By Paul Hemsley and Julian Bajkowski The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has called for money to be urgently freed up under the Referendums (Machinery Provisions) Act to educate the Australian public about Constitutional matters in the run-up to a vote on financial recognition in the federal election in September 2013 – if it happens. […]
22 March, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski Federal minister for Local Government Simon Crean has ratcheted-up pressure on state premiers to get behind a referendum on Constitutional recognition and direct funding of council projects from Canberra. The renewed push to get states on board comes after crisis talks were held between the Australian Local Government Association and Mr Crean […]
19 February, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski The parliamentary committee tasked with deciding whether a referendum on financial recognition of local government in the Australian Constitution should go ahead will hold a rapid second public hearing on February 20th as opposing sides of politics battle to a September plebiscite alive. A notice from the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional […]
4 February, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski Prime Minister Julia Gillard has called a federal election for Saturday September the 14th, setting the stage for long campaign in the hope of winning back voters. In a message to supporters, the PM said that the government would continue to deliver important policies, but also cautioned that the long-lead time would […]
30 January, 2013
By Paul Hemsley and Julian Bajkowski New South Wales Premier Barry O’Farrell has warned that the federal government could abuse any new powers to directly fund local government programs after the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition of Local Government preliminary report recommended a referendum on the topic at the next federal election. “We don’t […]
25 January, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski A stand-alone referendum on Constitutional Recognition for local government outside a federal election would cost taxpayers a minimum of $121 million in costs incurred by the Australian Electoral Commission alone, the agency responsible for running the polls has estimated. The big number price tag is contained in the AEC’s submission to the […]
22 January, 2013
A major national arts project that aims to make civic engagement and the Australian Constitution 'cool by association', will be launched tomorrow. Launched by the Governor-General, Quentin Bryce, the AusCivics Film Festivals will promote the theme "Celebrating the Australian Way" and are expected to reach millions of Australians during the remainder of 2010. 70 motorcycle riders will […]
9 August, 2010
Leader of the Nationals and shadow minister for local government, Warren Truss. Image: Eddie Misic. By Angela Dorizas The Coalition has promised to create a $600 million program to repair and rebuild ageing and decaying bridges across Australia, in a shift towards the direct funding of local government, Leader of the Nationals Warren Truss has […]
17 June, 2010
Australian Local Government Association president, Cr Geoff Lake. Image: Eddie Misic. By Angela Dorizas The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has launched its ‘10-point plan’ of local government policy priorities. ALGA president Geoff Lake presented the document to Federal Minister for Local Government, Anthony Albanese, at the national general assembly of local government in […]
15 June, 2010End of content
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