Financial hardship provisions under the Local Government (COVID-19 Response) Amendment Order 2022 to end
A Local Government (COVID-19 Response) Amendment Order 2022 (the Order) was made by the Minister for Local Government and published in the Government Gazette on 24 June 2022.
The Order extended certain financial hardship concessions for the 2022-23 financial year in relation to:
- interest on money owed to local governments
- options for payment of rates or service charges
- accrual of interest on overdue rates or service charges.
Following the end of the State of Emergency on 4 November 2022, the Order will automatically revoke three months after 4 November 2022.
This means that from 3 February 2023, all the provisions in the Orders made under a State of Emergency will end, including those for financial hardship, unless a further COVID-19 declaration or State of Emergency is declared and a subsequent new Order under part 10 of the Local Government Act 1995 is made.
The instalment interest on rates, interest on overdue rates and general debtors remain as adopted in the local government’s 2022-23 budget for the remaining 2022-23 financial period.
Local governments with any queries can contact DLGSC at: LGHotline@dlgsc.wa.gov.au