President's column
This week ALGA welcomed the Australian Labor Party’s commitments under the Plan for Local Government issued by the Opposition in response to our Federal Election priorities document, All Politics is Local, which we issued last September. Our document identified 12 priorities including restoring funding assistance to local government, improving the safety of local roads, national+
Major parties release deals for cities partnerships
The major parties have both pledged support for Australian cities with partnership agreements aimed at benefitting communities by improving relations between all three levels of government. Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population, Alan Tudge, wrote to ALGA to outline the Coalition’s plans to develop City Deals with councils in Melbourne’s northwest and southeast and+
City of Sydney approves 24-hours trading plans
Businesses in central Sydney will be able to trade for 24 hours from June, subject to relevant NSW ‘lock out’ legislation, after new planning controls were adopted by City of Sydney Council. The new 24-hour trading area encompasses Darling Harbour in the west to Hyde Park in the east, south to Central Station, while businesses+
Vale Bob Hawke, champion of 1988 Local Government Referendum
ALGA joins Australians in expressing its sadness over the death of former Prime Minister, Bob Hawke. Australia’s 24th Prime Minister held a referendum in 1988 to give constitutional recognition for local government and create a new section, 119A. “This would have recognised the existing reality of local governments in Australia as state-created entities but would+
ALGWA National Conference marks centenary of women in local government
The Australian Local Government Women’s Association (ALGWA) National Conference has this week convened in Blacktown, western Sydney, to celebrate the achievements of women in local government and renew their efforts toward achieving equal representation. ALGWA National President, Cr Carol Ross, told delegates that Tasmania’s local governments had reached 39% female representation, while NSW, the most+