The Power in Local on Display at LGAT's 2026 Annual Conference
We were delighted to welcome Tasmanian elected representatives to Hobart for our 2026 Annual Conference, held on 20 and 21 August.
This year’s theme, The Power In Local, really captured what local government is all about. Councils have the power to bring people together, create opportunities, and respond when communities need them most. Their local knowledge, leadership and relationships help turn good ideas into meaningful outcomes.
The conference opened with Mayor Matt Burnett, President of the Australian Local Government Association, who shared what advocacy has been occurring at a national level, including fighting changes to disaster recovery funding and ensuring that councils receive a larger slice of federal funds.
Brendon Gale reflected on building the Tasmanian Devils AFL team from the grassroots, emphasising the importance of honouring Tasmania’s identity within the organisation. He also discussed the economic benefits for communities, from major cities hosting games to attracting thousands of interstate visitors who will spend several days exploring Tasmania.
Alicia Leis led a workshop exploring how councils can use a risk-based decision-making approach to navigate increasingly complex challenges, competing priorities and limited resources. She recognised the growing range of risks facing Tasmanian councils and shared how a "risk lens" can help councils understand and communicate the trade-offs involved in decision-making by identifying priorities, testing scenarios and defining acceptable levels of risk.
Three Tasmanian councils also shared their award-winning community projects. Brighton Council highlighted the impact of their Community Creators initiative in local schools; the City of Launceston showed how Minecraft increased youth engagement in city planning; and Tasman Council explained how they put their region on the map with a flagship event.
Day 1 concluded with a passionate keynote from Cormac Russell on community-centred leadership. He shared international examples of how governments are supporting health and wellbeing by putting the neighbourhood back into neighbourhood health. Cormac asked us to stop starting with what’s wrong, and to begin with what’s already strong in our communities, such as the people, relationships and existing assets. Residents and community organisations are often already supporting wellbeing through walking clubs, knitting groups and informal gatherings, so local government should nourish the social connections that already exist within neighbourhoods.
The Minister for Local Government, the Honourable Kerry Vincent, opened proceedings on Day 2. He spoke about his desire to pull apart Tasmania’s planning system and take a collaborative approach to putting it back together again. He acknowledged that it would be a complex task, but he hopes to develop a plan to undertake this work in the next 12 months.
Mark Mugnaioni from RACT addressed the rising challenge of insurance affordability and availability in Tasmania. He highlighted the critical role that councils, governments, insurers, and communities play in building resilience to natural disasters and climate change. Mark emphasised the important role of local government in prevention, preparedness, response and recovery, arguing that investment in risk reduction and mitigation is often more effective than relying solely on disaster response.
This year’s panel examined how strategic planning shapes the future of our communities. They discussed balancing growth with local character, aligning infrastructure with future needs, and expanding housing opportunities.
As always, we were delighted to celebrate the significant achievements of councils and elected representatives. Congratulations to Janine Banks, Mary Knowles, Sally Doyle, and Wayne Johnston on their recognition for outstanding commitment to local government. We also welcomed Paula Wriedt as a Life Member, honouring her 15 years of service to the local government sector and the Kingborough community.
Congratulations as well to our Awards for Excellence winners: Waratah-Wynyard Council, Meander Valley Council, Huon Valley Council, and George Town Council. Full details of these awards are available here.
We hope that those who joined us walked away with a renewed appreciation for the power of local government. Presentations are available on our Member Portal for those wishing to revisit the discussions and insights shared throughout the conference.