LOCAL GOVERNMENT – AUSTRALIA

‘National day January 26 by law’: Dutton

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Original article by Brendan Kearns
The Australian – Page: 3 : 15-Jan-25

Some 81 local councils shifted the date of their citizenship ceremonies in 2024 via federal government’s laws that allow them to be held within three days on either side of 26 January. Opposition leader Peter Dutton has indicated that he would be open to formally legislating 26 January as the national holiday if the Coalition wins the upcoming election. Dutton has also urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to "stand up to mayors" whose local councils refuse to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day. There is growing support for Dutton’s stance on Australia Day amongst many mayors, including some in federal seats that are held by Labor or independents.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Councils feel the heat over January 26

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Original article by Mohammad Alfares, Brendan Kearns
The Australian – Page: 5 : 14-Jan-25

Opposition leader Peter Dutton said on Monday that he would reinstate the requirement for councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day within the first 100 days of a Coalition government. Commenting on Dutton’s declaration, the Australian Local Government Association’s president mayor Matt Burnett said there were a number of reasons why councils did not hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day, including costs and extreme heat. Adelaide Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith said it would comply with any government directive to hold ceremonies on Australia Day, but that it might need to ask for compensation to cover any additional costs.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION LIMITED

Councils feel the heat over January 26

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Original article by Mohammad Alfares, Brendan Kearns
The Australian – Page: 5 : 14-Jan-25

Opposition leader Peter Dutton said on Monday that he would reinstate the requirement for councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day within the first 100 days of a Coalition government. Commenting on Dutton’s declaration, the Australian Local Government Association’s president mayor Matt Burnett said there were a number of reasons why councils did not hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day, including costs and extreme heat. Adelaide Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith said it would comply with any government directive to hold ceremonies on Australia Day, but that it might need to ask for compensation to cover any additional costs.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION LIMITED

Council brakes slow recovery

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Original article by Rebecca Urban, Damon Johnston
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 11-Jun-20

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says local councils should fast-track development applications in order to stimulate economic activity in the post-coronavirus world. He says the state and federal governments are helping to boost the construction sector, and local governments should do so as well. It takes an average of 70 days for development applications to be approved in Victoria – well above the statutory requirement of 60 days – and this had blown out to at least 120 days for some councils prior to the pandemic. The average number of days to approve a development application in New South Wales is 84 days.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Fight against fossil fuels gains ground

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Original article by Amanda Saunders, Jemima Whyte
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 28-Aug-15

The City of Melbourne will examine its investment policy with a view to divesting its shares in fossil fuels. Councillor Arron Wood said the council was aiming for zero net emissions by 2020 and it was important to lead by example. Albury City Council has also decided to review its investments following Newcastle’s shock decision to sell its shares in banks which fund miners.

CORPORATES
CITY OF MELBOURNE, NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL, ALBURY CITY COUNCIL, MOUNT ALEXANDER SHIRE COUNCIL, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, CITY OF SYDNEY, CITY OF PERTH, BLUE MOUNTAINS CITY COUNCIL

Councils target ANZ on sale of toxic debt

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Original article by Leo Shanahan
The Australian – Page: 31 : 14-Nov-14

Australian local government bodies led by Coffs Harbour City Council are launching legal action in the Federal Court against ANZ Bank. They allege misleading and deceptive conduct, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duties and breach of the banking code of practice. ANZ had sold the claimants risky collateralised debt obligations between 2006 and 2008, without disclosing its own stake in the instruments. A co-respondent to the suit is credit ratings agency Fitch Ratings, which had given "AAA" status to the Credit Sail II product

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, FITCH RATINGS LIMITED, COFFS HARBOUR CITY COUNCIL, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, STANDARD AND POOR’S (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, LEHMAN BROTHERS INCORPORATED, GLOUCESTER SHIRE COUNCIL

ACCC chases carbon levies

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Original article by Phillip Coorey, Joanna Heath
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 30-Jul-14

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) will crack down on about 120 organisations that fail to recompense consumers following the abolition of the carbon tax. This includes companies such as airlines and waste management groups, as well as local councils. They had generally increased prices when the tax was introduced, and the ACCC is concerned that they may try to avoid passing on savings to consumers now that tax has been scrapped

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN, VIRGIN AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX VAH, AUSTRALIAN LANDFILL OWNERS ASSOCIATION LIMITED, VEOLIA ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT