As part of the Albanese Labor Government’s continued partnership with local government and ongoing commitment to strengthen the services they deliver in every community, the Australian Council of Local Government (ACLG) will return this year.
Set to be held on Friday 5 July in Canberra, the ACLG will provide local governments throughout Australia with the opportunity to directly engage with Federal Ministers from across portfolios – harnessing the power of collaboration to drive effective local change.
The 2024 ACLG is expected to attract around 600 local government representatives, including Mayors and Shire Presidents, Councillors, CEOs, as well as a range of peak body representatives.
It will build on the success of last year’s forum in June – the first in a decade and a Labor election commitment delivered.
This saw representatives from 296 councils participate in discussions on housing supply, energy transition, roads and community infrastructure, along with skills attraction and development.
The ACLG is a core pillar of the Albanese Government’s local government agenda, which is bringing local leaders back to the table, and forging record support for the sector.
This includes:
- Doubling Roads to Recovery funding from $500 million to $1 billion per year
- Increasing road Black Spot funding from $110 million to $150 million per year
- Merging the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program and Bridges Renewal Program into a new, $200 million Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure program – a $50 million increase
- Delivering an additional $250 million to Phase 4 of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program, to improve the safety of local roads across the country
- Establishing transparent grant programs available to councils, such as the $600 million Growing Regions Program, the $400 million Regional Precints and Partnerships Program, the $200 million Thriving Suburbs Program, and the $150 million Urban Precincts and Partnership Program
- Advancing nearly $1.8 billion in disaster payments to councils to fast-track local repair works and to improve resilience
- Helping councils kickstart the enabling infrastructure needed to address housing supply challenges, through a $500 million Housing Support Program
- Supporting councils progress energy efficiency projects and achieve zero emmissions, through the $100 million Community Energy Upgrades Fund.
To maximise participation, the 2024 ACLG will align with the annual Australian Local Government Association’s (ALGA) National General Assembly, which will take place from 2 – 4 July 2024 in Canberra.
