Councils face major skills shortages, national review finds

Local government professionals are “not well positioned” in new and emerging soft skills, according to a forthcoming national review.

17 December, 2018

Best and brightest councils in NSW celebrated

An app connecting residents to council is among the initiatives recognised as part of Local Government Week.

3 August, 2018

Councils should consider tender for insurance: audit

Victoria’s auditor has questioned the financial sustainability of local governments’ mutual insurance but MAV says the scheme protects councils ‘through thick and thin.’

26 July, 2018

Victorian Government moves on green procurement

Recycling industry applauds the Andrews Government’s $37 million package to boost the market for recycled materials in the state, which follows Senate inquiry’s recommendation that governments adopt green procurement.

5 July, 2018

Council grants shake-up for Sunshine State

Queensland is set to reform its process for allocating grants to councils with the State Government providing $4.5 million to tackle the long-running issue in its budget this week.

15 June, 2018

Noticeboard: MAV appoints first female chief executive

Also in this wrap: Gary Murphy appointed head of the Central Coast Council, City of Darwin takes on new CEO Scott Waters, and Peter Achterstraat appointed NSW Productivity Commissioner.

14 May, 2018

Councils look to budget for funding boost

A new $300 million a year community infrastructure fund and a boost to grants are among the measures local government are hoping to see in tonight’s federal budget.

8 May, 2018

Victorian budget: Infrastructure, regions the big winners

Local government, transport and health groups have welcomed the Andrews Government’s record investment in infrastructure and community services.  

4 May, 2018

Research warns South Australia on rate cap

As an inquiry in Victoria hears evidence against rate capping, new research finds that the introduction of rate capping in South Australia could restrict council service delivery, cause infrastructure decay and result in higher charges for taxpayers.

27 April, 2018

Augmenting technology: the new skills for government professionals

Government agencies are identifying the skills their staff will need to effectively complement emerging technologies that promise to transform service delivery, senior bureaucrats say.

22 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

Grassroots action to boost women’s numbers in government

Among a series of events marking International Women’s Day yesterday were calls for initiatives to boost women’s representation in elected and executive positions.

8 March, 2018

Armidale policy will ‘undermine public confidence’ in local government

In 2016 the NSW Government amended the Local Government Act to change the legal definition of the role of councillors in the state. As well as motherhood statements such as being active and making considered decisions, one of the new responsibilities was “to uphold and represent accurately the policies and decisions of the governing body” […]

5 February, 2018

Public-private disaster unfolding in Britain

It has barely been reported in Australia, but it is big news in Britain. One of that country’s largest beneficiaries of government outsourcing, a company called Carillion, has gone broke. While the Government has refused to bail it out, the British taxpayer will still have to pay the pension liabilities and the continuing wages to […]

14 January, 2018