VLGA Connect

From April 2021 - Chris Eddy and Kathryn Arndt are joined by Ken Smith, Dean and CEO of the Australia New Zealand School of Government for a wide-ranging discussion about our system of government, and the opportunity to reimagine the way governments serve their constituents. Support the show To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victorian Local Governance Associatio...

The Best of VLGA Connect Summer Series takes us back to March 2021, when Chris Eddy spoke with the CEO of the Victorian Planning Authority, Stuart Moseley. Support the show To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), please click here . If you'd like to contact us about the podcast, please send us an email to vlga@vlga.o...

Next up in our Best Of series, we revisit an interview with Victoria's Auditor-General Andrew Greaves, and Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner Kristen Hilton, discussing the results of a VAGO survey of local government's handling of sexual harassment matters. Support the show To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victorian Local Governance Asso...

On our final Governance Update for 2021, Chris Eddy and Steve Cooper wrap up the week's governance news, including name change processes; a new IBAC report on misuse of information; a report into the cost of rate capping in Victoria, plus news on the NSW rate peg for the coming year; CEO appointments and countback results and more Support the show To learn more about the events, programs, and...

In the first episode of the VLGA's Local Government Culture Review series, Minister Shaun Leane talks with Kathryn Arndt and Chris Eddy about the reasons for conducting a review, and a new discussion paper setting out issues for the sector's response. Support the show To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), plea...

Welcome to the first in our Summer Series Best Of collection - looking back at some of the most watched and most talked about episodes from the 2021 season of VLGA Connect. This episode comes from the VLGA Annual General Meeting, when Chris Eddy spoke with Peggy O'Neal AO about governance, culture and leadership. Support the show To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered...

The VLGA Connect Summer Series kicks off with the weekly Governance Update. On the menu this week, Councillors running for state or federal office - what are obligations and considerations? Some councillor resignations and CEO movements to note; the ESC annual compliance report is out; and the dismissal of an interstate council raises the topic of compliance with financial management principles. A...

Join us in the VLGA Connect studio for this week's Governance Update with Chris Eddy and Stephen Cooper. This week's topics include a municipal monitor for Yarra City Council; VCAT given the green light to determine a matter brought by the Chief Municipal Inspector in relation to a Yarra councillor; another Victorian CEO leaving the sector; the Jenkins Report and implications for dealing...

This week on the Governance Update, a council contemplates a name change; CEOs arriving and departing; a councillor code of conduct issue attracts attention; the wash up from Victoria's mayoral elections; cricket lessons, and more! Support the show To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), please click here . If you&ap...

This week, Chris Eddy and Steve Cooper discuss mayoral election results; VLGA AGM insights; council by elections and count backs; fraud awareness; improving the management of conflicts of interest; CEO movements; and abandoned vehicles. It's all happening on the VLGA Connect Governance Update. Support the show To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victorian Loc...

Lots of local government news to unpack this week on the VLGA Connect Governance Update, with Chris Eddy and Stephen Cooper. Notable outcomes from mayoral elections across Victoria; results from the South Gippsland Shire elections; a pending countback expected at Yarra Ranges Shire; observations from IBAC's Operations Watts hearings; the Victorian and Tasmanian sectors under review along with...

In this episode, governance issues spring from the sports pages; Lucy Dalton from LGV provides an update on LGA2020 implementation and other topical sector issues; it's mayoral election season in Victoria; conflict of interest lessons from ICAC and South Australia; and the councillor calling out abuse of elected representatives and council staff. Support the show To learn more about the event...

This week, as a plethora of Council Plans are adopted, we look at some topical governance stories, including the resignation of Swan Hill's unvaccinated CEO; insights from IBAC's Operation Turon report; local councils top the list of complained about agencies in the Victorian Ombudsman's annual report; the Local Government Inspectorate finds councillor compliance with personal inter...

On VLGA Connect, Chris Eddy is in conversation with Peter Kartsidimas, Director Networks and Planning at Infrastructure Victoria. We learn more about the development of IV's 30 Year Strategy, and its recommendations in relation to growth area infrastructure, urban infill and developing regional areas. Support the show To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victo...

This week on the Governance Update, we arrive at the intersection of IBAC, ICAC, VCAT, the OIA and local government. It's a big congested here this week, so please bear with us as we navigate through the traffic and attempt to make sense of it all! Support the show To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), please click...

A special edition of VLGA Connect, in conversation with Rose O'Leary and Angela Savage in the lead up to Gambling Harm Awareness Week. We celebrate the Libraries After Dark program and how it is supporting communities with few recreation alternatives to local pokies venues. Support the show To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victorian Local Governance Associ...

On VLGA Connect today, Chris Eddy is in conversation with Keiran Brophy from Play Australia about 1000 Play Streets - a national movement to reconnect socially isolated communities and to encourage more play for all on our quiet residential streets. The concept has been piloted in four states with six local governments, leading to a free toolkit for local governments with advice on how to support...

On this week's Governance Update, Chris Eddy and Stephen Cooper discuss the local government news of the week, including: the Victorian Ombudsman's report into Kingston City Council planning processes; a parliamentary inquiry releases its report about the closure of a food company and the role of government officials; the opposition move to stop local councils imposing new fees on small...

This week, mandated vaccinations for local government workers is the hot topic, with announcements from two Councils and more expected to follow. Richard Scougall from Hunt & Hunt Lawyers joins Chris Eddy and Stephen Cooper to discuss the implications and legal ramifications of these mandates. Plus we look at a unique legal case out of NSW where confidentiality and law enforcement procedures c...

This week on the Governance Update, Chris Eddy and Stephen Cooper explore some of the latest issues to surface in the local government sector, including a growing number of defamation cases and complaints arising from social media usage. Steve makes a link between this week's Australian Story on ABC and local government culture; plus the impact on culture when CEO behaviour doesn't meet...

Infrastructure Australia recently released its 15 year plan, calling for a new wave of infrastructure reform to drive COVID-19 recovery around the nation. How was the plan developed, and what does it mean for local governments across the country?  In this episode of VLGA Connect, Chris Eddy and Kathryn Arndt speak with the CEO of Infrastructure Australia, Romilly Madew, to find out what's in...

From the VLGA Connect Newsroom this week, updates on sector happenings with CEO Kathryn Arndt.  Plus we're joined by Hannah Duncan-Jones and Madeline Di Pietrantonio from Homes Victoria to discuss local government's role in the Big Housing Build, and the $80 million to address a critical housing shortage in regional Victoria. Support the show To learn more about the events, programs, and...

On VLGA Connect, IBAC Deputy Commissioner David Wolf joins Chris Eddy and Kathryn Arndt to look at the IBAC report into perceptions of corruption and integrity by people who work in local government. We discuss the key findings and observations, and the implications for Councillors and council organisations. Link: https://www.ibac.vic.gov.au/publications-and-resources/article/corruption-and-integr...

This week on the Governance Update with Chris Eddy and Stephen Cooper - the Tasmanian Government pursuing structural reform of the local government sector; a general manager and mayor bring defamation action against an individual over social media material; nuggets from the latest IBAC newsletter; plus more news and views from around the sector. The Governance Update is brought to you by Hunt &amp...

Yoo-rrook Justice Commissioner Sue-Anne Hunter joins Chris Eddy and Kathryn Arndt to discuss the important truth-telling work of the commission, and how local government might expect to be involved and assist. Support the show To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), please click here . If you'd like to contact us abo...