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A climate for change

Each year, the Australian Local Government Association’s (ALGA) National General Assembly is a key forum for shaping the future for Local Government. With the theme ‘A Climate for Change’, this year’s General Assembly will build on the ALGA’s 3F campaign – Fair Funding; Fair Treatment and Formal Recognition.

ALGA has a great lineup of high profile speakers who will provide challenging and informative presentations at this event, which will be held in Darwin from 26 to 29 November 2007.

Tim Flannery

Tim Flannery, 2007 Australian of the Year, is one of Australia’s leading thinkers and writers. An internationally acclaimed, explorer and conservationist, he has published more than 130 peer reviewed scientific papers, and his books include the landmark works The Future Eaters and The Weather Makers.

Richard Neville

Richard Neville is regarded as one of Australia’s foremost futurists. Richard has spent the last decade working in corporate boardrooms and community halls, assisting people to leapfrog ‘future shock’ by tilting up their beams of foresight.

Professor Cheryl Saunders

Professor Cheryl Saunders specialises in constitutional law and comparative Constitutional law, including Federalism and intergovernmental relations and Constitutional design and change.

Sir Roger Douglas

As Minister of Finance in New Zealand, Sir Roger Douglas won an international reputation as the strategist and driving force responsible for the reform of the country’s economy. Roger now specialises in providing advice on economic restructuring and structural adjustment.

Nick Rowley

Nick is a director of Kinesis, an Australian based consultancy, working with business and government on sustainability and climate change. Previously Nick worked for former UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, providing advice on climate change prior to the G8 Summit.

The General Assembly will explore a range of issues impacting on Local Government under three major headings:

• Political climate – Constitutional recognition of Local Government. ALGA has called on all political parties to commit to the formal recognition of local government’s role in the Australian Federation. Constitutional recognition is a long cherished goal for Local Government and what we have learned from recent events in Queensland is that Local Government will never be treated fairly until it is written into the Constitution.
• Financial climate – infrastructure affordability and financial sustainability for Local Government.
• Natural climate – climate change and its implications for Local Government. Local Government activities that are likely to be directly impacted by climate change include planning future developments and road infrastructure, which would be affected by sea level and water table rises and torm
  surges. There will also be impacts on natural resources, health and building regulations and community infrastructure and services. Councils have been leading the way in climate change mitigation projects and we need to ensure that we keep our eye on the ball nationally and internationally.

Register now on www.nga.alga.asn.au to secure your spot at this important event.