Welcome to South Australia

Welcome to our South African Visitors

11 October 2004

Adelaide, South Australia

Opening

Session 1: LG in SASession 2: The LGA StrucureSession 3: Intergovernment

RelationshipsSession 4: LGA project activities

Program

1: LG in SAAustralia is a “pluralist democracy”- i.e.

citizens can go to any Government for help and Governments can disagree

• Areas of discrete powers• Areas of joint responsibility• Financial transfers• Relationships unclear

1: LG in SAStructure:

• 68 Councils + ACDT + 5 Aboriginal Communities

• 68 = 15% area 97% of population• 50 Country & 18 Metro Adelaide

1: LG in SA

1: LG in SADemocratically elected body:• 3 year terms;• full adult franchise;• secret postal ballot;• proportional representation

count & avge turnout 40%.

1: LG in SA• Council Members only

exercise power as a group• Meetings open to public• No overt party politics• CEOs manage staff (~ 8000)

1: LG in SA

• Smallest: 1160 Pop; A$1.16m

• Largest: 150,000 Pop; A$80 m

1: LG in SA

Revenue:

1: LG in SA

Expenditure

1: LG in SAStormwater Drainage -

($1.116B)15%

STEDS - ($0.170B)2%

Gravel Roads - ($0.756B)10%

Other - ($0.075B)1%

Buildings - ($1.176B)16%

Parks - ($0.081B)1%

Footpaths/Bikeways - ($0.451B)6%

Bridges - ($0.153B)2%

Sealed Roads - ($3.552B)47%

Infrastructure Assets

LG Functions include:• Town Planning• Local Roads• Stormwater• Sport & Recreation• Waste Management• Libraries• Parks & Gardens• Food inspection / Env Health

1: LG in SA

Questions?

2: LGA

• ‘Voice’ of Local Government est. 1875

• Membership organisation

• All 68 Councils are members - Plus Pitjantjatjara, Nepabunna and OACDT

What?

2: LGA

•Representation - Voice of Local Government - to State & Federal Governments; - media etc

•Leadership - highlighting “best practice” to Councils - supporting networking

Why?

2: LGA

•Information - visits, circulars, newsletter, website

•Corporate schemes - bulk purchasing

Why?

2: LGA

•LG Act & Constitution•General Meeting & AGM•Policy Manual•Executive Committee

Structure

2: LGA

•Senior Executive Committee•Metropolitan LG Group•SAROC (country regions)•Secretariat

Structure

2: LGA

•Research•Policy Development•Vision/Strategies•Lobbying/Representation

Functions

2: LGA

• Information/Advocacy• Services• Project Management

Functions

2: LGA

•LGA Budget A$2.2 million - LGA Subscriptions A$1.4 m - Business income A$0.4m

•25 staff (incl. projects)•14% LG outlays via LG

House•LG Research & Dev.

Scheme

Capacity

2: LGA

•Information- web, paper, visits;

•Consult- surveys; forums; decisions at executive

•Represent- Minister’s Forum; Ministers; Officers; Parl’t; media

How?

2: LGA

•Guide- Manuals; Models; Training; Conferences •LG Research & Dev. Scheme

How?

2: LGA

Entities• LG Finance Authority• LG Corporate Services• Superannuation Scheme• Public Liability Insurance

2: LGA

Entities

• Workers’ Compensation• General Insurance• Public Libraries Purchasing

2: LGAR & D Scheme• LG’s own research agenda• Tax Equivalent on LGFA• About A$800,000 p.a.• Principles, Purposes & Plan• Benefit Sector as whole• Strategic Policy work

2: LGA

National

• State LGAs federated• Australian Local Government

Association (ALGA)• Canberra office

2: LGA

National

• Member of COAG• Ministerial Councils• Member ILUA-AUSPAC• Mainly lobbying on funding

2: LGA

Questions?

3: Intergovernment• Civilised but unclear• Funding important with

Commonwealth• State Parliaments manage

legal framework• Prime working relationships

with State Governments

3: Intergovernment

• Councils/State agencies – day to day relationship

• History – ad hoc• Growing role of LGA

3: Intergovernment

• State/Local Relations Agreement

• Local Government Forum• LGA & Ministers

3: IntergovernmentLGA Role

• Listening to Councils• Liaising with State agencies• Deal with “Government of the day”• Unless blocked

3: Intergovernment

LGA Role

• Representations to Ministers• Lobby Parliament• Public Campaign

3: IntergovernmentS/L R Agreement

• Signed Premier & President• Not legally binding• Points to good practice• Role for LG Forum• Annual list of priorities

3: IntergovernmentS/L R Agreement

Aims to:“improve consultation arrangements, government communication practices and to build a closer, more productive and collaborative working relationship between State and Local Government.”

3: IntergovernmentS/L R Agreement

• Co-ordination objectives• Shared understandings • Agreed principles• Communication and consultation expectations

3: Intergovernment

S/L R Agreement

• Improved financial relations Objectives, and • Shared strategic directions

3: Intergovernment

Annual Priorities

• Alignment of strategic plans• Commonwealth relationships• Governance• Economic development

3: IntergovernmentAnnual Priorities

• Stormwater and STEDS• Waste management• Natural resources management• Planning and development• Housing

3: Intergovernment

Annual Priorities

• Surplus Land• Improved financial information• Consultation guidelines on legislation

3: IntergovernmentLG Forum• 5 Ministers & others• 5 LGA Executive Members• 3 Senior State Officers• 3 Senior Local Government Officers• 2 Union representatives

3: IntergovernmentLG Forum• Agenda items agreed by OLG and LGA• Papers jointly prepared• Advice to Premier & Cabinet and LGA Executive• Focus on Priorities• Add value – not manage all

3: Intergovernment

Questions?

4: Activities

Selected issues

Comparative Performance Measurement

4: Activities

Selected issues

Annual Rating Strategy

4: Activities

Selected issues

Asset Management

4: Activities

Selected issues

Bulk Electricity

4: Activities

Selected issues

Online Services

4: Activities

Selected issues

Communication

4: Activities

Questions?