Weekly column from Council Courier e-newsletter by CEO Greg Hallam, Friday, 27 May 2016.
If last week was about Connecting and Engaging with members, this week has been about Advocating for them.
The big focus has been about trying to convince Canberra to pay the $1.1 billion it owes the Queensland Government in NDRRA payments, a subject I've covered in this column a few times in recent weeks.
Today, President Margaret and our Media Executive Craig Johnstone are in Townsville launching the LGAQ’s 10 Point Federal Election policy document at a meeting of North Queensland Mayors.
The boss has been banging the drum on NDRRA in the media all week, getting excellent coverage in provincial newspapers.
Today is no different as she went across all of the ABC’s regional morning programs with Paula Tapiolas and has the TV cameras there as well covering her speech.
Meanwhile, the LGAQ backroom boys, Greg Hoffman, Josh O’Keefe and Stephan Bohnen, have been twisting arms in the corridors of power in George St and Canberra, regarding local government getting more of the funding pie.
Watch this space during the federal election and when the State Budget is handed down next month.
Our EMU teams continued to traverse all parts of Queensland this week delivering training for new and returning councillors. We’re halfway through that epic undertaking.
It's all happening in local government land – you wouldn't be dead for quids.