Your ALGA Board was hard at work this week holding strategic planning sessions to ensure we are doing all we can to deliver results for Australian local governments – now and into the future.
ALGA does much on your behalf – advocating, contributing to policy development, and serving as a respected member of many interjurisdictional government councils. It is unique in its role and purpose.
Following the Board’s work this week, ALGA will narrow its strategic focus, and we will sharpen our advocacy for you.
ALGA’s updated purpose – to be a strong voice for Australia’s councils – will guide us into the future.
Our mission will be demonstrating the value of local government by informing, advising and advocating, and securing economic, social and environmental well-being for councils and their communities.
We are marking the start of an exciting new chapter for ALGA; one I am confident will advantage all 537 of Australia’s local governments – whether in material terms (financial sustainability and growth in grant funding) or in terms of profile, influence, and standing.
ALGA may end up looking and acting differently, but our commitment to fighting for local councils and local communities will remain undiminished.
On your behalf, I also took the opportunity to meet this week with the Minister for the Environment, Minister Sussan Ley, MP, as well as the Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, MP.
As Australia’s policy settings on climate change, energy and the environment evolve, the voice of local government will be critical to ensuring this process is as smooth and efficient as possible.
In both meetings, I advocated for more support for local governments for waste management and recycling, and for mitigating the impacts of our changing climate, and I detailed the exemplary work that so many councils are doing in these areas.
Thank you for all that you are doing for our communities – it’s an honour to be able to be your President, and to work for you all.
Linda Scott,
ALGA President