It was wonderful to see many of you at our end of year drinks last Thursday. There is an enormous amount of goodwill around the VLGA, and we thank you all for your support during the year. We also announced the Inaugural Winner of the VLGA’s John Jago Good Governance Award.
The John Jago Good Governance Award is awarded to a VLGA member local government or community organisation whose governance and leadership practices have led to improved public participation in decision-making. John became involved with the VLGA in 1994 and was the Association’s President from 1998 to 2000, and this Award exemplifies the values and traits exhibited by Cr John Jago in his work with communities and local governments. Three finalists vied for the award, with the winner receiving an Indigenous glass trophy and a $500 cheque. Highly commended finalists included Manningham for their Civic Precinct Community Hub, and Banyule for their Greensborough Project. The winner was Port Phillip for their St Kilda Festival Review. All three nominations were very close, and we will soon be uploading these onto our website, as well as a wonderful speech about good governance and John Jago from VLGA Life Member Mike Hill.
New MPs bring a strong local government flavour to parliament
At the time of writing this eNews, it is interesting to note that seven out of 13 new Members of Parliament come from local government backgrounds, including Donna Bauer (Liberal MP for Carrum from Kingston), Anthony Carbines (Labor MP for Ivanhoe from Banyule), Jane Garrett (Labor MP for Brunswick from Yarra City), Andrew Katos (Liberal MP for South Barwon from Geelong), Tim McCurdy (Nationals MP for Murray Valley from Moira), Clem Newton-Brown (Liberal MP for Prahran formerly from Melbourne), and Lorraine Wreford (Liberal MP for Mordialloc from Casey). That’s just under 54% with local government backgrounds. The VLGA has talked with most of these former councillors about our member’s views on what changes need to occur (see below). We believe that they will be strong advocates for local government given their connections and understanding, so we look forward to working with them. We understand that by-elections will be held in Banyule, Casey and Yarra City, with countbacks in Geelong and Kingston and that all will be finalised by the end of March next year. We look forward to welcoming these new councillors then.
Working with the new State Government
The VLGA has a proud history and strong record of consulting with and representing the interests of its members to both government bodies and other organisations. The VLGA has maintained excellent relationships with the Liberal and National Parties whilst in opposition, and looks forward to continuing such relationships with the new State Government. The VLGA approach in representing its members is to engage with the Victorian Government and establish a regular dialogue on the key local government and community issues of concern to its membership.
We especially congratulate Jeannette Powell on her appointment as Minister for Local Government, and we look forward to meeting with her shortly, and look forward to the opportunity to work constructively with her and her colleagues. We also acknowledge the work and commitment of the outgoing Minister for Local Government Richard Wynne and the Brumby Government.
The VLGA called for a new approach to the ways that governments work together and with our communities, as you can see here, and we will continue to work hard on behalf of our members to see more local solutions to local challenges. So, our preparations over the coming weeks for meetings with new Ministers, and shadow spokespersons, will of course focus on some ‘non-negotiable’ asks we have been pressing for on behalf of our members for some time. Key among these ‘asks’ are:
* simplification and clarification of conflict of interest legislation
* promoting and building good governance capacities
* adequate funding of local community infrastructure
* a deepening partnership with and respect of local democracy
* improving community participation in decision-making – especially planning
* giving local governments more power to address amenity impacts of take-away alcohol,
* improving community resilience to cope with change of all kinds including the climate, population growth, water and public transport
* social justice and human rights plans
* increasing housing affordability, and
* reducing the harms of pokies.
As we have also discussed in recent editions of my eNews, there are many promises made by the Coalition Government affecting local governments worthy of support and monitoring to ensure they happen. We are particularly excited about our involvement in proposals such as the Whelan Report into the financial sustainability of rural local governments; the Ministerial Mayors Advisory Panel and other ideas that will hopefully progress the issues of roles and responsibilities and cost-shifting in meaningful ways. These are big debates and issues, so the VLGA will need to continue to be ready, agile and positive to ensure that the wishes of our members are realised.
VLGA Board Elections
By now members should have received formal notice of the Board Elections from our CEO and Returning Officer Maree McPherson. The election for VLGA Board and President for the 2011-13 term will be held in February 2011. This election, which is being held under the VLGA’s recently revised Constitution, consists of a poll for the President (who is directly elected) and for eight ordinary Board members. Please note that the Voters' Roll closes at 5pm on Wednesday 22 December 2010 – if you have any queries about your membership status, please contact Member Resources Officer Sarah Colgan by email or telephone (03) 9349 7983.
Voting in the election will commence at 9am on Thursday 3 February, and closes at 5pm on Thursday 10 February. See the VLGA Board Election Guide 2011 for further details about the election process. Councillors of VLGA member councils are eligible to stand for the office of President. More information about the role is contained in the VLGA President candidate information document. Of the eight ordinary Board member positions, five must be councillors of VLGA member councils and three must be from other categories of membership. You can read more about the role of Board members in the VLGA Ordinary Board member candidate information document. Nominations for both President and ordinary Board members open at 9am on Friday 21 January, and close at 5pm on Friday 28 January. Download the VLGA Board Election 2011 nomination form for more details and to nominate for the Board.
ALGA welcomes Draft National Road Safety Strategy
Cr Genia McCaffery, President of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), last week welcomed the consultation draft of the National Road Safety Strategy 2011-20, which aims to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on Australian roads by at least 30% annually. Local governments are collectively responsible for over 650,000 kilometres or 80% of all roads in Australia and local government welcomes the greater emphasis on local roads in the draft strategy.
Cr McCaffery therefore urges everyone to examine the draft strategy from their own perspectives and provide feedback by asking the questions: How will this work in my community? Is it practical? Are there alternative approaches to achieve the same or better result? How will these initiatives be paid for? The draft strategy and details on how to lodge feedback can be found on the Department of Infrastructure and Transport website.
Check out Day 12 in the ‘16 days of action to prevent violence against women’
Watch the changing flag on our website front page over the ‘16 days of action’ featuring a new daily action to focus on the need to prevent violence against women, and make a difference in your community. For more information contact Linda Bennett on email or call (03) 9349 7904.2011 Essential Mayor’s Weekend
As local governments decide on the new Mayor for the next 12 months, we would like you to keep in mind that the 2011 Essential Mayor’s Weekend has been booked for 12pm (midday) Thursday 27 January until 3pm Saturday 29 January. This will take place at Peppers the Sands Resort, Torquay. The aims of this weekend are to enable Mayors to:
• Build networks and support with other Mayors
• Survive and then thrive during the Mayoral year
• Maintain and strengthen key relationships with CEOs and Councillors, and
• Receive in-depth governance, team building and conflict resolution skills.
Please mention this not-to-be-missed event to your new or continuing Mayor, and for further information, contact Director Policy & Public Affairs, Darren Ray via email or telephone (03) 9349 7902.
Other events
2010 Human Rights Week panel discussion: shining a light on human rights: the charter in action
This coming Wednesday 8 December 2010, 12-1pm Melbourne, Telstra Theatrette
Julian Burnside AO QC, and James Farrell, Manager of the Public Interest Law Clearing House Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic. For more information go here.
Cr Heinz Kreutz
President
0438 006 656 or email
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