News
Graduate Programs and Short Courses for 2008
Go to the Courses page or view the short course schedule.
Certification Short Course
All offers for 2008 are currently full, but provisional dates are now available for the first half of 2009. Preference is being given to engineers who must renew their accreditation by March 2009. For details on waiting lists please contact Chris Watterson.
New Bushfire Hazard Reduction Course
The Centre is offering a new course for local government staff and others who have responsibilities for identifying bushfire hazards and issuing Hazard Reduction Certificates. It covers the requirements of the Bush Fire Environmental Assessment Code introduced in 2006. This will be held on 21-24 October. See the short course schedule for details.
Headlines
- Launch of Commonwealth e-Journal of Local Governance. More
- 2007 Annual Report now available to read here
- Meeting of CLGF Research Advisory Group. More
- LGMA National Congress. More
- Queensland Civic Leaders Summit. More
- Tony Jackson seminar. More
- International visitors to the Centre. More
- Welcome to new CLG staff. More
- CLAIR Sydney seminar. More
- Mosman workshop on constitutional recognition. More
- Local Government Management Challenge. More
- Latest Just Communities project update. More
- Research on Pacific Local Government Legislation. More
- Pacific project reviews. More
- Forum of Federations Research on Capital Cities. More
- Recent Events and Seminars. More
- Recent Conference Presentations. More
Feedback
Your feedback about our website is always appreciated. Please contact Nuha Saad.
Launch of Commonwealth e-Journal
The first issue of the Commonwealth e-journal of Local Governance was launched in London at Marlborough House on 7 May. The journal is a joint venture of the Centre and the Commonwealth Local Government Forum, in association with the Commonwealth Secretariat. It will be published twice yearly and the second issue is scheduled for late November 2008. The journal is edited by Centre Director Graham Sansom and hosted on the UTS e-Press website. More
Centre Director Graham Sansom speaking at the launch of the e-Journal
Meeting of CLGF Research Advisory Group
Also on 7 May in London, Centre Director Graham Sansom chaired a meeting of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum's Research Advisory Group. This brings together local government academics and practitioners from member countries across the Commonwealth to provide research and policy support to CLGF's programs. The May meeting provided an opportunity for members from the UK, Canada, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific to exchange information and ideas on current research activities, and also focused on further development of the e-Journal and preparations for a research cooloquium as part of the 2009 Commonwealth Local Government Conference.
For further information, contact Graham Sansom.
CLGF Research Advisory Group meets at Marlborough House, London
LGMA National Congress
The 2008 LGMA National congress was held on the Gold Coast on 26-28 May. On 26 May the program included a special forum on the findings of the Productivity Commission's inquiry into local government's revenue base and potential, in the context of the federal government's 'new federalism' agenda and the need to find long term solutions to local government's financial problems. Centre Director Graham Sansom was invited to make a presentation to the forum on 'Local Government under a New Federalism'. Click here for a copy.
Queensland Civic Leaders Summit
On 4-5 June Centre Director Graham Sansom facilitated the Civic Leaders Summit for the Local Government Association of Queensland. This event attracted around 80 Mayors, Deputy Mayors and CEOs from across Queensland to discuss key issues facing local government and the need to enhance leadership skills and capacity. A particular focus was the outcomes of the recent widespread amalgamations of Queensland councils and the need for effective leadership to bed down the new, larger organisations.
For a copy of Graham Sansom's presentation to the Summit, click here. For a more comprehensive set of presentations, go to www.lgaq.asn.au and click on Events.
Centre Director Graham Sansom introducing Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman
International visitors
Professor Fumihiko Saito of Ryukoku University, Japan, visited the Centre in early March. He discussed his research on Japanese municipal authorities, with particular reference to deliberative initiatives used in both countries. Robert Mellor, Program Manager in the Centre, outlined his practical experience in instituting better and sustainable local governance practices in Vietnam.
Professor Fumihiko Saito with the Centre's Robert Mellor
Professor Fumihiko Saito is Deputy Director of Local Human Resources and Public Policy Development System Open Research Centre (LORC), Ryukoku University. Professor Saito has previously worked for United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bangladesh and Uganda, and has edited Foundations for Local Governance: Decentralization in Comparative Perspective (2007). A summary of Prof. Saito's book can be viewed here.
Also in March the Centre was visited by Professor Reto Steiner from the University of Berne, Switzerland, and by Professor Filip de Rynck and Dr Dieter Bruneel of Ghent University, Belgium. All three are experts on local government systems in their respective countries and Europe more broadly, and their visits provided an opportunity for a valuable exchange of views on current trends in Europe and Australia.
In April the Centre was pleased to receive a return visit by Prof. Lorenzo Robotti and Professor Paola Renzi of the Università Politecnica delle Marche in Ancona, Italy, who first made contact with us four years ago. Lorenzo and Paola are planning to carry out comparative international research into alternative forms of taxation for use by local governments, and have invited the Centre to participate. Discussions are continuing.
Later in April the Centre hosted visiting planners from Sri Lanka and the Cook Islands, in collaboration with the Planning Institute of Australia. Centre Director Graham Sansom delivered a presentation on current issues in local government and planning in Australia. He also held a separate meeting with Mr Jude Kolhase, Assistant Director of the Planning and Urban Management Authority of Samoa.
Centre Director Graham Sansom delivering presentation to visiting Sri Lankan planners
Finally, towards the end of April the Centre hosted Tony Jackson, Senior Lecturer in Planning at the University of Dundee, Scotland. Tony was in Australia to pursue research interests and presented a well attended seminar at the Centre on "Policies for Economic Development: What Works?" Read more.
New Centre Staff
Chris Watterson has joined the Centre as Short Courses Officer. Gabrielle Watterson continues as Graduate Programs and Finance Administrator during Nuha Saad's maternity leave.
Capital Cities in Federal Systems
The Centre has been commissioned by the Forum of Federations to undertake the Australian component of a global research study into the Finance and Governance of Capital Cities in Federal Systems. This study will compare Canberra with other federal capitals in Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United States.
Although many of the political, cultural, and symbolic functions of capital cities in federal countries are similar, there is considerable variation in many of the other characteristics of these cities. In terms of finance and governance, national capitals differ with respect to (i) the local governing structure, (ii) their roles, responsibilities, and revenues, and (iii) their fiscal relationship with the federal government. These distinguishing features reflect differences in national cultures, historical development, constitutions, political structures, and ideologies.
The study will lead to publication of a book with a chapter on each country. Key questions to be addressed will include:
- How is the capital city governed - is it a city-state, a city within a province or state, or a federal district? Is there a capital commission? How does the governance of the capital city differ from the governance of other cities in the country? Does the federal government have veto power over local decisions?
- What are the responsibilities of the capital city and how are they funded? How have responsibilities and revenues changed over the last 20 years?
- How much financial support does the federal government provide for its capital city? How does this arrangement differ with respect to other cities? Does the federal government compensate the capital city for capital functions? Does the federal government pay property taxes on its properties? Is the capital city sufficiently compensated for the costs associated with its being a capital?
- What are the major issues around the capital city? Are there fiscal issues around federal funding of the city? Are their governance issues around who is responsible for decision-making? Are there unique planning issues around keeping the capital city beautiful, maintaining green space, etc.? Are there regional issues in terms of the city's ability to provide services to neighbouring municipalities within the metropolitan region? How are these issues being resolved?
For further information, contact Graham Sansom. Forum of Federations website link
CLAIR Sydney Seminar
On Friday 15 February 2008 the Centre participated in the 2008 CLAIR Sydney Local Government Seminar, hosted by the Japan Local Government Centre. The theme of the seminar was Future Intergovernmental Relations - Ideas from Japan, with keynote speaker Mr Toshihiko Yokoo, Mayor of Taku City and member of the Japanese Prime Minister's Council to Promote Decentralization Reform.
The seminar was particularly timely in view of the new federal government's proposals to re-shape the Australian federation, and continuing moves by the NSW Local Government and Shires Associations to negotiate an inter-government agreement with the State government.
Robert Mellor, Program Manager at the Centre, chaired proceedings and also presented an overview of the state-of-play in inter-government relations in Australia, and how likely developments may affect local government, prepared by Centre Director Graham Sansom.
Other speakers included:
- Mr Kenji Ikeda, Director of JLGC, who provided an introduction to local government in Japan
- Councillor Robyn Kemmis, City of Sydney and formerly UTS Deputy Vice Chancellor
- Ross Woodward, Deputy Director General of the NSW Department of Local Government
- Councillor Robert Bell, Vice President of the NSW Local Government Association
- Stephen Blackadder, formerly General Manager of Warringah Council, representing Local Government Managers Australia.
From L-R: Mr Kenji Ikeda, Councillor Robyn Kemmis, Mayor Toshihiko Yokoo
CLG's Robert Mellor opens proceedings
The CLAIR panel (l-r): Mayor Toshihiko Yokoo; Stephen Stephen Blackadder, Councillor Robert Bell, Ross Woodward
Mosman Workshop on Constitutional Recognition
On 17 July the two regional organisations of councils covering Sydney's North Shore and Northern Beaches convened a joint workshop to discuss options for pursuing constitutional recognition of local government. The Rudd federal government has invited local government to put forward ideas on a process for moving towards recognition over the next few years.
Speakers at the workshop included Cllr Genia McAffery, Mayor of North Sydney and President of the NSW Local Government Association; Professor Greg Craven, constitutional lawyer and Vice Chancellor of the Australian Catholic University; Barry O'Keefe, a lawyer, former Mayor of Mosman and head of ICAC; and Centre Director Graham Sansom.
The general view to emerge from the workshop was that the likelihood of more than symbolic recognition in the federal constitution was quite small, but that a general requirement for there to be systems of democratic local government could be worthwhile, provided it did not link local government exclusively to the states, whose own future seems increasingly uncertain. For a copy of Graham Sansom's presentation, click here. For further information on local government's aspirations to constitutional recognition, go to www.alga.asn.au.
Auckland Seminar on Metropolitan Governance
On 4 February Centre Director Graham Sansom spoke at a seminar on metropolitan governance convened by the Local Government Centre of the Auckland University of Technology. This follows an initiative by the New Zealand government of establishing a Royal Commission to review current arrangements for governance of the Auckland metropolitan region, focussing upon the need to ensure that Auckland functions effectively as the powerhouse of the NZ economy and remains competitive with large cities around the world. The Royal Commission will consider among other things how infrastructure and services can best be delivered, how central and local governments can collaborate effectively, and whether changes to local government structures are required. Its findings will undoubtedly also have relevance for Australian metropolitan governance.
Graham Sansom made a short presentation suggesting some lessons that could be learned from recent Australian experience, contrasting Brisbane and Sydney.
Click here for a copy his presentation (PPT-272KB) or for more details contact Graham Sansom.
Local Government Management Challenge
This year the Centre again facilitated the NSW section of the LGMA's Australia-New Zealand Local Government Management Challenge. 35 teams entered from NSW councils and the event was held over 4 days on 1-4 April. The winning team was a combined entry by Randwick City and Temora Shire.
Local Government Teams at the 2007 Local Government Management Challenge
Pacific Project Reviews
Centre Director Graham Sansom was recently commissioned by NZAID and the Commonwealth Local Government Forum to undertake reviews of two projects: the Honiara City Council capacity building project in the Solomon Islands, and the regional Pacific Local Government Project. Both reviews involved extensive fieldwork: in the case of the regional project visits were made to four of the participating countries - Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu and Kiribati.
The reviews provided a valuable opportunity to meet with a broad range of senior government representatives and regional development agencies to discuss issues surrounding emerging systems of local government, including links to traditional governance. Much of the information obtained will feed into the Centre's research on local government legislation in the Pacific. For further details contact Graham Sansom.
Conference Presentations
Recent presentations have included:
Local Planners and the New Community Strategies: What role? (NSW Local Government Planners Forum, September 2007).
Sustainable Local Government and Libraries: What will it take? (Public Libraries Australia Conference, August 2007).
Getting it Together: Working Smarter for Stronger Local Government. (Tasmanian Local Government Association, June 2006).
See-Saw Rich and Poor: Rethinking Local Government Funding. (National Congress of Local Government Managers Australia, May 2006).
A Renewed Vision for Local Governance: Facing the Challenge of Sustainability. (Queensland Local Government Community Services Association, October 2006).
