By Julian Bajkowski The Abbott government is wasting no time in pushing its roads-led infrastructure renewal policy to the nation’s councils, after Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Warren Truss, pledged $300 million to replace decaying small bridges. In a speech pitched squarely at regional councils and the road freight industry, […]
15 November, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski The federal ministry of Local Government could be the first of many administrative casualties in Canberra after the function conspicuously failed to appear in the publication of Prime Minister elect Tony Abbott’s first Ministry list. In a document that provides a partial window into how the bureaucracy and machinery of government of […]
16 September, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski Councils and local governments across Australia are digging in for a battle to try and keep $150 million of federal infrastructure funding promised under the Regional Development Australia Fund (RDAF) after the Coalition refused to guarantee the money if it wins government. The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) on Friday upped the […]
6 September, 2013
By Paul Hemsley Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has made an ambitious bid to get Labor’s trailing electoral fortunes back on track on the East Coast by pitching the big-picture infrastructure vision of High Speed Rail against Tony Abbott’s smaller target Paid Parental Leave scheme as a better use of taxpayers money. Mr Rudd yesterday committed […]
27 August, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski The electorally popular, multi-billion dollar Roads to Recovery program should be permanently funded and councils dealt into any new road-user charging schemes a pre-election list of demands issued by Australia’s peak body for local governments says. As the federal poll date draws closer, councils across the nation have put both sides of […]
18 June, 2013
By Angela Dorizas Councils in South Australia can expect to see additional funding for local roads under a Coalition Government, the Local Government Association (LGA) has said. LGA president, Mayor Felicity-ann Lewis said the commitment from Shadow Minister for Trade, Transport and Local Government, Warren Truss, to address the local roads funding shortfall was welcomed by […]
19 August, 2010
By Angela Dorizas In the lead-up to the Federal election, the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has reminded major parties to consider its ten-point plan of local government policy priorities. The document outlines local government’s demands of both major political parties, including a review of local government revenue, continuation of the Regional and Local Community […]
19 August, 2010
By Angela Dorizas It has been a long battle for local government in its quest to be included in the Australian Constitution. But at last the campaign has gained momentum, with the Federal Government and Coalition publicly backing the drive for reform. In June, the Federal Government reaffirmed its support for constitutional change, with the […]
27 July, 2010
Minister for Climate Change, Senator Penny Wong. Image: Eddie Misic. By Angela Dorizas Local government has a unique opportunity to lead on climate change action, Minster for Climate Change, Senator Penny Wong, has said. In an address to the Australian Local Government Association national general assembly, Senator Wong praised the work of councils […]
17 June, 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
By Angela Dorizas Prince William’s visit to Australia has reopened the republican debate and put federal-state relations and local government reform back on the agenda. Attorney-General Robert McClelland told the Australian Financial Review that there were four potential questions to be put to voters in a referendum if Labor won the election this year. He […]
20 January, 2010
ALGA president Geoff Lake with Federal Minister for Local Government Anthony Albanese By Angela Dorizas in Melbourne The Federal Minister for Local Government Anthony Albanese today criticised the opposition for not making clear its position on constitutional recognition of local government and for being “all over the shop” on infrastructure. His comments were made at the Local […]
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