Australia's National Local Government Newspaper Online

Local Government leading the way with e-government
In officially opening the Western Australian Municipal Association's (WAMA) Annual Conference, Premier Richard Court said that Local Government is very much about helping to bring communities together. He said there is no better example of this than the recent Olympic Torch Relay.

Editorial
As we enter the 'Olympic month', world attention is undoubtedly focusing on Sydney. While some Sydneysiders are anticipating total disruption to normality of life, others are looking forward to welcoming the world to Sydney, whether people come in person to the Olympics or view events via the extensive telecasting rights.

Queensland Councils meet at the Gold Coast
Gold Coast City Council hosted the recent 104th Annual Conference of the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ). In officially opening proceedings, Premier Peter Beattie told delegates that he believes Queensland has the best and strongest Local Government system in Australia.

Globalisation - Is it doom and gloom or the way forward?
Keynote speaker at the recent LGAQ Annual Conference was Diplomat and Author, Alan Oxley. On the eve of the World Economic Forum to be staged in Melbourne in September, he said that the media has much to answer for in perpetuating the view that globalisation threatens Australia.

Redcliffe¹s new library and gallery sets energy efficient standard
Redcliffe City Council's new $6.6 million library and art gallery complex is setting a new standard for energy efficient public buildings since opening on 29 August.

Councils choose Computron's e-Cellerator solutions
Following swiftly on the heels of the City of Yarra, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council and the City of Greater Dandenong have selected Computron's e-Cellerator suite of financial management and information management systems as a part of the total replacement of their Local Government Corporate Computer System.

The importance of propeller heads
The Good Oil by Rod Brown* One of my US colleagues is David Dodd, an economic development practitioner based in Louisianna, (DADCONSULT@aol.com), has visited Australia a few times. In his recent book, he talks about the changing role of economic development practitioners (let's call them EDPs) at the local level. His views are very relevant to Australian circumstances.

Online service delivery
As is happening around Australia, Local Government authorities in Western Australia are looking at how they can capitalise on the race into online services. While most Councils have a web presence, or some form of Internet usage within their organisation, there are many who are still unsure of how to go about gaining maximum benefit from the online environment.

Tea Tree Gully takes up information society
When Tea Tree Gully City Council's library service set out to develop its Internet training scheme, it was faced with the task of meeting high demand with limited resources. Library staff recognised that the community's Internet training needs were not being met by other sources so they aimed to develop a program which would be both cost effective and reach the largest possible audience.

The Alice promoting safe food handling
The nomadic nature of part of the Alice Springs workforce posed a quandary for food handling companies faced with new food handling laws due to be introduced in February 2001.

Sydney 'ambassadors' on safari
The role of every member of staff at Sydney City Council will include the task of city ambassador as visitors flood in for the Olympics this month. Anticipating this, Sydney City Council introduced a staff induction program last December.

Development program for elected members
Offering Elected Members a development program specifically designed to meet their needs has been a great success story for the Western Australian Municipal Association's (WAMA) Training and Development.

Hyperlinking Caboolture Shire Council staff
With the introduction of an Intranet, Queensland's Caboolture Shire Council has provided an up to date electronic information service. This is helping staff to improve their productivity by placing at their fingertips the information and services they need.

The secret of the Matrix
When the City of Charles Sturt developed its award winning Customer Diamond Program, the focus of providing first class customer service was taken beyond being the responsibility of administrative staff, as is often the tradition, and given a much broader base.

Message from the Minister
Welcome to this edition of National Perspective. This publication is a useful forum for providing updates on Federal Government programmes, especially initiatives for Local Government.

Local Government Financial Assistance Grants Review
The Commonwealth Grants Commission review into the operation of the Local Government (Financial Assistance) Act 1995 is now well underway. The Commission has released a discussion paper on the review and has receiveda large number of written submissions.

Northern Australia consultations set agenda
Consultation meetings have been held across northern Australia in preparation for the Northern Australia Forum in Katherine on 17-20 October 2000. The Northern Australia Forum which will identify the future directions for northern Australia, including economic development, emerging industry opportunities and planning for a sustainable future.

2000 IMM launches Local Government innovation
The Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government, Senator Ian Macdonald, opened the Institute of Municipal Management's 19th National Congress and Expo in Melbourne's Convention Centre on 29th May. The theme for this year's congress Interactive 2000 - Strategies for a New Era, reflected the challenges of the information age and the need for Local Government to communicate and build networks.

Regional young achievers
Young Australians aged between 14 and 27 who are improving the community in which they live, will be recognised in a Regional Initiative category of the National Australia Day Council's Young Australian of the Year Awards for 2001.

Carnamah woos new business
The Carnamah and surrounding communities in Western Australia will receive a boost from new business in October 2000. Using funds provided by the Federal Government, the Shire of Carnamah has constructed three factory units to attract small business.

Crows Nest celebrates opening of its Rural Transaction Centre
The Queensland community of Crows Nest and surrounding districts will enjoy easier access to a range of much-needed basic services, following the opening of a Rural Transaction Centre (RTC) in the town.

Cutting edge mapping system for Riverina
Local Government in the Riverina has developed a space age innovation to bring local mapping into the 21st century. Launching the Riverina Eastern Regional Organisation of Councils (REROC) centralised mapping service in Wagga on 23 June, Federal Local Government Minister, Senator Ian Macdonald, said that councils in the region had banded together with financial assistance from the Federal Government, to develop a cutting edge technology solution to local planning and development issues.

Regional solutions to fund community initiatives
Recently the Federal Government announced the Regional Solutions Programme to assist regional, rural and remote communities to build their capacity to identify and implement development opportunities.

'Place of the People' in the heart of our national capital
The heart of our National Capital will have a new look following the result of a nationwide competition. A 'Place of the People' will be constructed by the shores of Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, in what is generally known as the Parliamentary Triangle.

Local Government Ministers' Conference
The cost of maintaining and improving Local Government infrastructure and the review of the Commonwealth Financial Assistance Grants to Local Government were among matters discussed at a Local Government Ministers Conference held in Perth on 11 July.