President’s Update – February 2026
It’s been an energetic start to the year for councils across the country, and I congratulate the many mayors, councillors and local government employees who were recognised in this year’s Australia Day Honours. Whatever the role you fill in your council, you play an important part in delivering for your community every day. The whole ALGA team joins me in sharing our heartiest congratulations and thanks.
I’ve been pleased to see registrations rolling in for Local Government Week in Canberra, and ALGA’s 32nd National General Assembly. At a time when the financial sustainability of councils is both more necessary, and more challenged, than ever, it’s important that we come together to ensure local government voices are heard.
With motions closing in two weeks (27 February), I urge you to submit new motions before the deadline, to bring your council’s voice to the national stage. Your input helps to inform ALGA’s policy priorities, and it’s also important that we take this once-yearly opportunity – as councils – to hear each other’s points of view. We need to use everything in our toolkits to urge the Federal Government to act to make our councils more financially sustainable.
This year’s NGA program is shaping up to be the biggest yet. In addition to the Regional Forum on Tuesday, ALGA will also be hosting a dedicated Urban Forum, designed to focus on the distinct challenges facing metropolitan and growth councils — including infrastructure pressure, housing delivery, population growth and the evolving role of cities in national productivity.
We are also thrilled to have David Speers as MC of the NGA across Wednesday and Thursday. As one of Australia’s most accomplished and respected journalists, David will bring insight, authority and energy to the program, and will undoubtedly draw out the most robust and meaningful conversations from our speakers and leaders.
Across the week, delegates can look forward to a strong ministerial program, high-profile keynote speakers, targeted forums for both regional and urban councils, and invaluable opportunities to connect with peers, stakeholders and decision-makers from across the country.
Last week, ALGA lodged its submission to the Federal Government ahead of the 2026-27 Budget. We took the opportunity to reiterate our number one advocacy point: that we call on the Federal Government to recognise local government as a key partner and return Financial Assistance Grant funding to 1 percent of Commonwealth Taxation Revenue. As pressures mount on our councils, we also call for new, untied, formula-based funding streams distributed across all councils to meet national priorities.
As we all know, local governments are increasingly called upon to address national challenges at the community level, from delivering affordable housing and responding to natural disasters, to improving road safety and adapting to climate change. The ability to deliver on these priorities depends on financial sustainability and adequate funding.
It was front of mind last week as ALGA supported the second Extreme Heat Awareness Day, led by Sweltering Cities and the Australian Red Cross. As we see record-breaking temperatures across the country, councils are playing a lead role in supporting communities to manage the effects of extreme heat – including the storms, floods and bushfires that seem to become increasingly frequent. From emergency responses to monitoring and supporting vulnerable community members to ensure community facilities keep running, councils continue to be on the front line of responding to heat-related issues. We need ongoing funding that supports these increasing requirements.
I was very pleased to have the chance to delve into all of this and more at a strategic planning session with the ALGA Board this week. Every board member brings value to the table in sharing the perspectives of councils in their state. These opportunities to sit down together to look at how ALGA can best target its advocacy are invaluable. It also helps keep us match-fit ahead of Local Government Week, so I hope we’ll see you there.