I thought by now I might be able to comment on the results of the federal election, but given the suspended state of our political system, it remains unclear if we will be heading into spring or returning to winter, metaphorically speaking. Seriously though, I can’t remember the last time I saw such a negative response from the electorate – ca. 6% informal votes and neither of the two main parties being rewarded with a majority. The one learning I can take away from the weekend, though, is this: lack of clarity in policy messages and a focus on the pre-election polls will not always get you what you want, that’s for sure.
I would like to thank those of you who responded so encouragingly last week to our question about population growth and dominant discourses. I will collate the responses and post a summary on our website soon. As I foreshadowed last week, my colleague, VLGA Vice President Jeanette McCrae, who chairs our social housing advisory committee, has added a few comments.
Diverse and Affordable Housing Advisory Group
Chair, Vice President Cr Jeanette McRae
The VLGA’s Diverse and Affordable Housing Advisory Group is made up of a mix of public and community housing providers, developers, councillors, and officers, and includes representation from rural and regional areas including Wodonga. It encompasses representatives from crucial voices in the housing debate such as the Community Housing Federation of Victoria (CHFV), the Victorian Public Tenants Association (VPTA), and the newly-formed Eastern Affordable Housing Alliance.
The Advisory Group works to assist local governments, communities and housing providers build capacities to:
* improve housing diversity and affordability, particularly for low to middle income people;
* increase the supply of housing choices, in particular public and community housing, and ensure they are integrated in a reasonably diverse and supported local community;
* improve responses to homelessness;
* advocate for more State Government action on diverse and affordable housing, emphasising co-constructive approaches by communities, local governments, and State Government; and
* address social exclusion.
In 2010 the Diverse and Affordable Housing Advisory Group has undertaken the first local government survey on affordable housing strategies throughout Victoria in ten years. The survey collected responses from councillors, officers and community members from local government areas spanning the metropolitan, regional, rural, and interface mix. Respondents were asked to provide information on housing and affordable housing strategies within their local government, as well as on affordable housing priorities, training needs, community perceptions, and partnerships with other local governments or housing organisations. The results are currently being analysed and will provide an in-depth overview of what is happening in housing and affordable housing strategies across Victoria. The survey report will highlight innovative strategies, gaps in the field, and potential ways forward in local government engagement with affordable housing.
The Advisory Group is also compiling a ready-reference of housing networks throughout Victoria. This valuable resource will provide an easy-to-use tool for locating ‘who, what and where’ in the increasingly complex housing debate, and assist in the forming of strategic networks and partnerships.
The Advisory Group works in cooperation with the MAV’s Growth Councillor Reference Group, as well as the Housing and Local Government Network (HALGN) to provide synergistic and targeted strategies to advance affordable housing throughout Victoria. The MAV provided excellent support in the design of the VLGA’s Affordable Housing Survey. The VLGA plays a strong support role for HALGN meetings, where players from across the housing sector meet to discuss key, emerging, and urgent issues.
Gambling help now available online
The VLGA Local Government Working Group on Gambling heard from Simone Rodda from Turning Point last week with respect to the new Gambling Help Online website. The website has been in operation for seven months and delivers an online counselling service, referrals, and an email support program 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. See the website for yourself here and consider promoting this terrific resource in your community.
Multicultural Women’s Support Program
The Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Coalition is offering a series of sessions for self-care and peer support for multicultural women through the Multicultural Women’s Support Program on Friday afternoons at the Queen Victorian Women’s Centre. Go here for more information.
Friendship group workshop
VLGA Timor-Leste Project Officer Gary Jungwirth will travel to East Timor next week to attend a Friendship Group workshop to be held in Maubisse – a beautiful mountainous inland village about three hours south of Dili. The purpose of the workshop is to look at the future development of the friendship movement for the next five years. It is expected that President Ramos-Horta will open the workshop. VLGA Board Member Richard Brown, who chairs the VLGA Advisory Group on Timor-Leste, will also attend together with Advisory Group members Barbara Godfrey and Pat Vickers-Rich.
Gary and Richard will also be meeting with government officials from the Ministry of State Administration and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Australian Ambassador to East Timor, Members of Parliament, AVI and AusAID officials and others. We acknowledge the work of Rae Kingsbury and the Australian Timor-Leste Friendship Network in putting this workshop together and we are very pleased to be part of it.
Food for All
The VLGA is delivering a new project for VicHealth, Food for All, which will distribute resources including a tool kit to assist local governments to address local food security. Over the last five years VicHealth has funded projects in nine LGA’s and from the evaluation of those projects has developed a set of fact sheets and short movies which describe the strategies and approaches that worked successfully during the projects. The strategies used by local governments can be as diverse as: improving walkability of neighbourhoods so it is easy for people to walk to the shops; supporting local community kitchens by providing low cost or no cost kitchen facilities; protecting existing arable farmland from housing development to ensure our food is grown close to where we live; and maternal child health or community peer leaders conducting education sessions for parents of young children about healthy eating.
The kit demonstrates how local governments can provide leadership and support to other organisations and individuals in the community to act together using tried and tested strategies. We will be engaging in a variety of activities to promote the kit, including a series of free forums for local government workers to learn from the experts, and in-house direct support to local governments with a smaller workforce. For more information go here or call VLGA Food for All Project Officer, Leah Galvin, on (03) 9349 7999 or email leah@vlga.org.au.
VLRC releases its Surveillance in Public Places: Final Report
The Victorian Law Reform Commission Surveillance in Public Places: Final Report responds to the growing use and sophistication of surveillance technologies. It provides recommendations to modernise surveillance laws and promote the responsible use of surveillance devices in public places. The report completes a two-stage inquiry into the widespread use of privacy-invasive technologies. The Commission’s Workplace Privacy: Final Report was the first stage and proposed the creation of workplace privacy legislation to regulate potentially privacy-invasive acts and practices in the workplace.
ALGWA 2010 Study Award
Permanent members of staff in Victorian local governments can now apply for the Australian Local Government Women’s Association’s study award of $1,000 to assist women working in Victorian local governments to further their education. Applications must be lodged by 6 September. For details and application form, go here.
Watch this space
Local governments answer the call to progress research on the impact of EGMs
Many would be aware that the VLGA has partnered with the University of Ballarat to conduct independent research on the impact of electronic gaming machines on communities. Thank you to the 31 councils so far that have responded to my letter sent to mayors and councillors in April and contributed significant funds to this important project. These contributions will ensure the research is independent of industry and government and delivers practical benefits to Victorian communities. This research is the first of its kind to examine the public health consequences of electronic gaming machines in a local area. The investigation will include: what effect the introduction of EGMs has on people’s feelings of safety in their community; family functioning; depression levels; demand for health and welfare support services; and feelings of wellbeing in the community. For more information, email jan@vlga.org.au or call (03) 9349 7921.
VLGA events for your diary
Mike Hill and Constitution review consultation at our next LEF
Thursday 2 September 2010VLGA, 60 Leicester St, Carlton
The VLGA is reviewing its constitution and we want your input so come along to our September LEF, gather with colleagues, hear from VLGA life member Mike Hill and have your say. Mike Hill will speak about good governance and the future. We’ll also talk about our Issues Paper and provide members with the chance to ask questions and make comments.
Mike Hill has 18 years of close involvement with local governments, including periods as Mayor of Brunswick and of Moreland. He has a long-standing commitment to issues of sustainability and a history of involvement in materials and energy efficiency issues and programs. He has been Chair of EcoRecycle Victoria and a Director of Sustainable Energy Authority of Victoria. He is currently Chair of ECO-Buy, the Moreland Energy Foundation, and Victorian Local Sustainability Advisory Committee, Director of Sustainability Victoria, Board Member of the EPA, and Co-Chair of the Natural Resources and Conservation League.
Please register your attendance online by 30 August.
Other events
Local government leaders preventing violence against women conference
This Thursday 26 August, 10am-4.30pm
MCG, Melbourne
This Thursday local government leaders will discuss how local governments can prevent violence against women and foster safe and inclusive environments for all. For further information, or to register go here.This Thursday 26 August, 10am-4.30pm
MCG, Melbourne
Planning for a bigger Melbourne
Wednesday 1 September, 6.30-8.30pm
St Michael’s Convention Centre
Rear 120 Collins St, Melbourne (near cnr Russell and Collins Sts)
The Australian Fabians will hold a forum on ‘Planning for a bigger Melbourne – delivering a more sustainable city’ where a range of topical questions will be discussed, including: how can planning for a changing Melbourne keep pace; how can it remain liveable and harmonious; and how can principles of sustainability be better incorporated into planning for Melbourne. Speakers will include: Michael Buxton, Assoc Professor Environment and Planning RMIT; Andrew McLeod, CEO Committee for Melbourne; and David Keenan, CEO Mitchell Shire Council. Go here for more information.
Cr Heinz Kreutz
President
0438 006 656 or heinz@vlga.org.au
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