INDUSTRY FOREWORD
GETTING DOWN
TO BUSINESS
At this time each year representatives of local
government from across Australia gather to
share knowledge and experience as the sector
develops its approaches to the national policy
questions of the day. The National General
Assembly of Local Government (NGA), which is
being held in Canberra from 15-18 June, brings
together mayors, counsellors and senior officers
and offers opportunities to hear from political
leaders and experts from the world of business
and academia.
This is also an important year as it is the 20th
NGA. This will be an opportunity to reflect on
the advances that local government has made,
but also will bring a tighter focus on the future
needs of local government.
The NGA comes at a very important time, not
just for local government, but for all levels
of government. It will be held in the period
following the release of the Government’s
first Budget, as well as the outcomes of the
Commission of Audit. It will be a time for all
levels of government to consider the possible
impacts and to think more about the business
we are in and what we need to deliver services
and support to the communities we serve.
This is why the theme of the NGA this year is
‘Getting Down to Business’. It is about making
sure we focus squarely on the day to day
business of local government. We will hear
from experts on what role they see for local
government in managing the environmental,
financial and social challenges of communities.
Another issue for the NGA this year is to
prepare the sector the forthcoming White
Papers on taxation and the Federation. These
are vitally important processes for councils and
our communities.
The sustainability of local government
finances has been a long-running concern and
considering both a very tight Federal Budget
and the White Paper on taxation, there will be
Mayor Lewis hails from South Australia and is
the City of Marion’s first-ever female Mayor and
the longest serving Mayor of more than 13 years.
As an advocate for local government, Mayor Lewis
has promoted Marion Council and the community
by developing strong alliances with all levels of
government and has established good working
relations with neighbouring councils.
Mayor Lewis is a passionate supporter of reform
in local government and was President of the
Local Government Association of South Australia
from 2009 to 2011.
Mayor Felicity-ann Lewis became President of
the Australian Local Government Association
(ALGA) in September 2012, having previously
been Vice President since 2010. Mayor Lewis has
been a member of the ALGA Board since 2009.
Mayor Lewis is a Senior Lecturer in Health
Education at Flinders University, focussing on
health promotion and health education. In 2013
she completed a PhD on health education in SA
secondary schools and was awarded the degree
Doctor of Education.
discussion on how to maintain current funding
levels and also show the strong arguments in
favour of future reform.
Most fundamentally, there will be discussion
on where local government sits within
the framework of our Federation. Experts
including Kate Carnell, former Chief Minister
of the ACT, Terry Moran, former Secretary of
the Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet and Helen Silver, former Head of the
Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet
will speak to delegates about not only their
past experiences