Local Government leaders from around the globe gathered in Brisbane to attend the annual Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) conference from 3-5 October 2001. The CLGF is based in London and is the voice of Local Government in the Commonwealth. The CLGF grew from recognition of the crucial nature of Local Government in the democratic process and a Commonwealth wide trend towards decentralisation.
The theme of the CLGF conference was ‘Making Local Government Matter: Creating Commonwealth Partnerships in the 21st century’.
Innovative work by Australian councils and their Pacific partners was under the spotlight and some finalists of the 2000 National Awards for Innovation in Local Government shared their experiences and ideas on best practice in the broad range of local government business.
Senator Macdonald, the then Commonwealth Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government, announced a further $800,000 in Federal Government funding for the next phase of the CLGF Best Practice Scheme.
The Scheme allows Local Government practitioners to share technical and practical experience and to work together on projects to improve services and help tackle issues such as poverty in the Pacific.
The Federal Government had, prior to the announcement, already funded five partnership projects between Australian councils and councils in Papua New Guinea and Fiji.
Janie Dickenson, a newly elected Local Government member in Launceston, Tasmania was one of many delegates impressed by the opportunity to strengthen her Local Government knowledge and return to her community inspired. Ms Dickensen, who addressed the conference about her experience as a young councillor, said her experiences at the conference were ‘absolutely without doubt my best ever in Local Government’.
Carl Wright, Director of the CLGF, thanked Federal, State and Local Governments especially Brisbane City Council for their outstanding support of the Conference.
The next CLGF Conference will be held in South Africa from 4-7 March 2003.
