Archived News for Professionals in Local Government

Australia punches well above its weight in terms of research outcomes, a habit highlighted by the release of the Ten of the Best Research Projects 2013 report.

Slight bump to welfare to catch CPI

Over a million Australian students, young jobseekers, carers and young people with a disability will see a small increase to their Centrelink payments from next year.

Border meetings help councils on both sides

A rare moment of cross-border collaboration has arisen from a meeting on the Queensland-New South Wales divide.

Cuts crush needed services for neat gains

Schemes encouraging regional social cohesion and providing indigenous legal aid have been cut to save funds, as the Federal Government grapples with a worsening budgetary situation.

Heave for half-day works for this year

Newcastle Council's general manager says a push for the council to keep a traditional, but not official, Christmas Eve half day for staff will cost jobs.

Plan shoved ahead to fight ailing employment

The Federal Government has bumped forward a program in response to the high unemployment rate in Tasmania.

State slow to pay out for amalgamation ideas

A parliamentary committee has heard Perth councils were pretty severely short-changed by the WA state government’s push for metro council amalgamations.

Budget brings grey future for green farmers

This week’s Federal Government Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) indicates changes on the way for several agricultural schemes and funds but not a lot of detail on what, if anything, will replace them.

People want EPA back on their side, survey says

The New South Wales Environmental Protection Authority has to move away from industry-favouring and do more regulating if it is to gain more public trust, a recent survey found.

Pledge for more plans as Menindee Lakes diminish

Nearly a million dollars will be spent to work out how to save water in an important set of lakes.

Gun-toting school cops defend line of duty

The Australian Education Union (AEU) has raised concerns after Northern Territory Police suddenly armed its school-based police officers.

Amendment hopes to give public say on pokies reform

Australia may get to vote on which measures, if any, should be applied to stem the flow of money pouring into poker-machines around the country.

DHS cuts require clear view from at least three offices

A local report has accused Centrelink’s national boss of racking up excess costs, while the department sacks hundreds of workers.

Local Government group says ICT wants to help

All councils will be looking to save a few dollars at the moment, and the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) has urged its members to think of technological ways to tighten the belt.

Millions to break uni barriers for disadvantaged

Millions of dollars have been provided to allow more Indigenous and disadvantaged Australians to attend university.

Pleas to save NT town from closure, federal neglect

Regional Development Australia says the Federal Government is neglecting one of its most vulnerable communities by ignoring the closure of a Northern Territory refinery, and the likely ruination of nearby residents.

Pledge sought for more useful port

The Council region within which a contentious port expansion has been approved is looking to ensure it can be used for something other than coal.

Public sector's internal watchdog unleashed

There has long been a perception that the public sector enjoys a bit of regulation, but a recent speech from Dr Ian Watt says the opposite is now the way.

Talks herald new age of Australia-PNG friendship

An agreement has been struck to change the relationship between the governments of Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Tassie town to plan post-peak oil

One council has become the first in Tasmania to implement the Local Government Peak Oil Action Plan, which seeks to help fight the ever-increasing cost of fuel.

Birmingham lets billions flow from Murray

Six hundred gigalitres of water from the River Murray system, the Goulburn and Murrumbidgee Rivers will be pushed where it is needed most, according to Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment, Senator Simon Birmingham.