Welcome to the first issue of National Perspective for 1999. I hope that you had a safe and enjoyable festive season and you are looking forward to a successful year ahead. We are looking forward to bringing you more news and information about innovation in local government through National Perspective and the National Office of Local Government.
Our reader survey in November showed that National Perspective was read by approximately 75% of people working in local government. It is encouraging to receive the many positive and constructive comments from readers about this publication and how to make it even more useful.
Many readers said that they would like more practical information and case studies about best practice in local government. The editors aim to include more of this type of material, and invite you to contribute to National Perspective by sharing your experiences and successes with other readers.
I also agree with the many readers who requested more information about new Commonwealth programs in local government, and updates on the results of existing programs. National Perspective is the ideal forum for that information.
I am delighted to announce several new Commonwealth initiatives in local government. The Rural Transaction Centre (RTC) Program is a major Commonwealth initiative, and a key election promise to regional Australians who do not have access to basic services such as banking, phone, fax and payment systems such as Medicare EasyClaim.
The Commonwealth recognises that without these services, smaller communities cannot realise their full potential in building stronger local economies and communities. Local Governments can play a key role in the success of RTCs.
The RTC Program aims to establish approximately 500 Rural Transaction Centres in rural and regional communities over the next 5 years. The Commonwealth will provide $70 million in seed funding, from the next 16% sale of Telstra, and will be working with state and local governments, businesses and communities to determine the best ways in which the program can meet the diverse needs of rural and regional communities.
The new year also sees the announcement of two major initiatives from the National Office of Local Government. The Office will run 20 workshops across Australia to identify and discuss the needs of local government and its communities.
The workshops will have a practical focus in that they will showcase best practice projects in local government and bring government, business and communities together to discuss local issues. Where possible, the workshops will also aim to generate practical ways in which these issues can be addressed at both a national and local level.
I am also pleased to announce a conference on environmental accounting in local government to be held on the Gold Coast in April. The conference is the culmination of a project funded by the Local Government Development Program, through the National Office of Local Government. The conference will discuss the development of a new environmental accounting framework, developed by the National Office of Local Government, the University of Canberra and the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The development of this framework puts Australia at the leading edge of environmental management, with one of the key aims of the conference being to discuss the adoption of this environmental accounting framework as an international standard. I also look forward to the opportunity to meet with you all at the 1999 National Awards for Innovation in Local Government, which I regard as a showcase of the efforts of councils to improve services for their communities.
The challenges confronting us all are diverse. However, I am constantly amazed by the efforts of councils at the grass roots levels to overcome those challenges. I look forward to another successful year ahead for local government across Australia.
Senator the Hon. Ian Macdonald Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government.
