade. “Often it takes+
Posted 22 April, 2022
