Three motions tabled by Brimbank City Council at the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) 2019 National General Assembly in Canberra this week, have been approved.
The three motions were focussed on climate change, re-current funding for national pre-school and kindergarten programs, and better gambling regulation.
Brimbank Mayor, Cr Lucinda Congreve said the National General Assembly provided Council with an important opportunity to give Brimbank’s priorities a national audience at the largest and most influential local government conference in Australia.
“The theme this year’s conference was ‘Future Focused’, looking at what councils can do today to get ready for the challenges, opportunities and changes that lie ahead.
“Our motion on climate change recognises the impact of climate change on local communities around Australia. We want the Federal Government to adopt and implement evidence-based greenhouse emission reduction targets in line with Australia’s international obligations under the Paris Agreement.
“In order to meet these targets, we want the Federal Government to work with Local Government to transition to renewable energy, to reduce transport emissions, reduce the amount of waste going to landfill, and to maintain and increase Australia’s vegetation canopy cover,” Cr Congreve said.
“We also called for a push towards the Federal Government to ensure three and four-year-old children can access quality early education through permanent ongoing funding to the national pre-school and kindergarten program for all four-year-olds, and the progressive extension of the program to cover all three-year-olds.
“Federal funding lapses in December 2019 for 15 hours of four-year-old kindergarten. We want the Federal Government to take Victoria’s lead and commit to investing in our children long-term future by funding three and four-year-old kinder,” Cr Congreve said.
Brimbank also tabled a motion relating to better gambling regulation – particularly in relation to online gambling and gambling advertising.
“We want the Federal Government to introduce more stringent classification of video games that include loot boxes or similar items, to reduce the harm that arises from the convergence of gaming and gambling, and the consequent normalisation of gambling.
“We also want to see the Federal Government close existing loopholes which allows gambling advertisements to be broadcast on television and radio during children’s viewing and listening hours,” Cr Congreve.
All approved motions from the National General Assembly will be referred to the ALGA Board to inform future policy initiatives and for consideration in development of future work programs.
“While in Canberra, we also took the opportunity to visit the ACT Renewal Authority and Transport Canberra which included a site visit and tour on the newly operational light rail.
“These visits were incredibly useful with some very practical information that we can use in relation to city-wide benefits we can advocate for with the development of the Sunshine Super Hub.”
