The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) held its 30th meeting in Canberra on 13 February 2011.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard, State Premiers, Chief Ministers and the President of the Australian Local Government Association Genia McCaffery attended the meeting.
National health reform, regulatory and competition reform, infrastructure planning and vocational education were all key themes of the meeting, but most critical to Local Government was discussion surrounding the recent natural disasters that have had a profound effect on Australian communities.
COAG acknowledged the tremendous efforts of volunteers, emergency services personnel and the Australian Defence Force in responding to the disasters, with many crossing State borders to help out.
It also recognised the challenges facing many communities in the rebuilding process that lies ahead and welcomed the assistance packages the Commonwealth and affected States and Territories have provided for individuals, businesses and Local Government.
Councillor McCaffery told fellow COAG members of the difficulties faced by councils with limited resources and urged
State and Federal Governments to provide the support Local Government needs to rebuild. She also reminded COAG of the importance of mitigation works and the need for investment in cost effective projects to ensure that, where feasible, communities are protected by building flood levees and other mitigation works.
To improve Australia’s ability to withstand and recover from future disasters, COAG adopted the National Strategy for Disaster Resilience and agreed to take immediate steps to implement it. This Strategy focuses on the shared responsibility of governments, business and communities in preparing for, and responding to, disasters. It sets out concrete steps that governments at all levels can take to reduce risks posed by natural disasters and better support communities to recover from disasters.
Other actions will include steps to support improved risk based planning decisions, the take up of insurance and the provision and construction of resilient infrastructure.
Building on its history of leading major reforms and responding to key challenges, COAG also adopted a streamlined agenda.
The agenda is built around five themes of strategic importance that lie at the intersection of jurisdictional responsibilities:
- a long term strategy for economic and social participation
- a national economy driven by our competitive advantages
- a more sustainable and liveable Australia
- better health services and a more sustainable health system for all Australians
- Closing the Gap on Indigenous disadvantage.
“COAG also agreed on a streamlined approach to its work in the future, with a focus on strategic national priorities and regulatory reform, and agreed to reform the system of ministerial councils by focusing them on COAG priorities and reducing the number from 40 to 23,” Councillor McCaffery said. “Importantly, COAG agreed that, through ALGA, Local Government would continue its membership on those councils which is of greatest strategic importance to Local Government.”
The complete communiquÈ can be downloaded from www.coag.gov.au
