EXCLUSIVE: COUNCIL SITS DOWN WITH ALGA PRESIDENT CR LINDA SCOTT AT THE 2023 NGA

By Council Magazine Editor, April Shepherd

Every year the nation’s executive local government staff, councillors and mayors congregate in Canberra for the Australian Local Government Association’s (ALGA) National General Assembly (NGA), featuring numerous exhibitors, keynote addresses, panels and most importantly, networking opportunities. This event allows the sector to problem solve, collaborate and share ideas and solutions to build more inclusive and productive councils, and in turn, more functional communities that are prepared for future challenges.

At this year’s NGA Council Magazine Editor, April Shepherd, sat down with ALGA President Councillor Linda Scott to talk about future challenges, championing First Nations voices, and what the NGA’s 2023 theme of ‘Our Communities, Our Future’ means to her personally.

Every June the streets of Australia’s capital city fill with a different group of government professionals – the local government sector – with representatives from Australia’s 537 councils converging on the city for the NGA. This year, the event featured a timely theme of ‘Our Communities, Our Future’, highlighting how the sector must work not just together with fellow councils, but with all levels of government.

This year’s event, held at the National Convention Centre from 13-16 June 2023, kicked off with the Regional Cooperation and Development Forum; with the official NGA program beginning on the 14th.

The event featured addresses from the following influential people, offering insight into the theme, their communities and how councils can face future challenges together:

∞ Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, the Hon Catherine King MP

∞ His Excellency Vasyl Myroshnychenko, Ambassador of Ukraine

∞ Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Peter Dutton MP

∞ Comedian Jimmy Rees

∞ Brendan Moon AM, Coordinator General, National Emergency Management Agency

Many mayors also presented and weighed in on panel discussions with the following panels showcasing a variety of opinions and thought-provoking commentary: A Conversation About the Voice, Cyclones, Fires and Floods, Australia's Affordable Housing Crisis, Cyber Security and Local Government and The Future of Local Government, to name a few.

The program also included some comedic relief from comedian Jimmy Rees, who first became famous from his decade-long stint on the children’s television show Giggle and Hoot, and now is a well-known social media entertainer and influencer.