ALGA News

Major cities may be able to cut congestion by charging ride-sharing firms for time spent dropping off and picking up passengers, according to a new study published by the Ash Centre for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University’s Kennedy School. The study entitled Reforming Mobility Management: Rethinking the Regulatory Framework urges cities to develop ‘light’ regulations around their own digital+

National Shelter is conducting a research project to develop a better understanding of inclusionary zoning within our planning systems across Australia and we need your input. Councils are invited to complete a short survey about inclusionary zoning. The Inclusionary Zoning Project is a priority for the National Shelter in 2019 to assist in its advocacy and policy+

Outgoing Regional Australia Institute CEO has penned a farewell message reflecting on the ‘greatest hits’ during his time at the institute. When we started the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) in 2011 we wanted to achieve several things. We wanted to create an influential voice for regions in the national conversation. One that was independent of+

Farmers now have a single and straightforward place to find out what drought assistance is available to them. A new online resource was recently launched bringing together information on drought support available for individual farmers. Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources David Littleproud said FarmHub brings together the services of the Commonwealth, states, councils and+

Temperatures nudging 50 degrees, bushfires ravaging rainforests and people at increased risk of cardiac arrests because of heatwaves – this is the new normal for Australia and it’s being driven by climate change. The Climate Council’s latest report, Weather Gone Wild, has found climate change is increasing the frequency and/or severity of extreme weather and that+

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians will now have access to a new digital tool to support them in improving their digital literacy and protect their online safety. The app, launched this week by the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion, is funded through the Indigenous Advancement Strategy and is specifically designed for use in+

Councils have been invited to make a submission to the National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces. Information about the National Inquiry, and the full Terms of Reference, can be found on the Australian Human Rights Commission’s website. Councils are in a unique position to provide valuable insights to the inquiry on the particular workplace+

The Leukaemia Foundation is calling for communities to help them ‘shave’ the world from blood cancer during the annual World’s Greatest Shave campaign this March 13 – 17. The fundraising campaign this year has an urgent message – the number of Australian’s living with blood cancer is facing a 30 per cent increase over the next decade+

The Federal Government has announced assistance to support Tasmanian and far north Queensland communities following bushfires in Tasmania and record-breaking floods in far north Queensland. Assistant Minister for Home Affairs Senator the Hon. Linda Reynolds and Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman announced that the assistance in Tasmania is being provided through the jointly-funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery+

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out a groundbreaking framework of 17 transformational goals to tackle our social, economic, and environmental challenges. Local government not only has a role to play when it comes to the achievement and delivery of the SDGs, it also has opportunities to reap. Globally, Mayors are leading the way Mayors+

Fourteen members of Melbourne’s leading universities, cultural institutions, corporations and councils combined their purchasing power to support construction of an 80 MW wind farm at Crowlands, near Ararat. ​City of Melbourne Deputy Lord Mayor Arron Wood said Pacific Hydro has installed 25 of the 39 turbines required and energy has begun flowing into the power+

The Commonwealth Government has extended the Roads to Recovery Program from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2024. In a recent instrument issues under the National Land Transport Act 2014, the government also confirmed it would set aside an amount of $20,470,450 of the Western Australian allocation. It explained that this money is for a programme+

Registrations are now open for this year’s National General Assembly of Local Government (NGA). This year, the NGA celebrates 25 years! Over the past quarter century, the NGA has provided a platform for local government to address national issues and lobby the federal government on critical issues facing our sector. The theme for the 2019+

Event registrations are open for councils, clubs, community groups, schools and businesses for events celebrating International Day of People with Disability on 3 December 2018. There are already more than 300 public events registered nationally taking place on or around International Day of People with Disability, with events listed by state or territory. Assistant Minister+

The Federal Government has released its national response to the independent review of the Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity (IGAB), accepting all 42 recommendations including recommendation 19 to include the ALGA CEO on the National Biosecurity Committee. The government agreed to the recommendation in principle stating that “Ministers recognise local governments play an important role in+

The South Australian Department of Planning Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) will trial a Rural Junction Active Warning System (RJAWS), which aims to improve safety on the South Australian rural road network. The system involves installing variable speed-limit signs at junction approaches, including where there are blind bends, which are radar triggered by the presence of+

Safer Internet Day (SID) is an annual, worldwide event held on Tuesday 5 February 2019 to help encourage a better internet. The 2019 theme ‘Together for a better internet’ encourages individuals to create a better internet by developing four, critical skills: respect, responsibility, reasoning and resilience. The Office of the eSafety Commissioner is the official Committee for+

A need for more efficient movement of commodities during harvest season was the motivation for Moira Shire’s decision to grant increased access for B-doubles within its road network. After initial discussions with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), local transport operators and GrainCorp in September this year, the shire developed a scheme to allow B-double+

The team at ALGA would like to wish you a happy and safe holiday season! We would like to thank all our readers and advertisers for your support during the year. We look forward to providing you with the latest information about issues affecting local government from a national perspective in 2019. This is the final+

ALGA has urged for continued national leadership from the Commonwealth to ensure consistent policy for waste management and resource recovery at all levels of government following endorsement of the new National Waste Policy (NWP) at the 8th Meeting of Environment Ministers in Canberra last Friday. ALGA President, Mayor David O’Loughlin attended the meeting and said: “We congratulate+

As Australia’s population grows, we need to improve the way we plan to provide infrastructure in our cities. Between 2017 and 2047, Australia’s population is projected to increase by over 11 million people. Around 80% of this growth will occur in our five largest cities – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. To support this+

ALGA’s federal election document has called for the repair of federal funding to local government by restoring the level of Financial Assistance Grants (FAGs) to at least 1% of Commonwealth taxation revenue (CTR) – levels last seen in 1996. Councils and state/territory associations were urged to lend their voices to the sector’s call for all federal political+

For many years, there has been a shortfall in the level of funding to South Australian councils under the Identified Roads Component of their Financial Assistance Grants (FAGs). This funding is immensely important to helping South Australian councils keep their roads safe for motorists by upgrading and maintaining their local road networks. South Australia has+

The life expectancy at birth for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in 2015-2017 was 71.6 years for men and 75.6 years for women, according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).  “However, life expectancy within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population varied considerably, with the lowest life expectancy experienced by+

The Senate Select Committee into the Obesity Epidemic in Australia this week released its final report, highlighting the already significant health and economic impacts of rising obesity levels upon Australia’s community. A wide-range of stakeholders made submissions to the Committee’s inquiry or appeared at its public hearings to urge for targeted health interventions, broad education+

The EU is funding smart-parking projects for disabled people to ensure this group also benefits from digitalisation. Parking is a nightmare, but then you see a space. And realize–it’s for the disabled! Would you still park there? Hopefully not. But it seems there are many people who don’t think about those who really need those+

The Chair of the PFAS Sub-Committee of the Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, Mr Andrew Laming MP, has tabled the report on the Committee’s inquiry into management of PFAS contamination in and around Defence bases. The Committee’s report makes 9 recommendations with a focus on improving the Government’s response to the+

The flagship national domestic and family violence and sexual assault counselling, information and support service, 1800RESPECT, will receive $10.9 million in additional Australian Government funding to meet ongoing demand. The funding was announced by the Minister for Families and Social Services, Paul Fletcher, Assistant Minister for Children and Families, Michelle Landry and Assistant Minister for+

There’s a great deal of support available to people in drought-affected regions, but it can be hard to stay across all of the assistance that is on offer at the national, state and local level. The Federal Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (PMC) has developed a communication pack to highlight the broad range of support available+

The lack of affordable rental properties and affordable home ownership is causing significant social and economic impacts in Australia’s cities and regions. Homelessness and housing stress can profoundly affect the mental and physical health of individuals and families, as well as impact on their education and employment opportunities and their ability to participate fully in+