Australia's National Local Government Newspaper Online

Partnering programs with PNG

Federal Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government, Senator Ian Macdonald announced at the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) that the Australian Government, through its aid program AusAID, will provide $800,000 for projects modelled on the CLGF Good Practice Scheme.

Senator Macdonald congratulated the CLGF for continuing with its Conference in Brisbane in spite of the cancellation of CHOGM.

“Local Government delegates from most Commonwealth nations around the world have come to Brisbane in the interest of furthering democracy and good governance,” he said. “I am proud of the recognition the CLGF has given to the work of the Australian Government in supporting local governance in the Pacific region under the Commonwealth’s Good Practice Scheme and through Australia’s overseas aid program.”

“The call by CLGF delegates for CHOGM to establish a fund to support democracy and good governance will be considered by CHOGM at its postponed meeting in Brisbane in the early part of next year.”

Three Australian Councils will ‘twin’ with Councils in Papua New Guinea in the following projects.

• Cairns and Lae – development of a waste management strategy
• Townsville and Port Moresby – development of planning capability in NCDC
• Orange and Mt Hagen – development of Mt Hagen City Authority planning capacity and assisting in implementation of an engineering project to improve the Mt Hagen markets public transport parking area.

The Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW and the Australian Local Government Association will also work with the PNG Urban Local Level Government Association on a project to build corporate planning capacity.

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