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This Week at LGANT
02/05/2008
CONSTITUTIONAL RECOGNITION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
In response to the Rudd Government’s commitment to a referendum on Constitutional Recognition within the next three years, the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has developed information packs on the issue which have been sent to all Councils.
Electronic copies are available by visiting the ALGA website – click here
(www.alga.asn.au/constitutionalrecognition
)
The packs have been created to facilitate discussion across Local Government on expectations regarding recognition, with a view to providing government with the sector’s preferred wording for a referendum.
LGANT encourages Councils to consider the resource materials provided commence discussions and inform LGANT of their position on the issue at the earliest opportunity.
For more information please contact Cassie Cook on (08) 8936 2880 or at cassie.cook@lgant.nt.gov.au
GOVERNMENT TIMETABLE FOR INDIGENOUS EMPLOYMENT REFORMS ANNOUNCED
The Government will shortly begin consultations on Indigenous employment services reforms which will form part of a broader Indigenous Economic Development Strategy to be announced by the end of the year.
These employment services reforms will complement the Government's new Job Network arrangements and include substantial reform of the Community Development Employment Program (CDEP). The forthcoming review of the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) will provide an opportunity to examine the effectiveness of employment and income support measures trialled over the last twelve months and these findings will also be taken into account in formulating the final strategy. The Government understands this period of transition and reform may lead to uncertainty and concern on the part of individuals and service providers.
The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs will write to all current CDEP providers advising them that up to a further 12 months of funding will be available from 1 July 2008 to ensure people are working while reforms are being progressively introduced. The Government will, as an interim measure, introduce CDEP from 1 July 2008 in the 30 prescribed NT communities where CDEP was abolished to ensure individuals are required to work to receive their pay. The Government is strongly committed to reforming CDEP and will be taking an evidence-based approach to develop a new, effective system that requires people to take up job opportunities available in their local area.
Individuals who are currently receiving a transitional welfare payment would have lost the payment when the legislation underpinning this payment expires on 30 June 2008.
Under the Government's interim arrangements, CDEP participants will be paid, on average, a weekly wage of around $240. Participants will be subject to the CDEP 'no work, no pay' policy.
MAJOR GENERAL CHALMERS SAYS WEFARE CONTROL WORKING
Welfare quarantining is having a positive effect on Aboriginal people and businesses, the head of the Federal intervention told a Senate inquiry on Wednesday. Major General David Chalmers denied claims the scheme was hurting small businesses.
Senators from the Community Affairs Committee asked about claims from Alice Springs small business owners that the quarantining scheme was driving welfare recipients to bigger shops like Coles and Woolworths. But Major General Chalmers said under the scheme Aboriginal welfare recipients were “exercising consumer choice” to get better prices at larger stores. “There are many stores operating under income management….and experiencing increased turnover,” he said. SOURCE: NT News, Thursday 1st May.
INQUIRY INTO CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ON COASTAL COMMUNITIES
On Thursday 20 March 2008 the Minister for the Environment, Heritage & the Arts, The Honourable Peter Garrett AM MP and the Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, asked the Committee to inquire into and report on climate change and environmental impacts on coastal communities.
The Committee invites interested persons and organisations to make submissions addressing the terms of reference by Friday 30 May 2008. Please refer to our brochure called preparing a submission
for more information.
In order to facilitate electronic publishing of submissions, the Committee would prefer them to be emailed to ccwea.reps@aph.gov.au
; or sent on disk or CD-ROM to the Committee Secretariat
in Microsoft Word® or Portable Document Format (PDF).
TERRITORY TIDY TOWNS AWARDS
The Keep Australia Beautiful Council of the Northern Territory is pleased to inform communities that the popular Territory Tidy Town Awards will be held in Darwin on the 6th and 7th of November 2008. The forum will be held at the Darwin Frontier Hotel and the awards will be held at the Casino on Friday night 7th November. Now is the time to start budgeting and planning for your community’s participation. Don’t forget to get your community entry in. All remote community entries will receive a free copy of the ‘Remote Community Clean Up Book’. For more information on the Territory Tidy Towns Forum and Awards or for assistance in community clean ups and litter management call Heimo Schober on 0407 186 461. More information on KABNT and the Territory Tidy Town Awards can be found on their web site www.kab.org.au/nt/
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT CONFERENCE
The Local Government Association of Queensland is hosting a National Environment Conference in Port Douglas on 9 - 11 July 2008. This is a national conference and councils from across Australia are invited to attend to hear the latest news and to share experiences with other councils. Conference themes will include;
· Natural Resource Management
· Sustainable Purchasing, Sustainability Action
· Ecologically Sustainable Development
· Waste Management
· Water Management
· Climate Change (Mitigation, Adaptation, Litigation, Carbon Accounting and Trading)
To get more information contact Paul Barnes on (08) 8936 2879.
SMART SPARX LAUNCHED AT THE PARLIAMENT HOUSE
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Smart Sparx launched at the Parliament House.
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Mr Damian Hale MP, Federal Member for Solomon, demonstrated the ‘Smart Sparx’ Education Kit.
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Primary school students sing along with Smart Sparx audio CD.
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Demonstration on how to crawl by the Firemen.
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FOR BACK ISSUES AND FURTHER INFORMATION ON LATEST JOBS AND OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENT
INFORMATION VISIT THE LGANT'S WEBSITE.
LGANT recognises its major sponsors:
(Click on the links to visit the websites)
This newsletter is emailed direct to elected members and councils in the
NT. For further information on any of the items in this bulletin, please contact
the Officer concerned or LGANT on (08) 8936 2888.
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