VLGA President’s Message
In the 7 November 2012 edition of The Financial Review I noted a story that a number of local governments in New South Wales will recoup almost $30 million in funds lost after they put their reserves into several high-risk investment products in 2006 and 2007. According to an article in the latest ALGA news, the local governments were “assured that the investments were iron clad because the products were given a AAA credit rating…. handed out by credit ratings agency Standard & Poor's.” Federal Court Justice Jayne Jagot ruled that Local Government Financial Services - a financial intermediary owned by Local Government Super; ABN Amro - the investment bank that created the derivatives, and Standard & Poor's were negligent and had misled the local governments to invest in the derivatives. The majority of local governments affected were smaller rural shires. This is an interesting case study from another jurisdiction that highlights the potential vulnerability of smaller rural local governments who are often faced with significant infrastructure replacement and development costs, and who need to be wary of investment schemes that seem almost ‘too good to be true’. Don’t forget to submit your registration for the Essential Councillor Weekend this week – we are almost at full capacity! Please don’t hesitate to email or give me a call on 0407 364 509 if there’s anything you wish to discuss. Cheers.
Cr Samantha Dunn
President
Keeping you up to date
2012 Local Government Elections – VEC calls for feedback
We know a large number of VLGA members, new councillors and candidates will be keen to respond to the Victorian Electoral Commission’s (VEC) call for feedback on the 2012 Local Government Elections. The VEC wants to gather voter comment in order to improve communication and services at the next elections. We urge as many of you as possible to provide feedback via the on line survey or you can call 131 832 to request a paper copy be mailed to you. All responses are confidential and subject to the VEC’s privacy policy.
Inquiry into the Constitutional Recognition of Local Government
The Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition of Local Government has been appointed to conduct an inquiry into the financial recognition of local government in the Australian Constitution. At this stage, full membership of the Committee is yet to be determined. The Committee has been established following the report of an independent expert panel and is charged with assessing the likelihood of success of a referendum on financial recognition. The Committee has been directed to inquire into the majority finding (financial recognition) of the expert panel including by amending section 96 of the Constitution. The expert panel’s preferred form of words would amend section 96 to read (proposed new words in italics) “The Parliament may grant financial assistance to any State or to any local government body formed by State or Territory Legislation on such terms and conditions as the Parliament sees fit.”
VLGA young councillors’ network
During the previous council term, the VLGA coordinated an informal network of young councillors and provided an opportunity for them to meet and share ideas and experiences. We are keen to continue our support for young councillors and ideas about activities and projects can be discussed with Senior Policy Officer Jieh-Yung Lo via email or phone on 9349 7980.
VLGA to host Timor-Leste Ambassador to Australia
The VLGA will host a meeting for representatives of Friendship Groups on 15 November with His Excellency Abel Guterres, the Timor-Leste Ambassador to Australia. This will be a great opportunity for Friendship Groups to discuss issues with the Ambassador. Abel is a long term friend of the VLGA and is a current VLGA member. For more information, contact Gary Jungwirth on 0417 335 940.
Maps of social conditions across metropolitan Melbourne
A range of maps of social conditions across metropolitan Melbourne are now available. Based on the findings of the 2011 Census, the maps illustrate the distribution of residents of various birthplaces and spoken languages, as well as incomes, housing types, educational outcomes, religion and disability levels, across Melbourne. The maps provide a detailed picture of conditions down to individual neighbourhoods, and can be copied, cropped and pasted into reports and slide presentations. These maps and other information on the web site are part of a collaborative project between the VLGA and the City of Greater Dandenong.
What is crowdfunding?
A number of VLGA community chapter members along with community and social planners have contacted us for more information on crowdfunding, a contemporary approach to fund-raising which is attracting a lot of attention world-wide. This ‘explainer’ article from the 7 November edition of The Conversation, by Asif Q Gill is a helpful addition to the information available.
Victorian Women’s Trust – 2012-13 General Grants Program
The Victorian Women’s Trust (VWT) is seeking applications for projects enhancing conditions for women and girls in Victoria which lead to long-term, socially progressive change. This year the VWT is particularly interested in project applications taking new and creative approaches to issues of social and economic disadvantage and discrimination. Applications close Monday 4 February 2013. Eligible organisations must complete an application form accessible via VWT grants page. For further details contact Anne Paul on (03) 9642 0422.
ICLEI Oceania and Ironbark Sustainability release Local Government TechSelect Report
ICLEI Oceania and its partner Ironbark Sustainability have released the Local Government TechSelect report on solar and heat pump hot water systems and products. It's just like Choice magazine for councils, only free. The 60-page report includes streamlined information on solar and heat pump products to make product selection easy and is free to download.
International WaterCentre Scholarships available again
The International WaterCentre (IWC) uses innovative, problem-based education approaches to create future water leaders, capable of designing and implementing integrated solutions to global water challenges. IWC is currently offering partial scholarships for programs commencing in Semester 1, 2013 in the Master of Integrated Water Management and the Graduate Certificate in Integrated Water Management (Water Planning). IWC postgraduate degrees are co-taught and co-badged by four leading Australian universities: The University of Queensland, The University of Western Australia, Griffith University and Monash University. For more information, go online or contact the IWC via email or 07 3014 0200.
Employment vacancy
Member Relations Officer
The VLGA is currently seeking applications for the position of Member Relations Officer, to commence in 2013. The role is responsible for VLGA membership and communications-related activity and requires flexibility, initiative and the ability to work within competing demands in a complex political environment. For application details, and to download a position description visit our website.
Events for your diary
VLGA Events
2012 VLGA Essential Councillor Weekend – ‘Year one… here we go!’
23-24 November
The Wyndham Resort, Torquay
This event is almost at capacity – register NOW! You can download the program and registration form from our website. These two days will feature a number of expert-led practical workshops and networking opportunities relevant to how councillors approach the first year of the new council term. To find out more contact Barbara Bennett, Administration Manager via email or telephone (03) 9349 7901.
2012 VLGA Christmas ‘thank you and celebration’
Thursday 6 December, 6-8pm
60 Leicester St, Carlton
Our final VLGA gathering for 2012 will be held on Thursday 6 December. Join us for our end-of-year thank you and celebration with council, community and government colleagues. We will also present the 2012 John Jago Award for Good Governance. Register here.
Other Events
VEOHRC Local Government forums
November-December
Melbourne, Wangaratta, Ararat, Mildura
The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC) is holding a series of human rights forums for local government in November and December. Local governments have asked for more support, training and information to help in their efforts to implement the Charter so these forums are geared towards developing skills to put human rights into practice in governance and service delivery roles. The four forums will be held on:
* 23 November in Melbourne
* 28 November in Wangaratta
* 5 December in Ararat
* 12 December in Mildura
Sustainability Accord Showcase
30 November
The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) is holding an event to showcase recently completed Victorian Local Sustainability Accord (Accord) funded projects, and provide an opportunity to build knowledge and foster connectivity across sustainability and climate change driven projects. The event will feature presentations and displays hosted by those directly involved with Accord projects. Local and State Government staff, and industry professionals from across Victoria are invited to attend. In addition, a live stream of presentations and Q&A sessions will be available. For more information about the live stream and to register for the event, go here.
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