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Welcome to South Australia. Opening. Welcome to our South African Visitors 11 October 2004 Adelaide, South Australia. Program. Session 1: LG in SA Session 2: The LGA Strucure Session 3: Intergovernment Relationships Session 4: LGA project activities. 1: LG in SA.
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Opening Welcome to our South African Visitors 11 October 2004 Adelaide, South Australia
Program Session 1: LG in SA Session 2: The LGA Strucure Session 3: IntergovernmentRelationships Session 4: LGA project activities
1: LG in SA • Australia is a “pluralist democracy”-i.e. citizens can go to any Government for help and Governments can disagree • Areas of discrete powers • Areas of joint responsibility • Financial transfers • Relationships unclear
1: LG in SA • Structure: • 68 Councils + ACDT + 5 Aboriginal Communities • 68 = 15% area 97% of population • 50 Country & 18 Metro Adelaide
1: LG in SA • Democratically elected body: • 3 year terms; • full adult franchise; • secret postal ballot; • proportional representation count & avge turnout 40%.
1: LG in SA • Council Members only exercise power as a group • Meetings open to public • No overt party politics • CEOs manage staff (~ 8000)
1: LG in SA • Smallest: 1160 Pop; A$1.16m • Largest: 150,000 Pop; A$80 m
1: LG in SA Revenue:
1: LG in SA Expenditure
1: LG in SA Infrastructure Assets
LG Functions include: • Town Planning • Local Roads • Stormwater • Sport & Recreation • Waste Management • Libraries • Parks & Gardens • Food inspection / Env Health
1: LG in SA Questions?
2: LGA What? • ‘Voice’ of Local Government est. 1875 • Membership organisation • All 68 Councils are members • - Plus Pitjantjatjara, Nepabunna and OACDT
2: LGA Why? • Representation • - Voice of Local Government • - to State & Federal Governments; • - media etc • Leadership • - highlighting “best practice” to Councils • - supporting networking
2: LGA Why? • Information • - visits, circulars, newsletter, website • Corporate schemes • - bulk purchasing
2: LGA Structure • LG Act & Constitution • General Meeting & AGM • Policy Manual • Executive Committee
2: LGA Structure • Senior Executive Committee • Metropolitan LG Group • SAROC (country regions) • Secretariat
2: LGA Functions • Research • Policy Development • Vision/Strategies • Lobbying/Representation
2: LGA Functions • Information/Advocacy • Services • Project Management
2: LGA Capacity • LGA Budget A$2.2 million • - LGA Subscriptions A$1.4 m • - Business income A$0.4m • 25 staff (incl. projects) • 14% LG outlays via LG House • LG Research & Dev. Scheme
2: LGA How? • Information • - web, paper, visits; • Consult • - surveys; forums; decisions at executive • Represent • - Minister’s Forum; Ministers; Officers; Parl’t; media
2: LGA How? • Guide • - Manuals; Models; Training; Conferences • LG Research & Dev. Scheme
2: LGA Entities • LG Finance Authority • LG Corporate Services • Superannuation Scheme • Public Liability Insurance
2: LGA Entities • Workers’ Compensation • General Insurance • Public Libraries Purchasing
2: LGA R & D Scheme • LG’s own research agenda • Tax Equivalent on LGFA • About A$800,000 p.a. • Principles, Purposes & Plan • Benefit Sector as whole • Strategic Policy work
2: LGA National • State LGAs federated • Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) • Canberra office
2: LGA National • Member of COAG • Ministerial Councils • Member ILUA-AUSPAC • Mainly lobbying on funding
2: LGA Questions?
3: Intergovernment • Civilised but unclear • Funding important with Commonwealth • State Parliaments manage legal framework • Prime working relationships with State Governments
3: Intergovernment • Councils/State agencies – day to day relationship • History – ad hoc • Growing role of LGA
3: Intergovernment • State/Local Relations Agreement • Local Government Forum • LGA & Ministers
3: Intergovernment LGA Role • Listening to Councils • Liaising with State agencies • Deal with “Government of the day” • Unless blocked
3: Intergovernment LGA Role • Representations to Ministers • Lobby Parliament • Public Campaign
3: Intergovernment S/L R Agreement • Signed Premier & President • Not legally binding • Points to good practice • Role for LG Forum • Annual list of priorities
3: Intergovernment S/L R Agreement Aims to: “improve consultation arrangements, government communication practices and to build a closer, more productive and collaborative working relationship between State and Local Government.”
3: Intergovernment S/L R Agreement • Co-ordination objectives • Shared understandings • Agreed principles • Communication and consultation expectations
3: Intergovernment S/L R Agreement • Improved financial relations • Objectives, and • Shared strategic directions
3: Intergovernment Annual Priorities • Alignment of strategic plans • Commonwealth relationships • Governance • Economic development
3: Intergovernment Annual Priorities • Stormwater and STEDS • Waste management • Natural resources management • Planning and development • Housing
3: Intergovernment Annual Priorities • Surplus Land • Improved financial information • Consultation guidelines on legislation
3: Intergovernment LG Forum • 5 Ministers & others • 5 LGA Executive Members • 3 Senior State Officers • 3 Senior Local Government Officers • 2 Union representatives
3: Intergovernment LG Forum • Agenda items agreed by OLG and LGA • Papers jointly prepared • Advice to Premier & Cabinet and LGA Executive • Focus on Priorities • Add value – not manage all
3: Intergovernment Questions?
4: Activities Selected issues Comparative Performance Measurement
4: Activities Selected issues Annual Rating Strategy
4: Activities Selected issues Asset Management
4: Activities Selected issues Bulk Electricity
4: Activities Selected issues Online Services