Communiqués
Ministerial council communiqués: ALGA is either a full member or an actively participating observer on 14 inter-government ministerial councils. These councils bring together Commonwealth, state, territory and local government representatives to develop whole-of-government approaches to a range of issues of national importance. Communiqués issued by these ministerial councils can be found by clicking on the name of the relevant council.
Other communiqués: Other communiqués listed here include those released by ALGA, international local government organisations and intergovernment forums.
Ministerial council communiqués
- 1. Council of Australian Governments
- The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) is the peak inter-government forum in Australia, comprising the Prime Minister, state premiers, territory chief ministers and the President of the Australian Local Government Association.
- 2. Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management
- The Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management is an expanded version of the Australasian Police Ministers' Council formed to deal with issues related to emergency management, including disaster mitigation and anticipation. Created in 2003, it brings together Commonwealth, state and territory police ministers, ministers responsible for emergency management and ALGA.
- 3. Australia New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council
- The Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council comprises health and agriculture ministers, from Australia and New Zealand, together with ALGA. The Council is primarily responsible for the development of domestic food regulatory policy and the development of policy guidelines for setting domestic food standards.
- 4. Australian Transport Council
- The Australian Transport Council is a ministerial forum for Commonwealth, state, territory and local government consultations and provides advice to governments on the coordination and integration of all transport and road policy issues at a national level.
- 5. Cultural Ministers Council
- The Cultural Ministers' Council provides a forum for cooperation and coordination between the Commonwealth, state, territory and local governments together with the Government of New Zealand on matters relating to the development of the arts and culture. The Council is comprised of Commonwealth, state, territory and New Zealand ministers with responsibility for the arts. Local government is represented by ALGA.
- 6. Environmental Protection and Heritage Council
- The Environment Protection and Heritage Council was established by COAG in June 2001. The EPHC incorporates the National Environment Protection Council (NEPC), the environmental protection components of the Australian New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) and the Heritage Ministers' Meeting.
- 7. Housing Ministers Conference
- The Housing Ministers Conference brings together Commonwealth, state and territory ministers responsible for housing issues. ALGA was invited to participate on the council in 2004.
- 8. Local Government and Planning Ministers Council
- The Local Government and Planning Ministers Council was formed by COAG in 2001 by merging the Local Government Ministers Conference and Planning Ministers Conference. LGPMC brings together Commonwealth, state and territory local government and planning ministers together with the ALGA President. The LGPMC is supported by the Local Government and Planning Joint Committee (Joint Committee), with the Local Government Joint Officers' Group (LOGJOG) and the Planning Officials' Group (POG), as standing sub-committees. ALGA is represented on each of these groups.
- 9. Ministerial Council on Immigration and Multicultural Affairs
- The Ministerial Council on Immigration and Multicultural Affairs consists of Commonwealth, state and territory ministers together with a representative of ALGA. It is chaired by the Federal Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs and meets once each year to consider and resolve issues of mutual concern.
- 10. Ministerial Forum on Insurance Issues
- Commonwealth, state and territory finance ministers and an ALGA representative have been meeting to coordinate a national response to the public liability and professional indemnity insurance crisis.
- 11. Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council
- The Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council consists of the Australian, state/territory and New Zealand government ministers responsible for primary industries, natural resources, environment and water policy, along with ALGA representation. The Council is the peak government forum for consultation, coordination and, where appropriate, integration of action by governments on natural resource management issues.
- 12. Ministerial Council on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs
- Commonwealth, state and territory ministers with responsibility for Indigenous affairs and an ALGA representative meet as the Ministerial Council on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs.
- 13. Online Council
- The Online Council was established in 1997 following agreement by the Commonwealth, states and territories and local government that cooperation on online issues is needed to promote consistency at a national level. Senior ministers from Commonwealth, state and territory governments and an ALGA representative meet annually to discuss policy issues related to the information economy.
- 14. Regional Development Council
- The Regional Development Council was created by COAG in 2001 comprising Commonwealth, state and territory ministers responsible for regional development and the ALGA President.
- 15. Australian Landcare Council
- The Australian Landcare Council is the Australian Government's peak advisory body on landcare and matters concerning natural resource management. It has a major role in advising the Government on priorities and strategies for natural resource management to achieve efficient, sustainable and equitable management of natural resources in Australia that are consistent with the principles of ecologically sustainable development.
Other communiqués
- 16. National Local Roads and Transport Congress
- ALGA's major national transport conference is held in July each year in regional Australia. The communiques summarise key congress outcomes.
- 17. National Counter Terrorism Committee
- The National Counter-Terrorism Committee is the national coordinating body for counter-terrorism in Australia. It is co-chaired by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and a state/territory senior official. It comprises senior representation from relevant Australian Government agencies, premiers' and chief ministers' departments, police services from each jurisdiction and an ALGA representative.
- 18. National Public Health Partnership
- The National Public Health Partnership provides a formal structure for the Commonwealth, state, territory and local government to come together to develop a joint inter-government agenda for public health. It operates under a memorandum of understanding signed by all Australian health ministers in 2003.
- 19. Commonwealth Local Government Forum
- ALGA is a member of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum, an organisation that facilitates liaision on programs to advance the cause of local democracy and local government across Commonwealth countries.
- 20. United Cities and Local Government
- United Cities and Local Government was formed in 2004 by the merger of three international organisations representing local government. UCLG, of which ALGA is a member, is the world advocate of democratic local self-government, promoting its values, objectives and interests.
- 21. Japan Local Government Centre
- The Japan Local Government Centre in Sydney is one of the seven overseas offices of CLAIR, the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations. CLAIR is a semi-government organisation which was established in Tokyo jointly by Japanese prefectures and municipalities to help facilitate their various international and staff exchange programs.
- 22. Austroads Council Meeting No. 41
- The Austroads Council met in Hobart on 22 March 2007. The meeting was chaired by the Austroads Chairman menno Henneveld. This communique summarises the main discussions, decisions and actions arising at the meeting.