The Australian Local Government Association is the national voice of local government, representing 560 councils across the country.
In structure, ALGA is a federation of state and territory local government associations. Since 2001, membership has included the Government of the Australian Capital Territory (uniquely in Australia, the ACT Government combines both state and local government functions).
ALGA members include the ACT Government, Local Government and Shires Associations of New South Wales, Local Government Association of Northern Territory, Local Government Association of Queensland, Local Government Association of South Australia, Local Government Association of Tasmania, Municipal Association of Victoria, and the Western Australian Local Government Association.
Key activities include representation of local government on national bodies and ministerial councils, providing submissions to government and parliamentary inquiries, raising the profile and concerns of local government at the national level and providing forums for local government to guide the development of national local government policies.
ALGA's strategic priorities are:
- Strengthening local government finances
- Sustaining local roads, transport and other infrastructure
- Improving natural and built environmental outcomes
- Enhancing regional equity and regional development
- Building capacity and sustainability in local communities
- Connecting member associations and the Local Government sector
- Engaging effectively in Australian Government processes
As one of Australia's three spheres of government, local government is represented by ALGA's President on the Council of Australian Governments (COAG). This peak government body brings together the Prime Minister, state premiers, territory chief ministers and the ALGA President to develop responses to issues of concern to all three spheres of government.
ALGA was founded in 1947 and, in 1976, established a secretariat in Canberra reflecting growing links with the Australian Government and an awareness of local government's emerging national role.
The Association's policies are determined by the ALGA Board, consisting of two representatives from each of the member associations and two from the ACT Government.
ALGA's leadership team comprises the President and two Vice Presidents. The secretariat is managed by the Chief Executive. The President of ALGA, Cr Genia McCaffery North Sydney Council, also sits on the Council of Australian Governments and the Australian Council of Local Government.
Famous quotes containing the words australian, local, government and/or association:
“Each Australian is a Ulysses.”
—Christina Stead (1902–1983)
“The country is fed up with children and their problems. For the first time in history, the differences in outlook between people raising children and those who are not are beginning to assume some political significance. This difference is already a part of the conflicts in local school politics. It may spread to other levels of government. Society has less time for the concerns of those who raise the young or try to teach them.”
—Joseph Featherstone (20th century)
“In the relations of a weak Government and a rebellious people there comes a time when every act of the authorities exasperates the masses, and every refusal to act excites their contempt.”
—John Reed (1887–1920)
“The spiritual kinship between Lincoln and Whitman was founded upon their Americanism, their essential Westernism. Whitman had grown up without much formal education; Lincoln had scarcely any education. One had become the notable poet of the day; one the orator of the Gettsyburg Address. It was inevitable that Whitman as a poet should turn with a feeling of kinship to Lincoln, and even without any association or contact feel that Lincoln was his.”
—Edgar Lee Masters (1869–1950)