Win! New Disaster Ready Fund Legislated
In response to ALGA’s advocacy, we’re so pleased the Federal Government has successfully legislated to establish a new Disaster Ready Fund, which will enable local governments to seek funding – up to $200m annually – for infrastructure that mitigates against the impact of natural disasters on our communities.
If your council has planned sea walls, flood levies or bushfire mitigation projects in the pipeline, we look forward to working with you and our State and Territory Local Government associations to finalise the details of guidelines for this Fund, with the Government.
Our thanks to Minister Murray Watt for working to listen to ALGA’s advocacy on this issue, and legislating this commitment for local government, as well as Senators Perin Davey and Bridget McKenzie and other members of Parliament for their engagement with ALGA to progress this issue.
Win! Workforce Skills and Capability Survey
I was delighted to present the findings of our 2022 Workforce Skills and Capability Survey to federal, state and territory Local Government Ministers on Friday.
These survey results show nine out of every ten Australian councils are facing jobs and skills shortages, highlighting the need for increased investment in our local government workforce.
The roads emergency remains a major issue for our communities, in both regional and metropolitan areas, and our thoughts are with the towns and regions that have been devastated by flooding.
I am continuing to talk to the Government about opportunities to help councils fix the potholes, rebuild our local roads and, more importantly, build back better.
Increasing Roads to Recovery funding from $500 million to $800 million per year, and restoring Financial Assistance Grants to at least one percent of Commonwealth taxation revenue, is now more important than ever before.
Congratulations Mayor Dean Johnson
Finally, congratulations to Kimba Mayor Dean Johnson who has been elected as the new President of the Local Government Association of South Australia.
I look forward to working closely with Mayor Johnson and LGASA to advocate for a better deal for South Australian councils and their communities.