LOCAL GOVERNMENT MANAGERS AUSTRALIA

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (14:45): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for State/Local Government Relations a question about the Local Government Managers Australia awards and recognition program.

Leave granted.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: I understand that the Local Government Managers Australia (LGMA) represents professionals working in local government in South Australia. The LGMA runs various programs, including the LGMA Management Challenge, the Partnerships for Growth award and the award for Excellence in Advancing the Status of Women within local government. My question to the minister is: can he please outline to the chamber how the state government supports the LGMA in delivering these important programs?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:46): I thank the honourable member for her question and also acknowledge her long-term interest in this issue. As the honourable member indicated, the LGMA SA represents professionals working in the local government sector in South Australia. Most local government chief executives and a number of senior managers and staff are members of the LGMA.

The LGMA's main role is to encourage professionalism and involvement in policy decision-making, provide a forum for discussion and networking and to pursue the professional and educational development of its members. The LGMA provides a range of professional development activities and support networks, including training and development seminars, conferences and regular communiqués.

The LGMA also runs the Leadership Excellence Awards to recognise outstanding and innovative leaders and managers in the local government sector. The overall aim of the program is to: raise the standard and quality of leadership and management in the local government sector; create public awareness of the level of expertise and excellence in local government; and recognise excellence demonstrated by individual staff members, teams and councils as a whole.

Twelve awards will be presented as part of the 2011 program, including: Leadership and Management Excellence—Metropolitan Councils; Leadership and Management Excellence—Rural Councils; Emerging Leader of the Year; Excellence in Advancing the Status of Women; Excellence in Sustainability within Local Government; and Management Challenge.

I am pleased to advise the council that the state government has provided funding of $12,000 for both the Management Challenge and the Partnerships for Growth award. Furthermore, $3,000 of funding is being provided for the award for Excellence in Advancing the Status of Women within local government for 2012. The annual awards dinner will be held in April of next year and I look forward to meeting the nominees and winners of the various award categories.

I am pleased that once again the state government is able to support the LGMA Leadership Excellence Awards. This important initiative recognises the outstanding and innovative leaders, managers and their councils and contributes to the advancement and improvement of local government as a sector.