As the Victorian member of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), we helped develop the national policy priorities for local government to pursue as part of the 2010 federal election. Along with local government in Victoria, we actively support the national advocacy efforts of ALGA and its 10-point plan, National resilience – local communities.

Commitments sought from all political parties and federal candidates prior to the federal election include:

• supporting a federal parliamentary inquiry into the adequacy of local government revenue
• further investment in the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program
• providing permanent funding for the Roads to Recovery program
• agreeing to a referendum for constitutional recognition for local government
• providing funding to support climate change adaptation
• strengthening the role of local government in land use planning

Following announcement of the federal election on 21 August 2010, we wrote to political party campaign headquarters confirming our support for ALGA's 10-point plan and seeking a formal response to three additional matters of importance to Victorian local government:

• Partnership agreement for operation of the tripartite home and community care program in Victoria from 1 July 2011 when the National Health and Hospitals Network Agreement will commence.
• Reform process for transition to national early childhood reform of 15 hours per week universal access to preschool for children in the year before they start school.
• Partnership funding to help cover the $111 million high up-front costs of changing to energy-efficient street lighting on all local roads to reduce electricity use by 70 per cent and deliver a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Early childhood education in Victoria

We commenced an advocacy campaign targeting all political parties, federal and state ministers, and candidates contesting the federal election. This campaign urges more appropriate Australian Government investment and transition arrangements to implement the national early childhood education policy reform to provide all children with universal access to 15 hours of preschool in the year before they start school.

Local government supports early learning reforms that help to prepare children socially, emotionally, intellectually and physically for their entrance to the education system. However, the national reforms are due to be in place by 2013 and substantially insufficient funding has been allocated to Victoria ensure kindergarten facilities, staffing needs and change-management programs are in place to meet this reform timeline.

Unlike other states where preschools are largely integrated into the education system, Victorian councils own more than two-thirds of all kindergarten facilities, which run under a community model to deliver 1200 preschool programs to three- and four-year old children. The reliance on goodwill from councils and community groups to maintain the state’s kindergarten service has inhibited the upgrade and refurbishment of facilities.

Victoria currently provides 10 hours of preschool per week and the universal access reforms require around 50 per cent more kindergarten facilities and 400 extra trained staff. There is a $600 million Australian Government infrastructure funding shortfall to renovate existing facilities and build new centres in order to provide the 15 hours universal access program.

Our federal campaign advocacy has included:

• briefing an adviser to The Hon. Warren Truss, Nationals Leader and Shadow Minister for Local Government
• briefing The Hon. Dr Sharman Stone, Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education who has issued a supportive media release
• raising the matter with The Hon. Anthony Albanese, Minister for Infrastructure and Local Government
• request from the office of the Federal Minister for Early Childhood Education, The Hon. Kate Ellis to provide a briefing

Energy-efficient public street lighting

We launched a campaign in June 2010 to secure a Victorian and Australian Government funding partnership to help local government with the high up-front costs ($120 million) of changing all local road street lights over from the 1980’s mercury vapour 80W lamps to more energy efficient lighting.

Give Our Streets the Green Light has fact sheets and many other resource materials for use by councils and the community.

The campaign aims to achieve a $40 million combined investment from the Australian and Victorian Governments. This would help fund around one third of the total upgrade costs, or $150 per light fitting and installation, with councils paying the remainder of the estimated $350 to $450 for each energy efficient light installed.

New technology fluorescent lights provide an energy saving of around 70 per cent. A statewide upgrade for Victoria’s 330,000 local road street lights will achieve a 78,000 tonne greenhouse gas emissions reduction and $7 million in energy cost savings each year.

Local government is seeking a genuine funding partnership with other levels of government to help secure a greener future for our communities. As part of the campaign, we provided information to:

• The Hon Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister
• Senator the Hon. Penny Wong, Minister for Climate Change Energy Efficiency and Water
• The Hon. Anthony Albanese, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
• The Hon. Greg Combet, Minister Assisting the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
• The Hon. Martin Ferguson, Minister for Resources and Energy
• The Hon. Tony Abbott, Leader of the Opposition
• The Hon. Greg Hunt, Shadow Minister for Climate Action, Environment and Heritage
• The Hon. Warren Truss. Leader of The Nationals, Shadow Minister for Local Government
• The Hon. Ian Macfarlane, Shadow Minister for Energy and Resources
• Senator Bob Brown, Leader of the Australian Greens
• Senator Christine Milne, Australian Greens Spokesperson on Climate Change and Energy

Prior to the federal election, we received formal responses on behalf of the Australian Government from Minister Wong’s office and from Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s office. We also conducted a briefing for Greg Hunt, Shadow Minister for Climate Action.

In its response to us, the Coalition acknowledged the 'enormous potential' of our proposal, given the persuasive savings in greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs. Mr Abbott’s office also committed to closely consider our proposal if the Coalition is elected to government saying that, 'Under our direct action policy on climate change, initiatives such as upgrading of street lighting could potentially be supported by federal government funding.

During the final days of the federal election campaign, Minister Wong announced an $80 million Low Carbon Communities initiative if the Gillard Government is re-elected. This policy directly responds to our campaign, with competitive grants available to councils to cut pollution and reduce energy costs through efficient upgrades to street lighting, community facilities and council buildings.