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2. westerncouncillor I am looking forward to Perth and Western Australia being featured on Chief Executive Officer Ricky Burges FROM THE CORNER OFFICE As a member of the Local Government Insurance Services Board I have just returned from London and New York where we met with reinsurers Chartis, Mistui and QBE. The main item on the insurance agenda was the recent fire in the hills of Perth and the subsequent Keelty Report. Front of mind for the reinsurers was the experience of the Victorian bushfires and the tragic outcomes. We were able to reassure them that there was no loss of life, and in fact, only around three per cent of Local Government land involved. You may have seen the President’s column in the West Australian highlighting the great work undertaken by Councils in order to achieve this outcome, and their commitment and leadership in this area should not be understated. LGIS have referred the Keelty Report and its recommendations to their lawyers to ensure that there are no consequential liability issues for Local Government. Following tabling of the Report’s recommendations in Parliament, they were accepted for implementation and I have been invited to sit on the Implementation Committee set up by the Office of Premier & Cabinet. My presence at this forum will enable me to ensure that Local Government’s interests and their feedback are provided to State Government. A further three working groups have been created to consider the issues and requirements for implementation and report back to the Committee, with WALGA representation on each of these groups. In order to obtain Local Government feedback and advice we have been communicating with our members via info pages, online questionnaires, and meetings with CEOs and Directors of the Hills Councils. We have also been undertaking meetings with relevant stakeholders such as the Local Government Emergency Management Advisory Group and Waste Management Officers’ Group; FESA, DEC, and the Department of Planning. The reason for this process being fast tracked is that all these stakeholders are acutely aware that the bushfire season will soon be upon us, and there is a genuine willingness to develop a collaborative program to ensure West Australians are kept safe this summer. This round of Zone meetings will have an agenda item included relating to this matter and I would encourage you all to make sure any feedback you have is provided to your representative on the Zone. Mayor Troy Pickard PRESIDENT’S REPORT a global stage with more than 50 world leaders arriving to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) from 28 to 30 October 2011. Many Local Governments are taking the opportunity to leverage off the program by co-branding their activities, adopting a CHOGM nation Sister City, hosting a local version or promoting the ideals of cooperation which are fostered by CHOGM. Looking at the events running alongside the formal program, there are plenty of opportunities for local communities to celebrate with activities showcasing our local and national talent, arts and culture, sporting events, and the diversity of Commonwealth cultures. A people’s space is being created at the Perth Cultural Centre, which will also show a live broadcast of the opening on Friday, 28th October. A full program of events is available from the CHOGM information website and the Commonwealth Festival website. This is also an opportunity for Western Australia and Perth to make a great pitch for the tourism industry in our State, and I would encourage Councils to do all they can to put their local area and facilities in the best possible light to provide a positive impression for the international delegation. The word-of-mouth impact from a positive experience cannot be underestimated, and I believe that the whole of our State will benefit from a successful conference for many years to come. An important part of CHOGM for Local Government will be the visit of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF). Featured in this edition is an article highlighting the work undertaken by the CLGF, which focuses on promoting local democracy, best practice and learning and capacity building for Local Government across member nations. Mayors and Presidents will also have the opportunity to speak with the CLGF delegation at a sundowner we will be hosting around the time of their visit, with invitations due to go out soon. This is just one small way in which WALGA can contribute to the CHOGM ideals, facilitating the cooperation between nations on a Local Government level.
OVERSEAS recruitment 3. OVERSEAS RECRUITMENT UK Uncertainty is WA Opportunity An innovative migrant employment program is receiving national recognition for the role it is playing in addressing council job shortages in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Set up by the WALGA Workplace Solutions unit, the program aims to leverage the current high number of well qualified and experienced professionals willing to move to Australia. WALGA began the overseas recruitment strategy in 2006 to address skills shortages in Local Government. Workplace Solutions Executive Manager John Phillips said the professional skills shortage was more the result of schoolleavers not taking up University level courses in areas such as Environmental Health, Civil Engineering and Planning, rather than the resources boom drawing away staff. Since the start of the program more than 50 Local Government workers from the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa have been placed in WA and NT councils. These candidates fill jobs in three main areas where skilled workers are in national undersupply – urban town planning, environmental health and civil engineering. Mr Phillips says the demand for jobs in Australia has grown significantly this year due to cut backs in public sector in the UK and Europe. On a recent trip to the UK, the WALGA team identified over 100 people genuinely interested in council jobs in Australia. He said candidates’ overall level of qualifications and diversity of experience was exceptional. “In Ireland for instance, funding has dried up on a lot of major projects which had been funded by national debt and ‘Euro dollars’ so there are dozens of civil engineers and technical officer with post-graduate degrees and field experience looking for work.” WALGA’s overseas recruitment program works as a service that matches applicants to job vacancies in councils. WALGA now has a team of three staff working to support the project to target key career expos in the UK, Ireland and South Africa every year with a list of vacancies to fill. Mr Phillips canvasses councils for job opportunities before he leaves and again with applicants’ resumes on his return. His team undertakes the first round of phone interviews and participates in the second and third phone interviews with client councils. Once councils make an offer, the team assists them with drafting paperwork such as letters of offer, contracts and visa applications. This personalised service costs about $8000 per applicant, or a negotiated rate for placement of a number of candidates, and given the shortage of jobs locally has proven to be more effective than simply placing job adverts in national or local newspapers. “We aren’t migration agents. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship recognises us an employer association serving the whole-of-sector.” Successful applicants are sponsored by councils and brought to Australia on Subclass 457 – Business (Long Stay) Visas for fouryear terms. Most of them then apply for permanent residency. “The transfer of skills for applicants from the UK, Ireland and South Africa is excellent,” Mr Phillips said. “They are used to working in a Commonwealth style of system so they adapt to our legislation very readily. “South Africans in particular are very willing to travel here to work in regional and remote areas.” The overseas recruitment program is now regularly used by 15 councils in WA, tending to be favoured most by medium-to-large size councils. It is also well-regarded by the Federal and State government agencies who provide services in this area, and the service has enormous potential. “This Local Government specific recruitment drive is the first of its kind in Australia and when more councils realise this is a legitimate way to hire employees, they will come onboard.” METRO- POLITAN REFORM Sector Discusses Vision for Perth Local Governments across the metropolitan area have showed the sector’s commitment to taking reform seriously, with almost all metro Councils attending a visioning forum in South Perth on Wednesday 17 August 2011. The forum featured internationally renowned long range planning expert Steven Ames, where the forum allowed Local Governments to discuss the challenges facing metropolitan Perth and how Local Government might assist in meeting them over the next 50 years. At the forum WALGA President Mayor Troy Pickard stated: “Having a clear vision for the metropolitan Local Government sector will enable us to fully engage with the independent reform panel conducting the review and ensure our concerns and ideas for potential opportunities are heard and considered.” Mayor Pickard said WALGA representatives had already met with the Chair of the independent reform panel and were heartened to hear of the panel’s proposed approach to the process. “Panel Chair Professor Alan Robson has stressed the panel’s focus will be upon evidence-based decision making, with extensive consultation and an inclusive and open process,” he said. “We believe this is an opportunity for Perth to have a real transformation and we are committed to fully contributing to the process to ensure a positive outcome for local communities.” The panel will prepare an Issues Paper seeking submissions from Local Governments and other stakeholders. It is anticipated that the Issues Paper will be distributed during October and will be out for a couple of months for discussion and feedback. This will then form the basis of Recommendations and the Final Report. The notes from the visioning forum are available and can be obtained from WALGA’s Executive Manager Governance & Strategy Tony Brown. Email tbrown@walga.asn. au or phone 9213 2051. westerncouncillor SEPTEMBER AUGUST 2011
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