Thursday 16 June 2022
The NSW State Budget is due to be handed down next Tuesday on 21 June, and our LGNSW policy experts are currently hitting up their contacts and reading the tea leaves to determine the likely benefits – or otherwise – for our sector. As always, we’ll bring you a special Budget edition of The Weekly summarising the outcomes next week. But with the traditional pre-Budget leaks coming thick and fast, we’re able to get a head start on some of the announcements being foreshadowed by Government.
First and foremost is the State Government’s announcement of new funding for private childcare providers who increase the number of affordable childcare places. The Affordable and Accessible Childcare and Economic Participation Fund will cost an estimated $1 billion over the next four years and includes $281 million to boost the childcare workforce.
LGNSW’s Special Conference held in February, unanimously passed a motion by the City of Canterbury-Bankstown to support the Thrive by Five campaign calling for high-quality, universally accessible, and affordable early learning and childcare across Australia. But while we strongly support the provision of more early childhood education and care, we are deeply concerned by any moves to deny this funding eligibility to councils, who operate more than 300 childcare centres across the state.
Councils are widely valued as affordable childcare providers, offering a critical service to vulnerable or disadvantaged families and to families whose children have additional needs. In rural NSW, councils are often the only providers of childcare services, reflecting the very “childcare deserts” this announcement claims to target. In an increasingly difficult economic environment, there is very real concern that some councils may be forced to withdraw from this space, leaving families without the excellent and affordable childcare services they need.
LGNSW will be advocating strongly for council inclusion in this funding program, and will continue our push for funding designed to help address severe staffing shortages in the childcare sector.
Destination and Visitor Economy Conference
It was fantastic to see the strong turnout at LGNSW’s recent Destination and Visitor Economy Conference in central western NSW, which was co-hosted brilliantly by Orange City Council, Blayney Shire Council and Cabonne Council.
With Tourism Research Australia forecasting domestic visitation will return to its pre-pandemic level in the 2022-23 financial year - and grow further in the following financial year – it has never been more important for local government to ensure the benefits flow through to their local economies.
I’m delighted to announce that next year’s Destination and Visitor Economy Conference will be 29-31 May 2023 and will be hosted by Northern Beaches Council. It’s an important annual event not only for council staff involved in the tourism sector, but for the Mayors and Councillors whom shape the local strategies which secure these economic benefits for their communities.
Check out our DVE 2022 video to hear firsthand from some of the attendees at the 2022 Conference … and make a note in your diary to join us in the Northern Beaches next year!
Executive and Personal Assistants meet in Sydney
Last week we welcomed more than 100 EAs and PAs from across the state for the annual Executive and Personal Assistants’ Conference at the Swissotel Sydney.
It is always great to see so many of the unsung heroes of local government coming together to share their experiences and support each other in continued professional growth. I hope many of you also seized the opportunity to experience the Vivid lights in full swing after sessions were over!
View the photo gallery from the Conference
Expressions of Interest sought
- Award Working Party for the next Local Government (State) Award
With negotiations for a new industrial award replacing the Local Government (State) Award 2020 soon to start, we’re seeking General Managers to join an Award Working Party designed to contribute to the negotiations and provide feedback on union proposals for award variations. The EOI closes at noon on Thursday 23 June. More information
- Industrial Advisory Committee (casual vacancy)
EOIs are also sought from General Managers from metropolitan/urban councils to join LGNSW’s Industrial Advisory Committee. This Committee makes recommendations to the LGNSW Board on industrial issues impacting our members, and meets around three times a year. More information
Last chance to submit your entries for the Local Government Week Awards
If you haven’t already submitted your entry for the 2022 Local Government Week Awards, time is running out! Entries close at 5pm today, with the winners announced at a gala dinner at Sydney’s Fullerton Hotel. The awards celebrate all the terrific work councils have delivered over the past year in the communication, events, arts and culture, and planning areas.
View the entry criteria
(And if today’s COB deadline has come up all too quickly, we’ll even extend your submission time by a couple of days – you just need to make a start on the six questions requiring 200-word responses before 5pm!) Who needs the Logies? I know I am really looking forward to congratulating the winners at local government’s “night of nights” on Thursday 4 August!
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