About

The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) is the national voice of local government in Australia. We represent 538 councils through a federated structure of state and territory associations.

Originally founded in 1947, ALGA is the only peak body that represents and unites local government across Australia to influence national priorities, shape effective public policy and drive targeted outcomes in every corner of the nation.

Our Secretariat is based in is based in Canberra.

 

Our vision

ALGA is the united, strong national voice for local government.

Our mission

To achieve outcomes for local government through advocacy with impact.

To maximise the economic, environmental and social wellbeing of councils and our communities.

What we do

ALGA exists to ensure that the role of local government is recognised, respected, and sustainably resourced. We:

  • Advocate for sustainable funding for councils that will deliver long term certainty for communities.
  • Lead national dialogue and policy development on critical local issues including roads, infrastructure, emergency management, climate change and the environment.
  • Represent local government across Ministerial Councils and Forums, and as a signatory to major national agreements such as the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, the National Housing Accord, and the National Disability Strategy.
  • Host the National General Assembly – the largest annual local government gathering in Australia.
  • Act as a conduit between the Commonwealth and councils, ensuring alignment and collaboration across all tiers of government.
  • Facilitate collaborative networks across jurisdictions, portfolios, and policy areas to drive system-wide improvements.
  • Commission research and provide national submissions

 

Our strategic priorities

ALGA’s policies and strategic priorities are determined by ALGA’s Board, consisting of two representatives from each of the member associations and an independent Chair.

 

How we represent local government

We represent and advocate for local government by participating in the following Ministerial forums:

  • National Cabinet (one meeting per year)
  • Council on Federal Financial Relations (one meeting per year)
  • Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council
  • Building Ministers Meeting
  • Water Ministers Meeting
  • Infrastructure and Transport Ministers Meeting
  • Local Government Ministers Forum
  • National Emergency Management Ministers Meeting
  • Joint Council on Closing the Gap
  • Planning Ministers Meeting
  • Environment Ministers Meeting
  • Cultural Ministers Meeting
  • Food Ministers Meeting
  • Ministerial Migration Roundtable
  • Drought Ministers Roundtable
  • Commemorative Grants Advisory Committee.

 

Our achievements

Working with our state and territory member associations, ALGA has successfully advocated for billions of dollars in additional funding for councils and their communities, including:

  • Doubling of the Federal Government’s Roads to Recovery funding program from $500 million to $1 billion per year.
  • A new $200 million per year Disaster Ready Fund to support disaster mitigation and resilience projects.
  • $500 million to support local governments to increase housing supply through the Housing Support Program.
  • $100 million for councils to reduce emissions under the Community Energy Upgrades Fund.
  • A new $100 million Active Transport Fund to support councils to build and upgrade cycling and walking pathways.

 

National agreements

ALGA is a member of a number of national agreements, including: