Rates rise for Vic councils as federal budget cuts bite

$2.6bn infrastructure and asset gap opens up.

7 July, 2014

WA councils demand referendum on Perth boundary changes

The battle between WA councils and the Colin Barnett government has intensified as local governments demand communities be able to vote on proposed mergers if they are “significantly affected”.

7 July, 2014

ACELG guides council evaluation of service delivery

Councils will now be able to better assess how well they provide services to the community through a handy new manual from the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government.

26 June, 2014

Former corruption chief wants corporate lobbyists regulated

Huge hole left open for abusers warns former NSW ICAC

24 June, 2014

Sydney’s new reverse vending machines swallow cans, spit out food vouchers

It’s the ultimate junk food fix: put in empty drink containers and get back a food truck voucher.

23 June, 2014

High Court school chaplains decision set to choke council money from Canberra

It may not have come as a surprise, but the Williams case MkII decision is exactly the legal nightmare local governments have unsuccessfully been fighting to avoid for years.

19 June, 2014

States bail-out pensioner rates concessions… except WA

NSW, Qld and SA have promised to fund pensioner rebates stripped out of the federal Budget, but WA is holding out.

19 June, 2014

Sydney roads set for solar passive makeover

A selection of roads in Sydney will be recast in pale grey under an innovative new trial that aims to determine whether reflective surfaces can help take the sting out of summer by reducing the ambient temperature of asphalt.

18 June, 2014

Conflict of interest disclosures draw fire in West

Western Australian local governments are demanding answers as to why the state government has stealthily suspended the requirement to declare conflicts of interest for the group reviewing the structure of metropolitan councils.

17 June, 2014

Councils unite in attack on Fed’s $925mil grants grab

Local governments across Australia have issued an overwhelming public rejection of federal Budget funding freezes likely to prompt rates hikes hit pensioners.

16 June, 2014

Councils cop warning over cut-throat security prices

The local government sector has been cautioned over the potential dangers of putting price pressure on security contracts after the industrial umpire suggested the need for checks to make sure firms are not illegally underpaying their employees.

10 June, 2014

Technology is the comfort zone, leadership is the battle zone

Brisbane’s first Chief Digital Officer has issued a call to action on digital leadership.

10 June, 2014

Grants freeze paves road to regional infrastructure hell

Budget puts safety and economic growth at risk say engineers and councils, who want access to affordable debt facilities.

5 June, 2014

Councils given online tools to help manage big projects

Councils in Victoria have become the first in Australia to try out a new online toolkit designed to assist them in the planning and delivery of their infrastructure projects.

5 June, 2014