Women in local government hit historical high

As Australian governments mark International Women’s Day, representation of women in local government has reached a historical high point.

7 March, 2019

Initiative to provide ‘policy playbook’ on regional Australia

Regional Australia Institute’s new program will provide governments with guidance and best practice for responding to challenges facing regional areas, CEO Jack Archer tells Government News.

23 April, 2018

Council adopts new approach to doing business

The City of Wyndham in Victoria is pioneering new ways of working and digital transformation as it responds to rapid population growth.

2 April, 2018

Noticeboard: new secretary for NSW Department of Industry

Also in this wrap: Waverley Council appoints Ross McLeod as general manager; Canberra Town Planners appoint Nichelle Jackson and Elizabeth Slapp as associate directors.

26 March, 2018

‘Skill and talent’ key to councils’ economic development

Victoria’s Corangamite Council says a $300,000 support fund it established to attract and expand businesses in its area has contributed $9.2 million in benefits to the local economy.

16 March, 2018

Noticeboard: Caroline Spencer appointed WA auditor

Also in this wrap: Daryl Karp reappointed Museum of Australian Democracy director; Tony Nutt appointed to NMA council, Australia Post board; and former UN executive joins ASPI.

16 March, 2018

Governments agree on major Western Sydney deal

The Federal and NSW Governments, together with eight local councils of Western Sydney, have signed the Western Sydney City Deal, a 20-year agreement between the three levels of government.

5 March, 2018

NSW ICAC wants crack down on employment screening

The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has recommends to the State Government that it adopt stronger employment screening practices. It says that this will help combat employment application fraud, which if left undetected can ultimately allow other corrupt conduct to occur. ICAC Chief Commissioner Peter Hall said that employment application fraud is common in […]

26 February, 2018

Leadership needed on Sydney and Melbourne’s growth, says Infrastructure Australia

A new report from Infrastructure Australia is calling for the Federal Government to take leadership in securing the global competitiveness of Australia’s two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne. The report recommends that the Government establish a framework of incentives to improve the productivity, liveability and affordability of our largest cities. “Australia’s cities are the powerhouses […]

26 February, 2018

NSW to get its own Productivity Commission

NSW will establish its own state-based Productivity Commission to “drive micro-economic reform and tackle burdensome regulation.” The plan was announced by NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet, who said the Commission will aim to expand the state’s economic prosperity. “We have laid the foundations for reform with our state-building infrastructure agenda, but now it’s time for a […]

19 February, 2018

Tumbarumba amalgamation protests intensify

They’re mad as hell down Tumbarumba way. The Snowy Mountains town best known for John O’Brien’s wonderful poem ‘Up at Tumba-bloody-rumba shootin’ kanga-bloody-roos’ has become the touchstone for renewed opposition to the NSW Government’s disastrous forced council amalgamation strategy. In May 2016 the local council was merged with neighbouring Tumut Shure to form Snowy Valleys […]

18 February, 2018

More procurement from SMEs to ‘boost innovation’

The Federal Government’s new report on ways to boost innovation in Australia has called for more government procurement from SMEs (small and medium enterprises). Government agency Innovation and Science Australia (ISA) has released a report, ‘Australia 2030: Prosperity through Innovation’, making 30 recommendations on how to improve Australia’s poor performance in innovation. On most international […]

1 February, 2018

PC Report on Government Services – Emergency Management

The Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services (RoGS) has a section on Emergency Management. These are categorised as Fire and State and Territory Emergency Services (STES). Ambulance services are covered separately in the Health section of the report. Total government expenditure across Australia in 2016-17 for fire and STES services was $4.3 billion, around 1.9 […]

24 January, 2018

PC Report on Government Services – Approach to Performance Measurement

As the old saying goes, you can’t manage what you can’t measure. Perhaps that is why the ‘Approach to performance measurement’ report is the first part of the Productivity Commission’s 2018 Report on Government Services series. This first component of the report focusses on the importance of measurement, the scope of the report, and methodology. […]

23 January, 2018