Australian Local Government Association

Did you miss either or our webinars this week? Or found them so full of information that you want to watch again? Find them here:

Disability Inclusion: Education, Employment and Community Attitudes | https://alga.com.au/event/webinar-disability-inclusion-education-employment-and-community-attitudes/

Environmental Law Reforms Q&A: EPBC Act | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMXOgKIWyhQ&t=6s

For upcoming webinars visit https://alga.com.au/events/

TODAY @ 4pm AEDT. Click below to register.

ALGA WEBINAR | Environmental law reforms Q&A: EPBC Act

When: Wednesday, 25 March 2026
Time: 4:00pm - 5:00pm AEDT
Register: https://alga.com.au/event/webinar-environmental-law-reforms-qa-epbc-act/

In November 2025, Parliament passed significant reforms to Australia’s national environmental law, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). These reforms introduce new national environmental standards, new institutions and changes to how environmental assessments and approvals operate.

This webinar provides an opportunity for participants to ask questions directly of officials from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water about the EPBC Act reforms and what they mean in practice.

This is a Q&A-focused session. Participants are required to watch DCCEEW’s short video explainer on the environmental law reforms before attending. The webinar will not provide a general overview of the reforms and will focus almost exclusively on answering participant questions.

The video explainer outlines:
- how Australia’s environmental laws work
- what has changed under the EPBC Act reforms
- the role of new national institutions and standards
- when changes will commence and where to find further information.

👉 Watch the video explainer before the webinar: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/about/news/environmental-law-reforms-video-explainer

This webinar is intended for practitioners, policy officers and stakeholders who have already familiarised themselves with the reforms and are seeking clarification on specific aspects of implementation, timing and implications.

ALGA WEBINAR | Environmental law reforms Q&A: EPBC Act

When: Wednesday, 25 March 2026
Time: 4:00pm - 5:00pm AEDT
Register: https://alga.com.au/event/webinar-environmental-law-reforms-qa-epbc-act/

In November 2025, Parliament passed significant reforms to Australia’s national environmental law, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). These reforms introduce new national environmental standards, new institutions and changes to how environmental assessments and approvals operate.

This webinar provides an opportunity for participants to ask questions directly of officials from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water about the EPBC Act reforms and what they mean in practice.

This is a Q&A-focused session. Participants are required to watch DCCEEW’s short video explainer on the environmental law reforms before attending. The webinar will not provide a general overview of the reforms and will focus almost exclusively on answering participant questions.

The video explainer outlines:
- how Australia’s environmental laws work
- what has changed under the EPBC Act reforms
- the role of new national institutions and standards
- when changes will commence and where to find further information.

👉 Watch the video explainer before the webinar: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/about/news/environmental-law-reforms-video-explainer

This webinar is intended for practitioners, policy officers and stakeholders who have already familiarised themselves with the reforms and are seeking clarification on specific aspects of implementation, timing and implications.

WEBINAR – Disability Inclusion: Education, Employment and Community Attitudes

Tuesday, 24 March, 2026 - 1.00-3.00pm AEDT

REGISTER HERE: https://alga.com.au/event/webinar-disability-inclusion-education-employment-and-community-attitudes/

Local governments are uniquely placed to drive disability inclusion through employment, education and community leadership. People with disability are residents, ratepayers, employees and active community members who interact with council services every day. But unclear roles and responsibilities across local, state and Commonwealth governments along with unconscious bias and constrained resources can limit progress.

This practical webinar will explore how councils can move from intent to impact across three key challenges:

Challenge 1: Education – Unclear Roles and Responsibilities

Challenge 2: Employment – Addressing Unconscious Bias

Challenge 3: Community Attitudes – Leadership, Participation and Visibility

Join us to explore how local government can turn responsibility into leadership — creating more inclusive, equitable communities for all.

This program includes four webinars for anyone in local government working to strengthen disability inclusion - see the registration page for more information.

Photo: Capture the Present

Were you unable to tune in to our webinar on HAFF Round 3 last week?

ALGA CEO Amy Crawford was joined by Housing Australia and Polis Partners to talk about how councils can engage with the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) Round 3.

If you missed out, watch the recording here:

HAFF Round 3 Webinar - 13 March 2026 Housing Australia and Polis Partners joined ALGA for a practical briefing on the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) round 3 and how councils can engage wit...

Australian communities and local governments are celebrating 50 years of friendship and cooperation with Japan in 2026.

A growing calendar of events across the country will reflect on five decades of partnership, shared values and enduring collaboration.

See how your community can be involved, and start planning how you'll join celebrations of this important anniversary. Visit the Australian Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's anniversary page or the Embassy of Japan in Australia for more information.

DFAT: https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/japan/50th-anniversary-basic-treaty-friendship-cooperation

Embassy of Japan: https://www.au.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_en/index.html

Webinar - HAFF Round 3 - this coming Friday, 13 March

Join ALGA, Housing Australia and Polis Partners for a practical briefing on the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) Round 3, and how councils can engage with it effectively. The session will also walk through the new Guide for Local Councils: The Delivery of Affordable Housing, a council-focused resource grounded in real-world case studies from across Australia.

Local governments are being asked to do more to support the delivery of affordable and social housing, often without clear guidance on pathways, partners, or funding levers. This webinar is designed to address that gap directly.

Hear directly from Housing Australia on how the HAFF works in practice, what makes a strong local government proposition, and where councils can add value through land, partnerships, planning, and enabling infrastructure. Polis Partners will then step through the Guide, highlighting proven delivery models, governance approaches, and lessons learned from councils that are already active in affordable and social housing.

Register via the ALGA website: https://alga.com.au/event/webinar-housing-australia-future-fund-haff-round-3/

Find the Guide for Local Councils: The Delivery of Affordable Housing here: https://alga.com.au/guide-for-local-councils-the-delivery-of-affordable-housing/

We're excited to welcome back the nicest guy in news, David Speers, as MC for this year's ALGA National General Assembly. Known for his many roles across the Australian media, including leading ABC's political coverage, David is also keenly interested in local government. We're delighted he will be returning with his sharp political lens as well as his outstanding MC skills.

Early bird registration for the NGA is open until 30 April.

Register here: https://conferenceco-nga2026.eventsair.site/

Don't miss Local Government Week 2026 in Canberra: June 23-25

The Heart Foundation's 2026 healthy built environments industry survey is open now.

The Heart Foundation is seeking to understand changes in built environment policy, planning and projects to improve local neighbourhood walkability.

They’re also seeking to better understand industry needs, and ways that they can continue to improve their resources and support through .

The survey will take between 5 and 10 minutes to complete. Visit https://heartfoundation.syd1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6flwjJB51XluLl4

Every person who completes the survey and provides contact details by Friday 20 March will go in the draw to receive one of three $50 Prezzee Smart cards.

You can find out more about the relationship between heart health, walkability and built environments on the Healthy Active by Design website -https://healthyactivebydesign.com.au

It's on Sunday, and neighbourhoods and councils across Australia will be taking care of their patch.

But wouldn't it be even better if litter was recycled in the first place?

ALGA is calling on the Federal Government to mandate a national product stewardship scheme, that requires companies to recover and recycle their packaging.

It will help power up Australia's recycling sector, protect our natural places and community health, and relieve the pressure on councils to manage growing waste in landfills.

See ALGA's statement on the urgent need for National Packaging Reform: https://alga.com.au/alga-calls-for-urgent-action-on-national-packaging-reform/

If you want to participate in Clean Up Australia Day, visit www.cleanup.org.au

Communities are stronger when everyone can contribute.

A big week for in Adelaide this week as members of the disability inclusion community of practice attend Australia's Disability Strategy National Forum, ahead of ALGA's Local Government Disability Inclusion Community of Practice's workshop on Thursday.

Don't miss the third of ALGA's AI webinars, with AI pioneer and innovation expert Nick Abrahams:

Fast Track: A Six-Step AI Strategy for Local Government
10 Feb, 11:30am-12:30pm AEDT

Register here: https://bit.ly/4r2iL6m

Nick doesn’t just talk about the future; he’s building it. He created the award-winning Parker, the world’s first AI-enabled privacy chatbot. Parker was successfully rolled out in six countries. He is a Co-founder of Lawpath, an AI-powered legal services platform with over 500,000 customers. Lawpath recently received an investment of $10 Million from a major bank. Nick spent the last ten years as a global technology and innovation leader at international law firm, Norton Rose Fulbright.

As AI reshapes public services globally, Australian councils face growing pressure to harness its potential but without compromising trust, transparency or outcomes. This webinar outlines a practical, six-step strategy grounded in real-world case studies from Australian councils already delivering measurable results.