Dr Robert Lang

🤔 Does your board have a government engagement strategy? From funding to regulation, government decisions impact every organisation. Yet, many boards overlook the importance of building strong relationships with government stakeholders. 🏛️📢 This article explores: ✔️ Why government engagement should be a standing agenda item for your board ✔️ Practical questions boards should ask about funding, compliance, and strategy ✔️ How engaging with government can boost innovation and manage reputation 👉 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gfdnBG7q 💡 How does your board approach government engagement? Share your experiences below! 👇

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Transport & Infrastructure Ministers have supported the use of a nationally consistent set of carbon values in the assessment of business cases for transport infrastructure projects over $100 million, with an aspirational commencement date of 1 January 2025. Ministers have also approved the Embodied Carbon Measurement for Infrastructure: Technical Guidance, which provides a nationally consistent approach to measuring embodied emissions in infrastructure projects. These decisions by Transport & Infrastructure Ministers on 7 June are important steps towards making decarbonisation of infrastructure the 'new normal'. For more on why decarbonising infrastructure matters and how we can make it happen in Victoria, see Infrastructure Victoria's Advice on Opportunities to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Infrastructure - https://lnkd.in/gSkPW7xx Department of Transport and Planning Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action Department of Premier and Cabinet (Vic) Department of Treasury and Finance, Victoria Infrastructure Partnerships Australia Infrastructure Australia Infrastructure NSW Climateworks Centre Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts #infrastructure #decarbonisation #policy

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The Northern Territory Government recently released a discussion paper for a new Strategic Directions Planning Policy. It's great to see the discussion paper highlighting and demonstrating the importance and value of strategic planning for the future of the NT. Some quick facts: 👷‍♂️ NT Population is currently 252,000, being 1% of Australia's population 🗺 NT is third largest state or territory in land mass in Australia 🏞 NT population is young, culturally diverse, and home to many remote settlements Strategic land use planning will play a critical role in the growth aspirations of the NT - including its population, economy, services, infrastructure, business, tourism, trade, education, health, recreation and liveability of communities. The proposed new Strategic Directions Planning Policy is proposed to be used to guide the creation of new strategic land use plans and strategic policies, and during the review of existing strategic land use plans and strategic policies. Feedback is now being sought by the NT Government on the discussion paper, closing end of July https://lnkd.in/gsZCKWKV There are 5 themes and 15 topics (see picture below) within the Policy, with further detail under each in the discussion paper. The PIA NT Division Committee will be reviewing the discussion paper in detail and providing our input to help shape great planning in the territory.

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There is a stark reality the #disability sector must tackle. Services cannot be delivered profitability under the current model, the #NDIA is in a constant state of flux and #advocacy will not be the saviour.

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An excellent discussion on RNZ about the Community Network's State of the Sector survey fundings - higher demand and under funded. Listen to it here: https://lnkd.in/geQmvs-7

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Collaborating with Barry Vienet of Johnson Recruitments on this article was a significant opportunity to shed light on Mornington Peninsula Shire's innovative steps to address the housing crisis. The Shire's proposal to treat social housing as essential infrastructure is a forward-thinking approach that could set a new standard for how local governments tackle this critical issue. I believe housing must be elevated to the same priority level as health and education in government policy. This development contribution scheme is a promising model that could be applied across other LGAs, helping to ensure that secure, affordable housing is accessible to all, not just a privilege for the few. https://lnkd.in/giZHz-aZ

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We did a thing! Tuesday marked a milestone day for our collaborative work here at the Wellington Regional Leadership Committee (WRLC)…we got endorsement from all our council, iwi and government partners on the next steps in delivering a regional approach to #climateadaptation. Many hands have helped shape this mahi, and we all know it's important. No matter how hard we go in reducing our GHG emissions, we will inevitably be dealing with a fundamentally changed, supercharged #climate. We must act immediately, we must act locally and we need to think holistically. Lots of work to do now in turning these concepts into on-ground, on-whenua/moana reality, but super excited to be in a position to deliver regional efficiency and put in place the building blocks for locally useful solutions that will build our communities long-term #resilience. Sounds easy, but definitely won’t be...fun times ahead! Great opportunity too to tie this into whatever national #adaptation legislation emerges from the FEC Inquiry... Come join the fun! #strongertogether #partnerships #climateaction #whakapapa #interconnected #systems Full papers available here: https://lnkd.in/ggaJZast

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What is the purpose of local government? That's the key question we kept returning to at yesterday's launch event for Demos's paper on local government finances, 'Beyond the Sticking Plaster'. There is widespread agreement that councils' finances are in crisis. Too often in recent years, the government has reached for the box of sticking plasters - capitalisation directions, emergency grants, allowing local authorities to hold deficits off their balance sheets. But to move beyond the sticking plaster, we need to clarify what local government is for. To quote Sir Michael Lyons: “Reform of the local government finance system should not be seen in isolation, but must be part of the process of empowering the kind of local government that we want.” Since the 1980s, the purpose of ‘public service delivery’ has crowded out the other purposes of local government. Adult and children’s social care combined now take up 67% of all local authority spending. As a consequence, councils are forced to cut spending elsewhere - hence funding cuts for libraries, potholes, mental health services, and even Christmas lights. It’s those things, the condition of their local area, that people really notice and are making people feel that the country is getting worse. In our paper, we propose a new vision which we call ‘liberated local government’. This vision has two elements - local democracy, responding to the priorities of local residents, and place leadership, improving the local area as a place to live. Only local government, elected by local people and with a holistic concern for place, is able to deliver this vision. To enable liberated local government, we need to change how demand-led high needs services like social care are funded. We propose creating local institutions called Public Service Trusts, to take on legal and commissioning powers for adult and children's social care, homelessness and temporary accommodation, and SEND. These services are national priorities, and so Public Service Trusts would be funded directly by central government - not by local authorities. This vision for local government would see fiscal responsibility for demand-led high need services shift from local to central government, where risk can be more effectively pooled, and where the resources available to the central state mean that it is possible to meet demand in the long term. You can read the full paper on Demos's website here, co-authored by Andrew O'Brien and me: https://lnkd.in/eg79VYSM We don't expect everyone to agree - but hope the paper starts a conversation about the purpose of local government in England. Huge thanks to our Advisory Group for their expertise: Baroness Armstrong, Andrew Blake-Herbert, Julia Goldsworthy, Kevin Muldoon-Smith, Gwen Nightingale, Katherine Merrifield, Joanne Pitt, Gary Porter CBE FRSA, Jack Shaw, Jessica Studdert and Phil Woolas.

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Re-energising the public service.... A key suggestion is that instead of appointing consultants, reach out to current public servants who have been in the environment and can provide valuable insight into different matters. #ethicalleadership #capablepublicservants

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"Business cases have become increasingly costly and time consuming for the sector without necessarily leading to better investment choices and more efficient and timely infrastructure delivery." An inspiring speech from Chris Bishop at the recent Building Nations Conference has mapped our six priorities the Crown expects from the infrastructure system. Developing a 30-year National Infrastructure Plan Establishing a National Infrastructure Agency (NIA) Improving infrastructure funding and financing Improving the consenting framework Improving education and health infrastructure and Strengthening asset management and resilience The government is committed to doing better. How can we as a sector get onboard and support the conversation towards a better pipeline of long term capital planning and delivery and asset management.

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Electrifying Canberra The ACT Government is investing in an all-electric, zero emissions future for Canberra with the release of a new Integrated Energy Plan, containing a range of Government commitments to support Canberrans through the transition to cheaper, cleaner energy. The Integrated Energy Plan (IEP) 2024-2030 sets out the next stage of work for the Territory’s transition to an all-electric city over the next twenty years. The plan builds on our nation leading success in moving to 100 percent renewable electricity since 2020 and prioritises a “just transition” that ensure all Canberrans benefit from the transition to a low emissions future. Electrification is the cheapest and most effective pathway to net zero emissions for the ACT and it can deliver significant energy bill savings to households. A household that swaps gas cooking, heating and hot water for efficient electric appliances can save around $735 per year – or even more with the addition of solar. While many households will be able to make these changes in coming years, we know that some households will need support to do so. The Sustainable Household Scheme has so far facilitated over $200m in loans, supporting individuals in electrifying their homes and their forms of transport for the almost 20,000 households (10% of Canberra’s households) that have participated in the Scheme. The Government will electrify all feasible community and public housing properties in the ACT by the end of 2030. This work has already started, and we will continue to prioritise the upgrades to all community and public housing properties, along with continued energy efficiency improvements to properties. To support lowest income and vulnerable homeowners, a new Community Partnership Electrification Program will also be delivered over two years to cover the up-front costs of energy efficiency upgrades and electrification for approximately 350 low-income households that need it most. The IEP will also deliver support for apartment residents, who may face additional challenges to electrification. A new Retrofit Readiness program will offer free advice and electrification planning for multi-unit buildings such as apartments. The IEP will also deliver strata reform work to identify and resolve regulatory barriers to electrification upgrades in multiunit buildings, helping to reduce barriers for apartment residents. An appropriately skilled workforce is crucial to supporting the energy transition. The IEP will also Target training subsidies to priority trades that support the energy transition, and increase subsidies for the Certificate III in Electrotechnology Technician. Australia’s first TAFE Centre of Excellence is also being hosted at the Canberra Institute of Technology, and will focus on electric vehicles. Learn more about the ACT’s Pathway to Electrification and read the first Integrated Energy Plan <https://lnkd.in/gcVaQNzX>.

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At Inflection Point Insights (IPI), we produce stakeholder mapping to give our clients smart and efficient ways to influence the people making key decisions about their projects or contracts. Using public record research, we cut to the chase and provide key insights into individuals within government commissions, boards, legislatures, agencies, or state and city administrations during a pivotal decision-making process. Our stakeholder mapping uncovers the decision maker’s network, set of influencers and identifies the best way to approach them for maximum impact and relationship building. Three client examples are: · An ambulance company under negotiations for a $5 million city contract · A tech company that needed regulatory approval to operate in new cities · An energy company that wanted to approach allies in a local government Sound useful? We can help your company with stakeholder mapping too. For more information, go to https://lnkd.in/g6tkw34K, email me at [email protected] and/or book a 30-min meeting here: https://lnkd.in/gtDa52dJ. #stakeholdermapping

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Strategic goals and project management have been hot topics in my circles as we have navigated the end and beginning of the financial year cycle. Two of the key themes that have arisen from my many conversations are 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳 and 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 - even when we were joined by our Duty Senator Deborah O'Neill at the recent celebration of the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul in Goulburn! Senator O'Neill noted that both belief and connection (as well as a whole lot of stone, planning, time, and fundraising effort by many people) underpinned the successful and beautiful restoration of the Sts Peter and Paul's Old Cathedral. Recently, in my work and board endeavours ‘𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘧’ has encompassed a commitment to the work of the organisation and the people around you, an intention of doing some good in the world, and having faith and optimism in your efforts paying off for everyone's benefit. ‘𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯’ acknowledges the teams who work together towards common goals achieve far more than what can be done individually, and how important it is to build and maintain meaningful relationships to support win-win outcomes. Also, knowing when to connect in with experts who have complementary capabilities. It has also meant compromising to look at potential outcomes from a collective perspective not just your personal viewpoint. And of course taking a step back to look at things holistically, find strategic alignment and connect and leverage those relationships for strength. In my experience great outcomes can be achieved from service and project planning and delivery when there are clear connections and people believe in what they are doing. They promote better communication, improved planning and shared commitment to deliver even when significant curve balls and challenges come up along the way. The teams I work with certainly have some mighty hurdles, milestones, projects and negotiations ahead, and as I reflect on these today after a wonderful weekend with the dearest people in my life, I know that belief and connections will play a big part in the outcomes achieved. I feel blessed and grateful to be doing work I believe in and to be connected with networks of many committed and learned people 🙌 #belief #connection #industryexpertise #lookforthewinwin #commitment #teamwork #impact

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Auckland’s city centre remains a highly productive location, despite facing some challenges in recent times. This map highlights a number of recent and planned developments within a five-minute walk of the new Te Waihorotiu station, all of which will benefit from access to the rapid transit network. The pipeline of private sector investment reflects confidence in the future.   Check out our Insights Paper, which notes the city centre will benefit over time from supportive tailwinds, such as population growth, the trend towards services, and improved access via the City Rail Link https://lnkd.in/eAtJ6S8a  #AucklandCouncil #Cityraillink James Stewart

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Very useful guides. Highly informative.

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Reflecting on the new Labour government's ambitions to accelerate regional growth, it strikes me that mayoral combined authorities have a key role to play. Metro mayors are uniquely positioned to understand and advocate for their regions and address local needs and priorities. Here are a few thoughts on how metro mayors can enable change.

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Coming to the end of a successful Australia Awards program for DFAT and the Government of Indonesia on Building a Coalition on Quality Infrastructure. These short course programs are delivered through The University of Queensland for groups from around the world. Thanks to my excellent co-course leaders Neil Paulsen and David Ray and to the next generation of Indonesia's infrastructure leadership from key agencies including the Ministry of Finance and Bappenas and to exceptional presenters including Belinda Bradberry Tom Hodgkinson David Lynch Ben Hendriks Robin Dutta Queensland Treasury Export Finance Australia IFM Investors Chi-Ling Looi Adrian Vaida Steve Richards Gene Tunny. Key learnings in infra for Indonesia - 1. Good infra is all about early planning and rigourous economic analysis. It's not lack of capital that's the problem 2. Governance, governance, governance including good Ministry of Finance oversight of SOEs And for Australia (now that I've spent 2 weeks thinking about PPPs I've done and ones that have happened since) - 1. We need to think about new ways to get competive pressure in infra delivery. Not all the current cost problems arise from the CFMEU - there are constructors who are comfortable with things as they are and a reduced appetite for sharing risk. For both countries these are big challenges but as Sydney Metro shows modern infra is critical for sustainable urban life - so we need to drive hard for good governance to deliver it.

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