President’s Update – 27 October 2025
As I travel around the nation, attending each state and territory association conference, I love to hear the passionate debate around motions. It’s a process where key pain points for councils are raised and solutions considered.
Each year at the National General Assembly we also use motions as a vehicle for councils from across the nation to canvas ideas on the federal stage. Outcomes of these debates (NGA Resolutions) can be used by councils to inform their own policies and priorities, as well as their advocacy when dealing with federal politicians.
The NGA resolutions help ALGA and its member state and territory associations gain valuable insight into council priorities, emerging national issues, and the level of need and support for new policy and program initiatives. Although not binding on ALGA’s policy positions, the NGA resolutions are an essential input to the Board’s thinking.
Over recent years we’ve heard the feedback that councils want more time to prepare motions. So we’ve listened to your feedback and have moved this process forward several months to allow more time for you to debate and go through approval processes for NGA 2026 motions.
Please carefully read the 2026 NGA Discussion Paper, which outlines the updated criteria your motions must meet.
Also, we recently published a user-friendly version of the 2025 NGA Resolutions and Ministerial correspondence as part of our website upgrade. The easy-access chart helps councils to track and follow the progress of approved motions.
LGAQ conference
It’s been fascinating and insightful to attend more state association conferences over recent weeks to better understand and reflect on major issues affecting councils.
Last week, I attended and spoke at the LGAQ annual conference on the Gold Coast, where I shared our key funding priorities and recent policy and advocacy achievements. As you know, I’m also LGAQ President and it was interesting to explore and discuss the major themes during the conference, including cost shifting from other levels of government, road funding gaps, infrastructure challenges, and childcare.
I’m looking forward to attending the next association event – the 2025 LGANT Annual Conference from 18-19 November in Darwin.
Northern Australia Ministerial Forum
On 17 October, I joined state and federal leaders at the Northern Australia Ministerial Forum to discuss issues unique to northern Australia and find solutions to shared challenges.
During the forum, I outlined the issues facing the local government sector across the north and the need for partnership opportunities for all levels of government to work more closely together to improve community-based services.
I thank the forum’s chair Federal Minister for Northern Australia Madeleine King MP for the opportunity to highlight the importance of councils in building stronger and more resilient communities.
Read Minister King’s media release.
Hurry, book now for 2025 Roads
Finally, with just over two weeks to go, I remind you to book your tickets for the 2025 National Local Roads, Transport, and Infrastructure Congress in Bendigo from 11-12 November.
The popular annual event will feature a range of high profile speakers and special guests, and the theme this year is Driving National Productivity. We also have a technical tour on Thursday 13 November.
We will also host a Congress dinner at the Bendigo Town Hall on 11 November, proudly sponsored by Austroads. I sincere thank all of our key sponsors, including the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts, NBN, McArthur, Melbourne Convention Bureau, the City of Greater Bendigo and Higher Consulting.
See the Congress program, speakers and register now.