Australia's National Local Government Newspaper Online

NSW progresses down the path of voluntary amalgamations
In June last year, Harry Woods, New South Wales Minister for Local Government, invited groups of Councils to submit joint proposals for voluntary amalgamations. Eight initial proposals, involving 24 Councils, were received. In February, the first two amalgamations were officially proclaimed.

VIC infrastructure to gain from new Rating Framework
The Victorian Government has turned the spotlight on rebuilding local infrastructure following the recent release of the 2000/2001 Rating Framework by Local Government Minister Bob Cameron.

Editorial
Over the past decade, all State Governments and the Northern Territory have embarked, in some form or another, along the path of Local Government boundary restructure. Although there have been a few instances of individual Councils being split into smaller units, the majority of restructure processes have aimed to reduce the sum total of Councils in a particular State.

President's comment
Each edition we feature the views of a Local Government Association President. The following is from Councillor Chris Vardon, President of the Shires Association of NSW.

Adelaide to take world stage with environment agenda
The City of Adelaide will play host to a range of international delegates, visitors and media when the main international event for World Environment Day is held there on 5 June.

Rebuilding East Timor
Victoria's City of Port Phillip has pledged to assist in rebuilding the East Timor coastal town of Suai. It has entered a five to ten year partnership arrangement with the National Council for East Timorese Resisitance (CNRT) to achieve this.

Total Staging - Everything you need to stage a great event
With no shortage of spectacular scenery in Australia, staging events such as concerts in places like Launceston's Cataract Gorge or the Flinders Ranges is very popular. But getting a temporary professional standard stage to the right place can be costly. As a result Launceston City Council bought its own transportable professional stage to take advantage of its many scenic sites.

Joint initiative to distribute community funding
The City of Penrith has joined with the State Government and local entertainment venue Panthers to allocate funds from gambling profits to community initiatives.

Matching skill needs in rural areas
One of the intractable problems of unemployment is the inability of many unemployed people to match the skills required in their local area. The imbalance is usually harder to redress in rural areas where study options are also more limited.

Gearing up for the New Tax System with TCR 2000
With 1 July rapidly approaching, similar to organisations across the nation, Councils are getting ready for the New Tax System (NTS). Councils need to have an implementation plan in place, including the necessary software to meet their compliance reporting needs.

Dramatic drop in compensation claims
The number and cost of workers' compensation claims received by Brighton Council continues to drop, reflecting greater emphasis on safety awareness within the organisation.

Balancing act at Bankstown
Bankstown City Council has successfully adapted the sometimes complex 'Balanced Scorecard' approach to achieve more effective and integrated management planning.

Finance One provides top accounting solution for Councils
Leading accounting software system, Finance One is providing world best practice financial management solutions for Councils across Australia with the product gaining a strong and loyal following among Council users.

Manly's Workplace Agreement wins award
Manly City Council's recently negotiated Waste Management Services Enterprise Agreement has won a New Directions Award from the NSW Department of Industrial Relations.

Technology to reduce time spent on property queries
The City of Melbourne and Land Victoria have collaborated on a pilot project to fast track the collection of property information required for vendor statements.

Burnie: the Online City of the Future
Burnie City Council is continuing to foster opportunities for growth and new job creation in the area of information technology and communications.

GST software unveiled by leading supplier
An enthusiastic reception was given to the new GST version of the popular Practical Computer Services (PCS) software by the 130 delegates attending their recent 14th annual Users Group Conference.

TIGERS to bring government services together
A $10 million dollar, three year trial program to integrate all three government services is underway in Tasmania.

Message from the Minister
Once again it is a great pleasure to be in contact with everyone involved in Local Government in Australia through this edition of National Perspective.

Review of Local Government Financial Assistance Grants
The Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government, Senator Ian Macdonald, has announced that the Commonwealth Grants Commission will undertake the review of the Local Government (Financial Assistance) Act 1995.

Innovation in Local Government - Are you ready for the National Awards?
Whether you represent a larger municipality or the smallest, remote rural community, the National Office of Local Government wants to hear from you for the year 2000 National Awards for Innovation in Local Government.

Regional Ministers set new priority
Regional Development Ministers from around Australia have agreed to work together to establish a clear framework for cooperation between all levels of government.

Setting the Agenda for our community, for our future...
Senator Robert Hill and Senator Ian Macdonald are working together to assist Local Government in meeting the challenge of implementing ecologically sustainable development at the local level.

GST: Pricing advice by industry associations
Industry associations can assist their members to assess the impact of the GST on prices and how to deal with pricing without breaching the Trade Practices Act. But industry associations face a risk of legal action with the possibility of some serious penalties if they help fix, maintain or control prices, or where they facilitate a meeting of the minds on price setting.

Ipswich on track with winning entry
With the Year 2000 National Awards for Innovation in Local Government looming, it is an ideal time to find out what progress had been made by Ipswich City Council, the 1999 National Award winner.

Economic boost to regions under Rural Plan
The Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government, Senator Ian Macdonald has announced 21 successful Rural Plan grants under Round Two of the programme.

Regional Forest Agreements - Key to a sustainable future for our native forests
Whether the issue is water or waste, salinity or biodiversity, the Federal government is in no doubt as to Local Government's commitment to environmental protection. In the four States where RFAs are in place, Councils have played an important part in forest policy development.

Shortcut to local economic development in the regions
The President of the Australian Local Government Association, Councillor John Ross recently presented the Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government, Senator Ian Macdonald, with a copy of a practical new guide for Councils that want to take a more active role in encouraging local economic development.