Baird kicks open door to rate rises with fresh IPART inquiry

Four-year freeze on merged council rates examined.

13 April, 2016

NSW launches its own government digital identifier

MyServiceNSW isn’t waiting for myGov.

4 February, 2016

Three tiers of government clash over population growth

Planning reform for redevelopment.

19 January, 2015

Online planning tools a boon for NSW councils, residents

EPlanning for NSW

13 October, 2014

Leak lays bare Newman referendum support

By Julian Bajkowski A leaked letter from Queensland Premier Campbell Newman to Prime Minister Julia Gillard reveals that the state government is behind the proposed wording of a Constitutional amendment pivotal to a referendum and does not believe the change will erode state powers over local government. A copy of the letter obtained by Government […]

11 March, 2013

QLD Premier breaks ranks over referendum

By Julian Bajkowski Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has thrown down the gauntlet to other Australian state and territory leaders to back the ‘yes’ case in a proposed referendum on financial recognition of local governments or risk losing billions of dollars of direct Commonwealth funding for council projects and services. In a dramatic escalation of pressure […]

21 February, 2013

Recruitment drive for child protection

Victorian Minister for Community Services Mary Wooldridge announced on Monday a $3.8 million package to recruit and retain frontline child protection staff. Ms Wooldridge said the funding package included a targeted online and print campaign, graduate courses for 90 practitioners in child and family practice and professional, one-on-one coaching for around 300 team leaders. Funding […]

22 February, 2011

Local Government Minister quits cabinet

Queensland Local Government Minister and Cairns MP, Desley Boyle, has resigned from her post. Ms Boyle announced on Thursday she would retire from the frontbench. She said she would not contest the next election, which is due to be held in March 2012 “I assure the people of Cairns that I will represent their interests […]

17 February, 2011

Public Works on frontline of recovery effort

Around 90 QBuild workers from Brisbane have been deployed to cyclone-affected communities, Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten has announced. The workers will join 160 local QBuild field staff working in devastated communities from Cairns to Townsville. Mr Schwarten said this included “ground zero” communities, such as Innisfail, Silkwood, Mission Beach, Tully and Cardwell. "They are […]

8 February, 2011

Crean tours Queensland

Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, Simon Crean, this week toured flood-affected towns across the state. During a visit to Maryborough on the Fraser Coast, Mr Crean reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to assisting local government in the recovery effort. He said additional funding had been provided to councils and shires under the […]

20 January, 2011

Government workers experience information rage

By Jane Dargaville Administrative workers employed by local and other governments around Australia are feeling, as much as those in any other sector, the enormous pressure of being increasingly bombarded with information. A recent survey has confirmed something desk workers have known for ages: many Australian professionals are feeling so demoralised by the sheer volume […]

20 January, 2011

Feedback sought on sustainable population strategy

Minster for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Tony Burke, released on Thursday an issues paper on the Government’s sustainable population strategy and invited feedback from the community. The issues paper brought together the major issues identified in reports by the three independent Sustainable Population Strategy Advisory Panels, which focused on demographic change, liveability, productivity, prosperity and […]

17 December, 2010

New tools to map sea-level rise

Coastal municipalities will be able to identify future impacts of climate change and sea level rise using new maps launched today by the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (DCCEE). Developed in partnership with the Co-operative Research Centre for Spatial Information, the maps use the highest resolution elevation data currently available. The new tool […]

15 December, 2010

Chief water bureaucrat resigns

In a press statement released on Tuesday, Mr Taylor announced that he had written to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Tony Burke, the problematic development of the Muray-Darling Basin Plan. Mr Taylor said balancing social and economic impacts of the plan against the Water Act 2007 posed a “significant challenge”. However, […]

7 December, 2010