30 April 2024
Premier to attend Rural and Regional Summit
LGNSW has received confirmation that Premier Chris Minns will now be attending our Rural and Regional Summit on Thursday 9 May.
While obviously our thoughts are all with the Premier and his family at the moment, we understand his intention is to still attend our summit taking place at the State Library.
Together we will discuss ways to collaborate with the NSW Government to improve social, economic, environmental and civic outcomes for communities across NSW and be provided an opportunity to reflect our local experience and insight to the Premier.
I am a firm believer that genuine and sustained progress can only be achieved when all levels of government work together and listen to each other on behalf of the communities we serve.
If you haven’t already registered your council to attend the summit, we have extended the registration deadline until COB tomorrow (Wednesday 1 May).
Register
Update on Waste Tendering Regulation
Thank you to all those councils that have contacted their local State Member of Parliament to express their concerns about the negative impacts of the NSW Government’s Waste Tendering Regulations, which were implemented just before Christmas.
As you’re all aware, LGNSW has serious objections about the lack of consultation in drafting those regulations and the many unintended negative impacts they have on our sector.
As they are currently written, the regulations capture more workers than just those involved in domestic waste collection; they provide an unfair advantage to incumbent contract holders and they potentially create significant financial burdens for council (and our ratepayers) via double payment for entitlements.
Our environment team also holds significant concerns that these regulations stifle innovation in the circular economy, effectively making it harder for the government to reach its net zero ambitions.
LGNSW continues to meet with stakeholders to find a workable solution. We have met with industry groups such as WCRA and WMRR as well as staff from OLG and the Minister's office.
We have put forward draft amendments for discussion that will address the concerns of councils and waste contractors. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we’ve been unable to confirm a date to meet when the unions can also attend (Transport Workers Union and United Services Union). We will continue to work towards finding a mutually convenient date when all parties can attend to explore various options in a spirit of cooperation.
We have also been meeting with Members of Parliament to discuss our serious concerns and the impacts on their local councils and communities. With Parliament due to reconvene next Tuesday, 7 May, we are aware that some members are exploring the option to disallow the existing regulation.
Our preference remains for all parties to arrive at a workable solution that protects workers' rights and entitlements while also ensuring that councils and their communities are not left financially worse off.
If that compromised outcome isn’t possible, then LGNSW would reluctantly support a disallowance motion to effectively "cancel" the government’s flawed regulation.
We will keep you updated as more meetings take place and as Parliament reconvenes next week.
Important Submissions closing soon
A reminder that some key enquiries for the local government sector have invited submissions from stakeholders, with deadlines looming to have your say.
- Parliamentary Inquiry on the Red Fleet – Submissions due by Friday 10 May
NSW Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee is holding an inquiry into Assets, premises and funding of the NSW Rural Fire Service. The inquiry is looking into the funding, maintenance, accounting and operational management of NSW Rural Fire Service assets and premises.
In particular, the inquiry will consider arrangements between the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) and councils, as well as the appropriate role of local authorities in providing emergency services and the sustainability of contributions to emergency service provision.
This inquiry is a critical opportunity for our sector to highlight the absurdity of the NSW Government’s position that councils control these rural fire fighting assets and should recognise in our books the depreciation of the NSW Government’s RFS mobile assets (the Red Fleet) and call for change. Submissions direct to the inquiry close on 10 May 2024. To contribute to LGNSW’s submission, please email LGNSW Chief Economist Shaun McBride by 3 May 2024.
- Emergency Services Levy – Consultation Paper. Submissions due by 15 May
The NSW Government recently released a consultation paper on reforming the emergency services funding system.
The consultation paper asks for feedback on whether the Emergency Services Levy (ESL) on councils and insurance policies should be replaced. It is a longstanding position of LGNSW that the ESL on councils is inequitable and that it does not apply consistently, fairly or transparently across councils.
We have long called for the ESL to be replaced by a broad-based property levy, which would remove this multi-million-dollar impost on local government.
This review has the potential to achieve significant benefits for local government. It is important that all councils engage in this critical consultation and I strongly encourage each council to also make a submission directly to the review.
LGNSW would also welcome council feedback to inform our submission on behalf of the sector. To contribute to LGNSW’s submission or to share a copy of your council’s submission, please email LGNSW Chief Economist Shaun McBride by 15 May 2024. Consultation direct to the NSW Government closes on 22 May 2024.
Past Submissions by LGNSW
LGNSW staff have been working hard on a range of submissions to ensure the voice of local government is heard loud and clear. In the month of April alone, submissions have been lodged on topics, including:
You can view all LGNSW submissions on our website.
Professional Development and E-Learning Opportunities
We know that being an elected councillor or a member of council staff can be demanding on an individual’s time, with limited opportunity to identify let alone attend professional development sessions.
In the spirit of continuous improvement, LGNSW has a range of professional development and learning opportunities for our members scheduled for coming months. Many of the sessions are online and are designed to provide maximum impact for local government professionals.
A small sample of the topics being covered in coming months include:
View all courses
If you have suggestions for future learning opportunities, please contact the team at 02 9242 4000 (Press 4 for Learning and Development) or email [email protected].
LGNSW Housing Roundtable with Ministers Scully and Jackson
I encourage all mayors, councillors and GMs to set aside a placeholder on 29 May 2024, 9am to 10.30am, for an LGNSW online housing roundtable with Ministers Jackson and Scully.
It’s so important that our spheres of government continue to work together to address our state’s housing and homelessness crisis, and I am pleased that the Ministers have made themselves available to meet with our sector collectively.
As well as hearing directly from each Minister there will be an opportunity to submit questions, so I encourage you to keep a look out for email invitations that LGNSW staff will send out soon, along with further details.
Pat Dixon Scholarship reminder
A reminder that the Cr Pat Dixon Memorial Scholarship is now open for applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander councillors or employees of councils across NSW.
This scholarship, offered annually through the Pat Dixon Memorial Scholarship Trust, aims to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander councillors and staff with financial assistance of up to $5,000 for further study, research, or professional development. The scholarship can be used for course fees or associated costs.
Please do encourage your First Nations council employees and councillors to submit applications by 2 May 2024. Further information and the application are available online.
Sincerely,
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