1. Welcome to South Australia

2. Opening Welcome to our South African Visitors 11 October 2004 Adelaide, South Australia

3. Program Session 1: LG in SA Session 2: The LGA Strucure Session 3: IntergovernmentRelationships Session 4: LGA project activities

4. 1: LG in SA • Australia 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

5. 1: LG in SA • Structure: • 68 Councils + ACDT + 5 Aboriginal Communities • 68 = 15% area 97% of population • 50 Country & 18 Metro Adelaide

6. 1: LG in SA

7. 1: LG in SA • Democratically elected body: • 3 year terms; • full adult franchise; • secret postal ballot; • proportional representation count & avge turnout 40%.

8. 1: LG in SA • Council Members only exercise power as a group • Meetings open to public • No overt party politics • CEOs manage staff (~ 8000)

9. 1: LG in SA • Smallest: 1160 Pop; A$1.16m • Largest: 150,000 Pop; A$80 m

10. 1: LG in SA Revenue:

11. 1: LG in SA Expenditure

12. 1: LG in SA Infrastructure Assets

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

14. 1: LG in SA Questions?

15. 2: LGA What? • ‘Voice’ of Local Government est. 1875 • Membership organisation • All 68 Councils are members • - Plus Pitjantjatjara, Nepabunna and OACDT

16. 2: LGA Why? • Representation • - Voice of Local Government • - to State & Federal Governments; • - media etc • Leadership • - highlighting “best practice” to Councils • - supporting networking

17. 2: LGA Why? • Information • - visits, circulars, newsletter, website • Corporate schemes • - bulk purchasing

18. 2: LGA Structure • LG Act & Constitution • General Meeting & AGM • Policy Manual • Executive Committee

19. 2: LGA Structure • Senior Executive Committee • Metropolitan LG Group • SAROC (country regions) • Secretariat

20. 2: LGA Functions • Research • Policy Development • Vision/Strategies • Lobbying/Representation

21. 2: LGA Functions • Information/Advocacy • Services • Project Management

22. 2: LGA Capacity • 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

23. 2: LGA How? • Information • - web, paper, visits; • Consult • - surveys; forums; decisions at executive • Represent • - Minister’s Forum; Ministers; Officers; Parl’t; media

24. 2: LGA How? • Guide • - Manuals; Models; Training; Conferences • LG Research & Dev. Scheme

25. 2: LGA Entities • LG Finance Authority • LG Corporate Services • Superannuation Scheme • Public Liability Insurance

26. 2: LGA Entities • Workers’ Compensation • General Insurance • Public Libraries Purchasing

27. 2: LGA R & 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

28. 2: LGA National • State LGAs federated • Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) • Canberra office

29. 2: LGA National • Member of COAG • Ministerial Councils • Member ILUA-AUSPAC • Mainly lobbying on funding

30. 2: LGA Questions?

31. 3: Intergovernment • Civilised but unclear • Funding important with Commonwealth • State Parliaments manage legal framework • Prime working relationships with State Governments

32. 3: Intergovernment • Councils/State agencies – day to day relationship • History – ad hoc • Growing role of LGA

33. 3: Intergovernment • State/Local Relations Agreement • Local Government Forum • LGA & Ministers

34. 3: Intergovernment LGA Role • Listening to Councils • Liaising with State agencies • Deal with “Government of the day” • Unless blocked

35. 3: Intergovernment LGA Role • Representations to Ministers • Lobby Parliament • Public Campaign

36. 3: Intergovernment S/L R Agreement • Signed Premier & President • Not legally binding • Points to good practice • Role for LG Forum • Annual list of priorities

37. 3: Intergovernment S/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.”

38. 3: Intergovernment S/L R Agreement • Co-ordination objectives • Shared understandings • Agreed principles • Communication and consultation expectations

39. 3: Intergovernment S/L R Agreement • Improved financial relations • Objectives, and • Shared strategic directions

40. 3: Intergovernment Annual Priorities • Alignment of strategic plans • Commonwealth relationships • Governance • Economic development

41. 3: Intergovernment Annual Priorities • Stormwater and STEDS • Waste management • Natural resources management • Planning and development • Housing

42. 3: Intergovernment Annual Priorities • Surplus Land • Improved financial information • Consultation guidelines on legislation

43. 3: Intergovernment LG Forum • 5 Ministers & others • 5 LGA Executive Members • 3 Senior State Officers • 3 Senior Local Government Officers • 2 Union representatives

44. 3: Intergovernment LG 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

45. 3: Intergovernment Questions?

46. 4: Activities Selected issues Comparative Performance Measurement

47. 4: Activities Selected issues Annual Rating Strategy

48. 4: Activities Selected issues Asset Management

49. 4: Activities Selected issues Bulk Electricity

50. 4: Activities Selected issues Online Services