Communiqué - 8 October 2009 - Darwin
Joint Meeting of the Local Government and Planning Ministers’ Council (LGPMC) and the Australian Council of Local Government (ACLG) Steering Committee – 8 October 2009.
The inaugural joint meeting of the LGPMC and the ACLG Steering Committee was held in Darwin on 8 October 2009. The meeting was chaired by the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Australian Government Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government and hosted by the Hon Delia Lawrie MLA, Deputy Chief Minister of the Northern Territory and Minister for Planning and Lands, and the Hon Rob Knight MLA, Northern Territory Minister for Local Government.
The joint meeting was a unique opportunity for all three spheres of government to come together to discuss matters of mutual importance.
The Joint Meeting considered the outcomes of the second ACLG plenary meeting in June 2009. Attendees were provided with an update on the development of the Local Government Reform Fund. The Prime Minister announced $25 million for the Reform Fund in June at the last ACLG plenary meeting.
The Joint Meeting was also briefed on the development of the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government, which was awarded to the University of Technology, Sydney in June this year. The Centre was established to enhance professionalism and skills, showcase innovation and best practice, and facilitate a better informed policy debate within the Australian local government sector. The development of a Local Government Workforce Strategy was also discussed. A draft workforce strategy is being developed that focuses on mechanisms for the attraction, retention and skills development in local governments, giving consideration to broader issues such as an aging workforce, a shift in populations away from rural and remote regions and the imperative to better engage the local indigenous and competition for professional staff.
A related topic discussed was enhancing the participation rates of Women in Local Government. Attendees considered progress toward the development of a nationally consistent five-part strategy to increase the participation of women as senior managers and elected representatives within the local government sector. The strategy is being considered in preparation for initiatives to support 2010 as the Year of Women in Local Government.
The President of ALGA, Cr Geoff Lake, provided a presentation on the findings of market research undertaken on public perceptions of local government and Constitutional Reform. Members noted that this is the first step in a more comprehensive engagement with ministers (and shadow ministers) in all jurisdictions.
The Chair concluded the inaugural joint meeting of the LGPMC and ACLG Steering Committee with advice that the planning for the next ACLG plenary in June next year would need to commence soon, and that he would welcome views on topics and themes for the plenary from local government.
Contact:
Australian Council of Local Government Steering Committee Secretariat
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
GPO Box 594
Canberra ACT 2601
Tel: +61 02 6274 8144
Email: aclg@regional.gov.au
Web: www.aclg.gov.au
