Upcoming regulation amendments for local governments
To continue to support local governments during the COVID-19 outbreak, the department is urgently progressing amendments to the following Local Government Regulations.
To continue to support local governments during the COVID-19 outbreak, the department is urgently progressing amendments to the following Local Government Regulations:
- financial management
- functions and general, and
- long service leave.
An overview of the amendments is outlined below:
Local Government (Financial Management) Regulations
The removal of the requirement to give public notice during a state of emergency when
- repurposing financial reserves
- borrowing money
- changing the use of borrowed money
for the purpose of responding to the emergency.
Local Government (Functions and General) Regulations
An increase to the tender threshold to $250,000.
Removing the requirement to publicly invite tenders during a state of emergency for:
- the supply of goods or services associated with a state of emergency and
- a contract renewal or extension of no more than 12 months when the original contract is to expire within three months.
Local Government (Long Service Leave) Regulations:
- clarifying that long service leave will continue to be accrued during any period of absence from duty due to the employer’s response during a state of emergency
- allowing long service leave to be taken in two or more separate periods and
- allowing employees to access long service leave during a state of emergency if they have completed at least seven years of continuous service.
The regulations are due to be gazetted on Thursday 9 April 2020 and take effect on Friday 10 April 2020.
For further information, please email LGresponse@dlgsc.wa.gov.au