Media Contact
Mr Brad Watts
Communications and Media Manager
Phone: 0418 415 649
Email: brad.watts@alga.asn.au
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Gladstone Regional Council Mayor Matt Burnett is the new President of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) – the peak body for Australia’s 537 local governments. Mayor Burnett – who has been an ALGA Board member for eight years and a Vice President for the past four years – was elected at the annual general+
Posted 27 September, 2024 -
Australia’s councils are calling for strong action from the Federal Government to ensure regional communities remain connected and accessible in the wake of Rex Airlines entering voluntary administration. ALGA President Councillor Linda Scott said any disruption to regional airline access would be devastating. “Our communities rely on consistent and reliable airline services to put food+
Posted 2 August, 2024 -
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, a Parliamentary Committee was told today. New research, due to be released by ALGA next week, shows a $1 billion annual investment in local government+
Posted 27 June, 2024 -
The Albanese Government has broken its pre-election promise to provide “fair increases” to Financial Assistance Grants to Australia’s 537 councils in tonight’s 2024-25 Federal Budget. ALGA President Councillor Linda Scott said these untied federal grants are vital to supporting local government to deliver more affordable housing, and cost-of-living relief through access to free and low-cost+
Posted 14 May, 2024 -
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE New national research has revealed a $1 billion improvement in the condition of Australia’s libraries, recreation centres, galleries, cultural centres and community halls over the past three years. ALGA President Councillor Linda Scott said a $500 million per year local government community infrastructure fund would support councils to continue to maintain and+
Posted 13 May, 2024 -
A national approach to kerbside recycling will help Australia’s 537 councils to reduce the five mega tonnes (MT) of waste sent to Australian landfills every year – equivalent to the weight of about 31 Sydney Opera Houses. Through its 2024-25 Federal Budget submission, ALGA is seeking $120 million over four years to standardise kerbside bins+
Posted 22 April, 2024 -
The Federal Government’s Disaster Ready Fund (DRF) is heavily oversubscribed and needs to be increased by at least $250 million per year to better protect Australian communities from future natural disasters. More than 300 applications seeking $460 million were submitted in the first round of the DRF in 2023, with 187 of these projects successfully+
Posted 3 April, 2024 -
The opening of applications and release of guidelines for the Federal Government’s new $500 million Housing Support Program has been welcomed by the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA). Through the first round of the program, state, territory and local governments can access funding to improve planning capacity as well as streamline planning processes. ALGA President+
Posted 28 March, 2024 -
A new House of Representatives Standing Committee inquiry into local government sustainability has been welcomed by the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA). With additional responsibilities costing billions of dollars being forced onto Australia’s 537 councils every year, ALGA expects this national inquiry will consider and address the financial challenges and funding shortfalls being faced by+
Posted 21 March, 2024 -
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE The Federal Government’s new Housing Support Program must be increased to $750 million to empower local governments to help deliver the Commonwealth’s ambitious housing targets and enable vital infrastructure investment in new housing developments. The competitive program – which has been welcomed by local government – will provide funding for connecting essential+
Posted 18 March, 2024 -
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE Time is running out for the Federal Government to deliver on its pre-election promise of “fair increases” to Financial Assistance Grants to Australia’s 537 local governments. Before the May 2022 election, Federal Labor committed to the ‘long-term financial sustainability of local government’ through increases to grant allocations, including ‘fair increases’ to Financial+
Posted 19 February, 2024 -
The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has welcomed the Australian Government’s commitment to joining the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP), announced during the COP28 World Climate Action Summit. President Cr Linda Scott said ALGA had encouraged the Government to sign the CHAMP pledge, which will enhance cooperation on climate action between national, state+
Posted 13 December, 2023 -
In a landmark win for local communities and Australia’s 537 local governments, Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King announced today Roads to Recovery funding will be doubled from $500 million to $1 billion per year through phased increases over the forward Federal Budget estimates. Also announced today by Minister King – in her response to the+
Posted 19 November, 2023 -
ALGA has welcomed the new Infrastructure Policy Statement released by the Australian Government today, while highlighting more needs to be done to address the growing need for local government infrastructure as cost of living pressures bite. ALGA President Councillor Linda Scott said it was disappointing to see the new framework prioritises funding for nationally significant+
Posted 15 November, 2023 -
Federal funding to Australia’s 537 local governments should be increased by $1 billion every year to address the critical state of the nation’s local road infrastructure, according to a new independent Grattan Institute report. ALGA President Councillor Linda Scott said the Federal Government’s Infrastructure Investment Program (IIP) review provided an ideal opportunity to address the+
Posted 13 November, 2023 -
Strong advocacy and leadership by the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) and local governments has resulted in new national packaging standards and reforms announced today that will help councils save money on waste and recycling. At the Environment Ministers’ Meeting in Adelaide, it was agreed the Federal Government will establish new regulations for packaging as+
Posted 10 November, 2023 -
The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has applauded Sunshine Coast Council Mayor and Local Government Association Queensland (LGAQ) President Mark Jamieson for an outstanding career in local government. ALGA President Councillor Linda Scott sincerely thanked Mayor Jamieson – who announced today he was stepping down as mayor in March – for his long and effective+
Posted 10 November, 2023 -
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE New data from councils will highlight the multi-billion-dollar impact of natural disasters on Australia’s roads, libraries, aerodromes, bridges and community and recreation centres over the past two years. The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) is partnering with the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA) to deliver an update to its National+
Posted 15 September, 2023 -
Federal funding to local government isn’t keeping up with soaring construction costs, according to preliminary research presented by the Grattan Institute at ALGA’s 2023 National Local Roads, Transport and Infrastructure Congress in Canberra. ALGA President Councillor Linda Scott said councils collectively manage around 75 percent of Australia’s road network by length while collecting less than+
Posted 6 September, 2023 -
The Australian Local Government Association has welcomed new funding – announced by National Cabinet today – that will help councils address Australia’s affordable housing crisis. ALGA President Cr Linda Scott said the Government’s new $500 million Housing Support Program – open to local and state governments – would support councils to build more liveable communities.+
Posted 17 August, 2023 -
The Board of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Amy Crawford as its new Chief Executive Officer. Ms Crawford, who was most recently employed as a senior adviser to Federal Local Government Minister Kristy McBain, will commence with ALGA on 28 August 2023. ALGA President Councillor Linda Scott+
Posted 15 August, 2023 -
A more coordinated and collaborative approach across all levels of government is the key to addressing Australia’s affordable housing crisis, the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) said today. Ahead of this week’s National Cabinet meeting focusing on planning reforms to facilitate more affordable housing, ALGA President Councillor Linda Scott said increasing the supply of more+
Posted 14 August, 2023 -
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE State governments must urgently overhaul their approach to land use planning to ensure no more homes are built without regard to risk on flood plains, organisations representing planners, builders and insurers said today. In response to the flood emergency of recent years, the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA), Master Builders Australia (MBA)+
Posted 27 July, 2023 -
In a major win for local government, the Federal Government announced today it will bring forward payments totalling almost $1.8 billion to the majority of states under the State and Commonwealth-funded Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). ALGA President Councillor Linda Scott said the Government had listened to local government’s call for faster support and payments+
Posted 30 June, 2023 -
Strong advocacy and leadership by the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has resulted in the establishment of a new $100 million Community Energy Upgrades Fund today for local governments. Announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Australian Council of Local Government (ACLG) Forum in Canberra, the new fund has been developed to enable local+
Posted 16 June, 2023 -
Local government leaders will share innovations to ensure councils can help reduce Australia’s emissions while mitigating skyrocketing cost of living pressures at the historic 2023 Australian Local Government Association’s (ALGA) National General Assembly (NGA) in Canberra from 13-15 June. Hosted by ALGA, which represents the nation’s 537 local governments, the annual event starts today and+
Posted 13 June, 2023 -
The announcement of 187 new projects to be funded through the first round of the Federal Government’s Disaster Ready Fund has been welcomed by the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) today. This funding is available to state and territory governments, working with local governments and communities, for building infrastructure such as flood levees, seawalls and+
Posted 7 June, 2023 -
Australian councils have welcomed tonight’s Federal Budget as a solid investment in local government, with councils receiving $3.1 billion in Financial Assistance Grants over the next 12 months. “For Australia’s 537 councils, $3.1 billion of local government funding is a vital investment in Australia’s productivity, allowing us to employ nearly 200,000 Australians and provide+
Posted 9 May, 2023 -
The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has welcomed the Albanese Government’s delivery of an additional $250 million through the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program, while calling on the Government to reinstate the former model that saw funding provided to all Australian councils. Established in 2020, the LRCI program has been successful in providing+
Posted 3 May, 2023 -
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE Australia’s 537 local governments are critical to creating a more sustainable and clean energy future and helping the Federal Government deliver on its target of net zero by 2050. The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), with support from the Cities Power Partnership and the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI),+
Posted 17 April, 2023 -
Cyber-attacks are one of the greatest threats to both Australia’s national security and our democracy, including at the local government level. To be properly prepared for cyber-attacks and defend against data breaches, Australian councils urgently need government support. Recent local government surveys in New South Wales and Western Australia found councils could significantly improve their+
Posted 6 April, 2023 -
Local government has welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to extend project construction timelines for Phases 1–3 of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program. Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said on 27 March councils now have until 30 June 2024 to complete works, providing an extra year on the+
Posted 31 March, 2023 -
Shadow Local Government Minister Darren Chester’s support for increasing Roads to Recovery funding to $800 million per year has been welcomed by ALGA. Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Mr Chester said: “The Australian Local Government Association is asking this Labor government to continue to support the Roads to Recovery Program and give additional funding going forward,+
Posted 28 March, 2023 -
Applications are now open for the latest round of Regional Connectivity and Mobile Black Spot grants. Under the Federal Government’s $1.1 billion Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia, councils can apply for round 7 of the Mobile Black Spots and round 3 of Regional Connectivity programs. The funding is available for under-served regions+
Posted 20 March, 2023 -
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), with support from the Australian Airports Association (AAA), is urging the Federal Government to provide $250 million per year over four years for a new Regional Infrastructure Recovery Program to protect regional infrastructure against future disasters. There were 46 disasters declared in 2022, with 524 disaster+
Posted 17 March, 2023 -
Australian councils are calling on the Federal Government to honour its pre-election commitment to “fair increases” in Financial Assistance Grants to local government. Before the May 2022 election, Federal Labor committed to the “long-term financial sustainability of local government” through increases to grant allocations, including “fair increases” to Financial Assistance Grants*. ALGA President Councillor Linda+
Posted 9 March, 2023 -
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE Councils and public works engineers are calling for permanent funding in the upcoming Federal Budget to improve the liveability and productivity of Australian communities. The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), with support from the Institute of Public Works Engineers Australasia (IPWEA), is urging the Federal Government to make the highly successful Local+
Posted 3 March, 2023 -
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE Local government and community housing leaders are calling for urgent funding in the upcoming Federal Budget to address Australia’s affordable and social housing crisis. The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), with support from the Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA) and National Shelter, is seeking $100 million per year over four years that+
Posted 24 February, 2023 -
This year’s National General Assembly (NGA) will mark the historic return of the Australian Council of Local Government (ACLG), which will meet for the first time in more than a decade. The Federal Government announced today it will re-establish the ACLG – to be held on Friday 16 June 2023 in Canberra – as part+
Posted 22 February, 2023 -
The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has welcomed the fourth round of federal Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program (LRCI) funding, which will provide $500 million to Australian councils for community infrastructure and roads projects. “These funding allocations will be welcomed by councils right across the nation and help them build and revitalise playgrounds, community+
Posted 14 February, 2023 -
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE The newly-formed Rural Road Alliance is calling for an emergency funding package totalling nearly $5.5 billion in the upcoming Federal Budget. The alliance – which represents diverse stakeholders from across regional Australia including farmers, transporters and local councils – has been formed in response to the critical challenges facing Australia’s rural road+
Posted 13 February, 2023 -
The Federal Government’s common sense decision to allow more flexibility for councils to hold citizenship ceremonies around Australia Day has been welcomed by the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) today. The Government has updated the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code to allow councils to hold Australia Day citizenship ceremonies in the period from Monday 23 to+
Posted 16 December, 2022 -
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE With the cost of repairing Australia’s flood and rain damaged roads expected to top $3.8 billion, the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has joined with the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) to call for an urgent rethink of road construction, maintenance and funding. Speaking of behalf of Australia’s 537 councils, ALGA President Linda+
Posted 8 December, 2022 -
Local governments are a trusted partner of the federal government and effectively deliver services on behalf of the Commonwealth, Local Government Minister Kristy McBain told Question Time on Wednesday (30 November). “The local government sector is a trusted delivery partner for the federal government. They are the only level of government who deliver services to+
Posted 1 December, 2022 -
Australia’s 537 councils are looking to work with the Commonwealth Government to deliver Australia more engineers, town planners, building surveyors, environmental health officers, accountants and HR professionals, according to a new snapshot of the nation’s local government workforce released today. ALGA President Cr Linda Scott said the 2022 Local Government Workforce Skills and Capability+
Posted 25 November, 2022 -
The passing of Disaster Ready Fund (DRF) legislation in Parliament delivering $200 million per year for vital disaster mitigation projects has been welcomed by the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA). ALGA President Linda Scott said this new funding was critical for protecting Australian communities from disaster events. “Local government advocacy secured this new Disaster Ready+
Posted 24 November, 2022 -
ALGA President Linda Scott has urged the Government to continue to invest in councils and communities in this month’s Federal Budget. “Investing in local government will support Australia’s 537 councils to train and upskill Australia’s future workforce, deliver more affordable housing, and support our transition to a low carbon future,” Cr Scott said. “Providing councils+
Posted 1 October, 2022 -
Through traineeships and apprenticeships, local governments are ready to train the next generation of Australian workers. Australia’s 537 councils currently employ almost 200,000 people across 400 different occupations but collect less than 4% of national taxation. Many councils are heavily reliant on Federal Financial Assistance Grants, which have slipped from 1 percent of Commonwealth taxation+
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 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 -
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