President’s Update – 21 July 2025
I am looking forward to visiting Canberra later this month to meet with key Federal Ministers and Shadow Ministers.
High on my agenda will be discussing the federal Parliamentary inquiry into local government sustainability and maintaining pressure on the Federal Government.
We’re calling on the Government to reinstate the inquiry, and their response needs to include a significant increase in untied, formula-based funding for all councils.
Most importantly, we also want to see significant increases across Financial Assistance Grants so councils have budget certainty.
We continue to work hard to ensure the long-term sustainability of our sector – and we stand ready to help deliver local solutions to national priorities.
Climate and AI webinars
We are hosting two webinars on important issues affecting local governments.
Firstly, we will host a climate adaptation webinar on 30 July to discuss the significant and diverse contributions councils are making across Australia. The free webinar will outline ALGA’s latest climate adaptation research, and provide information about approaching the risks and opportunities of the changing climate.
We’re also delivering a GenAI in Local Government webinar on 21 August, featuring futurist and renowned Artificial Intelligence (AI) expert Nick Abrahams. The session will feature real-world case studies and is designed to provide actionable insights for council leaders navigating the AI transformation.
Book for 2025 Roads Congress
Finally, early bird tickets are available for the 2025 National Local Roads, Transport and Infrastructure Congress to be held in Bendigo, in regional Victoria, from 11-12 November.
Stay tuned for more details about the exciting program and guest speakers to be released over the coming weeks.
This Congress also provides a valuable opportunity to expand your professional networks and connect with local government leaders, decision-makers and suppliers.