Seventh Meeting - Hobart - 13 August 2008

The Local Government and Planning Ministers' Council (LGPMC), consisting of Local Government and Planning Ministers from across Australia and New Zealand and the President of the Australian Local Government Association, convened in Hobart today.

The meeting was hosted by the Premier of Tasmania the Hon David Bartlett MP, Minister for Education and Skills and Planning and Workplace Relations, and the Hon Jim Cox MP, Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Local Government and chaired by the Australian Government Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP.

Minister Albanese outlined a number of Australian Government initiatives relevant to the activities of the Ministerial Council including:

• establishment of the Council of Australian Local Governments (CoALG);
• various Australian Government initiatives including the establishment of the Major Cities Unit, Infrastructure Australia and the forthcoming Aviation Green Paper.

The Chair also noted that the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) announced at its 3 July 2008 meeting that it is pursuing a number of important reforms and these will have direct implications for the work of the Council.  The Council continues to work closely with the following COAG Working Groups on issues of mutual interest:

Premier Bartlett and Minister Cox also spoke of the issues and challenges facing the local government and planning sectors in Tasmania.

Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Issues

Development Assessment Reform

The Council agreed to the Development Assessment Forum (DAF) developed protocol (or standard) to support the electronic processing of planning and development applications. 

Members noted that for a fully integrated electronic development assessment (eDA) to be possible, all organisations involved will need to develop eDAIS compliant systems.  To support the swift introduction of the eDA Interoperability Specification (eDAIS), the Australian Government has agreed in principle to commit up to $3.6 million from its $30 million eDA Program, a part of the Housing Affordability Fund (HAF). 

The funds will be made available over the next three years, commencing in 2008-09, to support the further development of the eDAIS, including funding for State-based program officers to help deliver eDAIS.  It is expected that states and territories will match the program officer funding for the third year.

The Council also agreed to the establishment of a Ministerial sub-group, chaired by New South Wales and including Victoria, Queensland and South Australia, to develop proposals for further streamlining development assessment reform for circulation and agreement on a work program, within 30 days out of session.

Financial Sustainability of Local Government

The Council endorsed a paper to be forwarded to COAG, for its deliberation when it considers local government funding arrangements in the context of the report of the Productivity Commission's recent study into local government revenue raising capacity.  It also agreed that officials should continue to address the issue of the financial sustainability of councils and in particular governance and management issues, identification of  "at risk" councils and potential improvements to data on local government.

Principles to improve municipal services to Indigenous Communities

Council also noted a number of initiatives that are currently being undertaken to improve the delivery of local government services in Indigenous Communities and agreed to a number of recommendations that will inform future strategies for achieving effective and sustainable local government service delivery.  The Council agreed to liaise with the Ministerial Council on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs (MCATSIA) on this issue.

Other Issues Considered

COAG Housing Affordability

In addition to noting the funding announced on eDA from the Housing Affordability Fund (HAF), the Council noted the release, on 11 June 2008, by the Australian Government of a Consultation Paper seeking submissions and comments to assist in finalising the design of the HAF program, including processes for selecting suitable projects.  They further noted the release on 16 June 2008 of the Senate Select Committee report A good house is hard to find: Housing affordability in Australia.

Nationally Consistent Financial and Asset Management Frameworks - Report to LGPMC

The Council also noted a report by the States and the Northern Territory on progress in the implementation of the nationally consistent frameworks on financial reporting and planning and asset management for local government, previously endorsed by the Council. 

Inter-Government Agreement (IGA) - Second Report to LGPMC

That LGPMC noted the second annual report by jurisdictions and ALGA on implementation and compliance with the IGA.  The IGA establishes principles guiding inter-government relations on local government matters.  All jurisdictions have implemented the IGA and remain committed to compliance to it.

The Council also noted:

• a presentation from New Zealand that provided updates on a range of local government issues; and 

• a report from the Local Government and Planning Joint Committee and its sub-committees.

The Local Government and Planning Ministers' Council agreed to meet next in Sydney, in March 2009.

Contact

Secretary
Local Government and Planning Ministers' Council
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
GPO Box 594
Canberra   ACT   2601
Tel:  +61 02 6274 8127
Email:  lgpmc@infrastructure.gov.au
Web:   www.lgpmcouncil.gov.au

Last Updated: 14 August, 2008