President's Report - August 2025
Welcome to the August edition of LGAT News.
It is an honour to be re-elected as LGAT President, and I look forward to working collaboratively with the sector over the next two years. I believe in the strength of local government and remain committed to passionately advocating for Tasmanian councils to have the tools and support they need to serve their communities. I am pleased to announce that Mayor Paula Wriedt has been re-elected to serve as Vice President.
I recently attended a roundtable discussion in Melbourne with other Local Government Association Presidents and the Federal Minister for Housing, Hon Clare O’Neil MP. The discussion was focused on unlocking housing supply and improving housing outcomes. I provided a comprehensive overview of the barriers impacting housing productivity in Tasmania and proposed actions that Federal and State governments can take to help deliver housing. These include an annual housing infrastructure fund and stronger infrastructure charging mechanisms.
Locally, we are waiting for Parliament to resume on 19 August to see the resolution from the recent state election. Throughout the election period, LGAT advocated for several key priorities on behalf of the sector. The general themes were planning, safer local roads and local government support. We received commitments for some of our priorities and remain committed to working with the State Government in whatever form it takes.
It was fantastic that many local government representatives from right across Tasmania were able to attend the Elected Members Professional Development Day in Launceston. Attendees heard from experts on road management, climate change, population demographics and how we can better navigate the digital age. These learning and development opportunities help you grow in your role, connect with your peers and walk away with ideas you can use to make a real difference in your community. I look forward to seeing everyone in November at the LGAT Annual Conference in Hobart. Tickets to that event are on sale now.