Minister Albanese's welcome message
Welcome to the official Australian Council of Local Government (ACLG) website.
On 25 June 2009, the Rudd Government will once again host the ACLG at Parliament House in Canberra.
Last year’s inaugural meeting marked the start of an historic, new partnership between the federal government and the nation’s 565 councils and shires.
This month’s ACLG will build on the success of that first meeting.
Under the theme of ‘Building Resilience in Local Communities’, it will bring together ministers and mayors to share ideas on how best we can respond to our immediate and longer term economic and environmental challenges.
The meeting last year resulted in the establishment of the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program – the first ever federal funding program designed to assist local government build the social infrastructure our communities need.
Funding for the Program was increased to $800 million as part of the Government’s economic stimulus plan to support jobs and businesses during the current global recession.
As a result of our decision to establish and expand this Program, there are now more than 3,300 community projects being delivered across the country, including sports grounds, town halls, libraries, and community centres.
At the inaugural ACLG, the Prime Minister also announced funding for a new Centre of Excellence for Local Government tasked with identifying and encouraging best practice and innovation across the sector.
Much has happened since our first meeting. Many Australians are feeling the effects of the global recession and some communities have experienced the worst natural disasters in living memory.
The Rudd Government is committed to working with the local government sector to help all our communities recover, rebuild and prosper into the future.
