In addition to the Australian Sister Cities Association conference, Darwin is also looking forward to hosting delegates to the Australian Local Government Association’s 2007 National General Assembly from 26–29 November.
For only the second time in the event’s 14 year history, the National General Assembly will be held outside of Canberra. In 2002, the event was held in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, in recognition of the Year of the Outback.
This year’s theme is ‘A Climate for Change’ and will address a range of important and topical issues facing Local Government.
Over the last two years, Local Government has achieved several milestones. Successes include the passing of the parliamentary resolution on Local Government by both Houses of Parliament at the national level, the signing of the Intergovernmental Agreement on cost shifting, and expanded partnerships with the Australian Government in the areas of health, environment and aged care.
Under the theme ‘A Climate for Change’, this year’s Assembly will further build on ALGA’s 3F campaign – Fair Federal Funding; Fair Treatment and Formal Recognition.
This enables ALGA to explore a broad range of issues impacting on Local Government including:
- physical climate – climate change and its implications for Local Government
- financial climate – changing (increasing) financial sustainability challenges for Local Government
- political climate – new opportunities that may arise for Constitutional recognition of Local Government.
Speakers include prominent Futurist, Richard Neville, and Constitutional law expert, Professor Cheryl Saunders.
Call for motions is now open
Councils and Regional Organisations of Councils are encouraged to submit motions on issues of national significance for debate. ALGA looks forward to your Council’s active participation in this important event for Local Government.
Based on delegates’ feedback from the 2006 National General Assembly, the principles for determining motions for debate at the Assembly were endorsed:
- it must refer to an issue of national significance
- be relevant to the work of Local Government
- not be antithetical to the interests of any one State or Territory.
Motions submitted will be reviewed against these principles by the General Assembly Review Committee and state/territory associations as to their eligibility for inclusion in the General Assembly Business Papers.
Submit your Notice of Motion to the Australian Local Government Association via email alga@alga.asn.au by no later than Friday 10 August 2007.
An invitation to put your Council on Show!
Councils on Show!, introduced at the 2006 event, will once again be a feature in the program. ALGA invites Councils to submit DVD presentations of five minutes maximum showcasing Local Government innovation across Australia.
Preference for selection will be given to those DVDs which fit the NGA07 theme. Please send by post your applications to National Events Manager, 8 Geils Court, Deakin, ACT, 2600 by no later than Friday 14 September 2007.
Registration information can be found at nga.alga.asn.au/event/2007/
