The Federal Government has heard Latrobe City Council’s call for support of the region’s community led transition following a delegation from Council attending the annual National General Assembly and Australian Council of Local Government meeting.
The National General Assembly is attended annually by a delegation from Latrobe City and was followed by the Australian Council of Local Government, an initiative reinstated by the Labour Government.
Attendance at these events form part of Council’s key advocacy activities, with the Council delegation led by Mayor, Councillor Kellie O’Callaghan supported by Deputy Mayor, Councillor Dan Clancey, Councillor Dale Harriman and members from Council’s Executive Team leveraging opportunities for further engagement with Government representatives in the coming months.
The Australian Council of Local Government meeting, attended by the Mayor and Chief Executive Officer, Steven Piasente provided an opportunity to raise Latrobe City’s transition needs with Government Ministers including, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, Kristy McBain, Energy Minister, Chris Bowen and Assistant Minister for Regional and Rural Health, Emma McBride.
At the invitation of the government, the Mayor met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese which provided a platform to highlight the challenges of the region’s changing economic landscape, the strengths of the Latrobe community and opportunities for all levels of government to partner and work together on the region’s transition.
Meetings held with Members of Parliament from both sides of government, were opportune for Latrobe City representatives to further advocate for a considered transition of the timber and energy sectors for Gippsland communities, while garnering support for a range of key actions within Council’s community informed, Our Transition plan.
“Events such as these serve as crucial platforms for engaging with federal representatives and addressing key issues that affect our community. My colleagues and I were able to raise awareness of our community’s priorities and foster meaningful discussions on matters of critical importance to the Latrobe region,” said the Mayor.
“Council recognises the importance of strong relationships with Federal Government decision-makers to secure support for significant regional initiatives that will aid in our community’s transition and transformation.
“Through a range of meetings and forums, I was able to highlight the unique challenges and opportunities that exist within our municipality and emphasise the need for targeted investment and policy interventions that can drive sustainable growth and development.
“The delegation provided the opportunity to highlight Council’s Our Transition plan noting the importance of strategic investment for the liveability and prosperity of our City and the broader Gippsland region.
“By actively participating in these events with my fellow Councillors, we were able to effectively represent the interests and aspirations of the Latrobe community on the national stage.
“It was particularly beneficial that individual Councillors explored additional meeting opportunities during their time in Canberra, this led to a broader advocacy approach and assisted in informing the collaborative work by our Councillor and Executive Leadership team. I am grateful to our delegation team for their support.”
