By Julian Bajkowski The Queensland government’s unprecendented ban on giving IBM new business after the $1.2 billion Health Payroll software disaster will not be imposed on local governments and councils, the minister responsible for the sector had confirmed. Queensland Local Government Minister David Crisafulli has told Government News that councils will not be hit by […]
12 August, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski Councils across Australia will soon be forced to explain to ratepayers how much of their money was spent pushing the ‘Yes’ case for the proposed referendum on financial recognition for local government in the Constitution after the poll officially bit the dust on Sunday. The announcement of a 7th September election date […]
6 August, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski When the chief executive of the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA), Rob Whelan, took to the airwaves in late January 2013 to take councils in Queensland to task over flood protection measures, it was the opening shot in a war of words between local government and the risk industry that had been […]
24 April, 2013
By Paul Hemsley The Queensland government has hit back over its controversial plan to ease restrictions on clearing by farmers and other property owners after the new laws again drew flak from councils over a lack of consultation and environmental groups opposed fearing threatened habitats will be destroyed. The sunshine state’s Minister for Natural Resources […]
19 April, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski and Paul Hemsley Australia’s local government sector has been left facing tough choices over how to deal with the release of Coalition’s policy on the National Broadband Network that would forgo fibre-to-the-premises in favour of recycling Telstra’s ageing copper lines in many regional areas. After decades of campaigning to get better internet […]
12 April, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski The Local Government Association of Queensland has issued its 10-point pre-Budget federal election wish list, putting roads and disaster funding reform at the forefront of its agenda. The catalogue of demands comes as the federal government attempts to lock in the final preparations for the federal budget in May. The document will […]
19 March, 2013
By Paul Hemsley Queensland Premier Campbell Newman’s offer to provide councils that were pushed into forced marriages with their neighbours the option of an amicable, no-fault divorce has been taken up with gusto by voters in the Noosa, Livingstone, Mareeba and Douglas areas. Queensland Minister for Local Government David Crisafulli on the weekend commended the […]
11 March, 2013
By Paul Hemsley Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) President Margaret de Wit has urged Queensland councils to factor in how a potential 3.3 per cent rise in council costs will hit them when they decide how they set their rates during the 2013-14 financial year. The likely cost hikes come as Queensland councils face […]
4 March, 2013
By Paul Hemsley The Local Government and Shires Association of New South Wales (LGSA) has become the latest local government peak body to launch a Twitter account as part of its website redesign and relaunch. The LGSA has joined the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), the Victorian Local Governance Association […]
17 January, 2013
By Paul Hemsley Local Government Association of Queensland President Margaret de Wit has welcomed the state government’s move to put councils back in charge of community planning by getting rid of a raft of state bureaucratic requirements. The Queensland government this week passed changes to the Local Government Act and Brisbane City Council Act it […]
15 November, 2012
By Julian Bajkowski The Australian Local Government Association’s National Local Roads and Transport Congress in Hobart will double-up as an election venue for a new leader after former Queensland local government head Paul Bell threw his hat in the ring for the presidency. An announcement on who has won the presidential race is expected by […]
13 November, 2012
By Paul Hemsley Brisbane City Councillor Margaret de Wit has defeated Fraser Coast Mayor Gerard O’Connell to secure the presidency of the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ). The win means Ms de Wit has become the first female president of the LGAQ in its 116 year history and her agenda will involve cutting back […]
25 October, 2012
By Paul Hemsley Outgoing Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) President Paul Bell has reversed his decision to downsize to a smaller role in local politics, revealing instead he will run for the presidency of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) for a second time. The ALGA presidency has been open since the departure of […]
23 October, 2012
By Paul Hemsley Outspoken Councillor Paul Bell has confirmed he will stand down from his position as president of the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) ahead of the peak body’s annual general meeting. His resignation draws to a close an eight-year run as the leader, a time that included controversial state government moves to […]
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