VLGA Connect

A special edition of VLGA Connect unpacking the IBAC Operation Sandon report, and what the 34 recommendations could mean for the way councils function in future in Victoria. On the panel for this discussion is Kathryn Arndt, CEO of the VLGA; Tony Raunic from Hunt & Hunt Lawyers; and Steve Cooper, governance consultant from Civic Mind. Support the show To learn more about the events, programs,...

VLGA Connect - TGU, 28th July 2023 The panel gives a first-look response to the findings of Operation Sandon. Plus a long running court case dropped; an arbiter suspends a councillor for misconduct; gender neutral bathrooms in Surf Coast; a third councillor resignation at Strathbogie Shire; and more local government news of the week on TGU. Support the show To learn more about the events, programs...

VLGA Connect Local Leaders - with Pauline Gordon, the CEO of Campaspe Shire Council "Working together and collaborating to deliver good outcomes for the community." Pauline Gordon is the CEO of Campaspe Shire Council in Northern Victoria. She has been in the role since late last year and started during the flood crisis. More than 50% of the staff at Campaspe Shire Council were directly i...

This week on TGU with Chris Eddy, Tony Raunic and Julie Reid, reaction from councils to the cancellation of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in regional Victoria; a last minute bid to delay the Operation Sandon report; a council bans fossil fuel advertising while another wants a ban on commercial kangaroo shooting; a twist in outcome of the extraordinary election at Strathbogie; and practising our best...

Next up on the VLGA Connect Local Leaders series is Cr Tina Samardzija, the Mayor of Monash City Council. "This is your local community and you're a part of it." Tina Samardzija is the Mayor of the City of Monash in Victoria, Australia. She was elected as a councillor in 2020 and became Deputy Mayor before being elected as Mayor. Tina's main motivation for joining local governm...

This week, the TGU panel looks into an emotive planning issue in Hobsons Bay; highlighting another cost shift to local government; councillor departures continue; a gain for Noosa is a loss for Victoria; intelligent sensing switched on in Baw Baw; a council forcing workers back to the office 5 days per week; and more UK councils on brink of bankruptcy. Support the show To learn more about the even...

VLGA Connect Local Leaders Series Rebecca McKenzie, CEO Glen Eira City Council "The local government sector is addictive." Rebecca McKenzie has been the CEO of Glen Eira City Council since 2016. McKenzie has a background in HR and is one of the few CEOs in Victoria with that background. She has been the chair of Zoos Victoria for the past two years. Glen Eira City Council has been recogn...

VLGA Connect - TGU, 7th July 2023 This week on TGU, the imminent release of the Operation Sandon report; “testing the market” through Council CEO appointment processes; disaster recovery funding arrangements prompt an angry response; how councils are dealing with meeting disruptions; an innovative work week trial stopped in its tracks; and the Mexican mayoral tradition that probably won’t catch on...

TGU, 30th June 2023, sponsored by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers On the TGU menu this week, the appointment of Greater Geelong’s new CEO; countback results at Greater Geelong and Queenscliffe councils; a no-confidence motion and call for a municipal monitor at Queenscliffe Borough Council unsuccessful; an arbiter finds a Golden Plains councillor committed misconduct for using derogatory and disrespectful...

Chris Eddy and Tony Raunic unpack the week’s local government news in your weekly dose of TGU, including the appointment of the new Stonnington CEO; renewed calls for better governance training for incoming councillors; more Councils reviewing services such as kindergarten and home care; and a councillor banned from standing at the next election. TGU is sponsored by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers Support...

TGU, 16th June 2023 Tony Raunic and Julie Reid join Chris Eddy to discuss this week’s local government news, including: King’s Birthday honorees from around the sector; National Local Government Award winners announced; Councillors subject to a lobbying complaint; Councils face tough challenges with housing and homelessness; A council’s High Court challenge fails Two SA councillors removed from of...

This week on TGU, the team discusses the big local government stories of the week, including: A panel of administrators appointed to Moira Shire Council;  IBAC to review its practices after a coroner’s report into the death of a former mayor;  Is the release of the Operation Sandon report imminent? Knox City Council reviewing its involvement in kindergartens; Another Drag Storytime event moves onl...

Hear a roundtable discussion with the Mayor of Greater Shepparton, Shane Sali; Mayor of Campaspe Shire, Rob Amos; and CEO of Mildura Rural City Council, Martin Hawson - discussing the impact of last year's floods on community and infrastructure, and the lasting effects that are still being dealt with six months on. From a VLGA Connect Live Panel session, held 12th May 2023. Support the show T...

This week on TGU, Chris Eddy is joined by Tony Raunic and Julie Reid to discuss the week’s main local government stories, including a new CEO announced for the MAV; a Greater Geelong councillor resigns triggering the 43rd countback or byelection for the current Council term; severing a sister city relationship with Russia; the passing of a long term councillor and former mayor; and more council re...

Next up in the VLGA Connect Local Leaders, meet the Mayor of the City of Darebin, Cr Julie Williams. Cr Williams has been on council since 2012, and is in her first term as mayor of the city. In an open and times raw conversation, Julie talks about what drove her to become a councillor more than 10 years ago, and the legacy that she is working towards in her mayoral term. Support the show To learn...

VLGA Connect, TGU 26th May  Tony Raunic and Julie Reid join Chris Eddy on the TGU panel this week, with sector reaction to the Victorian state budget; a Merri-bek planning matter called in by the Minister; more councils move away from January 26 activities; plus residents’ love letters to trees. Sponsored by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers Support the show To learn more about the events, programs, and tra...

Victoria's Auditor General, Andrew Greaves, returns to VLGA Connect to discuss the insights from the last full year of local government financial statements. How is a shortage of skilled audit and finance professionals impacting audit timelines? And why has there been an increase in errors in found in statements this past year? Support the show To learn more about the events, programs, and tr...

VLGA Connect, TGU - 19th May 2023 The weekly wrap of local government news with Chris Eddy and Tony Raunic. Topics this week include the appointment of a second monitor to Strathbogie Shire Council; a verbal stoush over libraries in Greater Geelong; Mayors gather to plan a response to the increasing number of disruptions to council meetings; the latest senior executive appointments and more. Spons...

Brent McAlister is our latest guest on the VLGA Connect Local Leaders series. Brent recently took up the role of CEO at Northern Grampians Shire after a stellar local government career across Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and New Zealand. He talks to Chris Eddy about his local government background, and the challenges and opportunities for the sector and for his new role at Northern Grampi...

Joining Chris Eddy on the TGU panel this week are Julie Reid and Tony Raunic, discussing the week's local government happenings... and a bit more. Includes another final report from a municipal monitor; public toilet controversy and a creek renaming; a late motion calling for action on Council meeting disruptors; and much more. Support the show To learn more about the events, programs, and tr...

VLGA Connect, Episode 340 Infrastructure Victoria has released the results of an 18-month research project, looking at how and why people are making housing choices; and revealing what could be don to shift demand in new greenfield suburbs to established suburbs, closer to existing infrastruture. IV CEO Jonathan Spear talks to Chris Eddy about the report's findings and the range of proposed p...

VLGA Connect, episode 339  TGU is back with a rundown of the current local government issues, including the increase in disruptions to Council meetings and events; the Darebin Municipal Monitor report released; Geelong CEO recruitment restarts; a rural mayor under fire for duck hunting support and much more. Links: Darebin Municipal Monitor's report: https://www.localgovernment.vic.gov.au/__d...

VLGA Connect, Episode 338 In the first of an ongoing series profiling Local Leaders, Chris Eddy is joined by the mayor of Nillumbik Shire Council, Ben Ramcharan. At 27, and a first term councillor, Ben is one of the youngest mayors in Victoria. He talks about what drove him to become involved in local government; what he aims to achieve while in the mayoral role; and his plans for the future. Supp...

VLGA Connect, Episode 338 Joining Chris Eddy on the program at Simon Harrex from the VLGA, and Jo Noesgaard from SGS Planning and Economics, to discuss a series of briefing papers designed to help local governments address the community and personal impacts from record gambling losses. Access the series of briefing here for free, after registering for an account: https://lgiu.org/?s=gambling Suppo...

It's an all-new episode of TGU from VLGA Connect, with lots for the team to discuss this week. Including: an ominous call for administrators at Greater Geelong; the Victorian Mayor considering a landmark defamation case; Councils impacted as a major construction company goes into voluntary administration; and Councillors nationwide join forces on electric vehicle advocacy. Plus the team'...