Eight Brimbank Councillors attended the recent Australian Local Government Association National General Assembly in Canberra to advocate for Brimbank at a national level.
More than 800 Mayors and Councillors from around Australia joined the assembly from 20 to 23 June, which heard presentations on important issues to local communities – such as climate change, integrated transport, and community response to COVID-19.
While in Canberra, Mayor Rasic and Councillors met with Federal Parliamentarians to advocate on important local issues – including building the Sunshine Super Hub and reconsidering the Albion flyover as part of the Melbourne Airport Rail Link, along with fixing the Calder Freeway.
For Brimbank Council, the Assembly provided a crucial opportunity to influence ALGA's Federal Government advocacy, to ensure it aligns with Brimbank priorities – such as jobs, climate change and affordable housing.
Brimbank Council's four notices of motion were all unanimously supported and carried at the Assembly. These motions called on the Australian Government to:
- establish and administer a dedicated Jobs and Skills Partnership for LGAs
- declare a climate emergency
- retain and expand the JobKeeper and JobSeeker Programs
- invest in social and affordable housing.
With the unanimous support of Council, Brimbank Mayor Cr Ranka Rasic travelled to the conference in Canberra, along with Deputy Mayor Cr Jasmine Nguyen, Cr Thuy Dang, Cr Maria Kerr, Cr Bruce Lancashire, Cr Trung Luu, Cr Jae Papalia, and Cr Virginia Tachos.
Learnings from the Assembly will be shared in a Delegates Report to Council, at a future Council meeting.
Councillors travelled while observing COVID-safe practices and complied with travel permitted at the time of the conference.
