VLGA Connect

This week on VLGA Connect, Marlo Baragwanath, the Victorian Ombudsman, sits down with Chris Eddy to discuss a joint paper, prepared with the IBAC Commissioner and the Auditor-General, titled 'Advancing budget transparency for Victoria’s core integrity agencies’. 

Mayor of Swan Hill, Cr Stuart King, also joins the program to talk about the Murray Basin Plan review, and why it’s such a critical process for communities all along the Murray River.

Sponsored by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers.
Support the show
To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), please click here.

If you'd like to contact us about the podcast, please send us an email to [email protected] or call us on 03 9349 7999

This week on VLGA Connect, Chris Eddy is joined by Warren Davies, the Unbreakable Farmer. Warren is a farmer, a writer and keynote speaker, and a podcaster, shining a light on capacity building, resilience and recovery in the face of increasing natural disasters and setbacks, especially in the rural Australian context. 

Cr Steve Rabie, Mayor of Mansfield discusses issues affecting his community - from the controversial Emergency Services Volunteer Fund to the state government's planning reforms. Fresh off the recovery efforts from recent bushfires, Mayor Rabie shared his perspectives on what he sees as unfair policies impacting rural Victoria.

Tony Raunic from Hunt & Hunt Lawyers gives his insights to two recent arbiter decisions and any lessons which can be learned from the outcomes. 

Sponsored by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers
Support the show
To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), please click here.

If you'd like to contact us about the podcast, please send us an email to [email protected] or call us on 03 9349 7999

This week on VLGA Connect, Chris Eddy interviews the Victorian Information Commissioner, Sean Morrison, about the risks and pitfalls of using generative AI from a privacy principles perspective - a relevant conversation for every councillor in particular.

Also, Tony Raunic returns to unpack new ministerial guidelines in place for Councils in Victoria to deal with ratepayers experiencing hardship .

Sponsored by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers.
Support the show
To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), please click here.

If you'd like to contact us about the podcast, please send us an email to [email protected] or call us on 03 9349 7999

VLGA Connect is back for 2026! 

VLGA President Dr Josh Fergeus and CEO Kathryn Arndt join host Chris Eddy to give a sneak peek into the VLGA’s premier leadership conference - FastTrack - focusing on the topic of Incivility.

The mayor of Mount Alexander Shire Council, Cr Toby Heydon, drops by to explain why he’s dancing up a storm on social media!

Also returning for 2026 is Hunt & Hunt Lawyers Managing Principal Tony Raunic to give his take on a ground-breaking new employee agreement in Tasmania that may have implications for the entire local government sector.

Sponsored by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers.
FastTrack: Incivility: A Threat to Local Democracy
https://www.vlga.org.au/%2Fcivicrm%2Fevent%2Finfo%3Fid%3D557%26reset%3D1
Mayor Toby Heydon’s dance video on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1DJMb26ACn/
City of Launceson 4 day week enterprise agreement:
https://www.launceston.tas.gov.au/News-Media/City-of-Launceston-and-ASU-reach-agreement-in-principle-on-landmark-Enterprise-Agreement

Support the show
To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), please click here.

If you'd like to contact us about the podcast, please send us an email to [email protected] or call us on 03 9349 7999

For the final episode of the year, Tony Raunic, Managing Principal of Hunt & Hunt Lawyers and VLGA CEO Kathryn Arndt join Chris Eddy to wrap up what has been an action packed first year of the council term. The team looks at the major issues and events of 2025 and look forward to what we may expect to see in the sector in 2026.

Completing our Meet the Board series, Chris chats to VLGA Treasurer, Mike Blake about his fascinating journey from Africa to the Australian public sector.

Sponsored by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers.
Support the show
To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), please click here.

If you'd like to contact us about the podcast, please send us an email to [email protected] or call us on 03 9349 7999