Victorian council culture to come under the spotlight

The Victorian government has launched a project to look at the culture of the state’s councils and make them a safer space for women.

2 September, 2021

Time to devolve local government powers: report

Place-based and community governance by Australian councils is ‘patchy and tentative’ a report says.

9 September, 2019

Amalgamated councils win time to harmonise rates

Proposed changes to the Local Government Act promise to make life easier for councils.

7 June, 2019

Need to ditch ‘damaging obsessions’ about local government

Forget roads, rates and rubbish. It’s all about relevance, respect and resources for the council of the future.

23 May, 2019

Forced council mergers: How the NSW government got it so wrong

A litany of failures.

16 February, 2017

NSW local government reform blasted in public hearing

NSW council mergers attract more heat in Upper House inquiry.

27 July, 2015

Can Mike Baird actually force NSW council mergers?

Baird will run the gauntlet of public opinion again.

23 June, 2015

Inquiry into NSW government’s local council reform agenda

Committee to examine Fit for the Future process.

9 June, 2015

NSW moves to merge councils labelled a “mockery of fair process”

Local government declares reforms rushed.

9 June, 2015

Forced amalgamation spectre returns for NSW councils

Baird shifts posts on O’Farrell’s promise

11 September, 2014

New course on building in bushfire prone areas

The University of Technology, Sydney, has developed a new training course on building in bushfire prone areas for the Victorian Government and Country Fire Authority. Launched last week in Melbourne, the five-day program aims to enhance skills for assessing bushfire attack levels and controlling development in high risk areas. Director of the UTS Centre for […]

2 November, 2010

OPINION: A new amalgamation agenda

By Graham Sansom A visit to Western Australia recently brought the issue of council amalgamations back into sharp focus. This persistent theme in Australian local government just won’t go away, even though the average population of council areas is high by world standards. Arguments continue between those who promote larger (in population) local government areas […]

2 November, 2009

Centre of Excellence board meets in Sydney

By Staff Writer   The Board of the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government (ACELG) has held its first meeting and will begin consultations with local government next week.   Addressing the inaugural meeting, held at the University of Technology in Sydney (UTS), the Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government, Maxine McKew, said the centre would promote best […]

2 October, 2009