Updated guidance materials for local government

The guidelines reflect recent reforms and are designed to help local governments comply with legislative requirements, based on anticipated or common requests for advice.

The operational guidelines on Disclosure of Interests and Delegations have been updated and a new operational guideline regarding the owners and occupiers roll has been prepared for this year’s election.

Further updates will be made as the reforms contained in the Local Government Amendment Act 2023 are rolled out.

New guidance material

• Owners and occupiers roll (for October 2023 election)
  

Updated guidance material

• Caretaker period
• Disclosures of interest
• Delegations Authorisations and Acting Through
• Returning Officer Manual
• Presiding Electoral Officer Manual
• Guide for Scrutineers
• Regional Subsidiary Charter
• Backfilling extraordinary vacancies
• Key election milestones – Local Government ordinary timetable
  

The Disclosure of interests affecting impartiality, and Declaring Financial Interests in Meetings guidelines have been removed. This content is now included in the Disclosures of interest guidance material. 

2023 local government elections

In addition to the owners and occupiers roll guideline, DLGSC has updated its Returning Officer Manual,  Presiding Electoral Officer Manual and Guide for Scrutineers.

An updated regional subsidiary charter guideline, which includes a model charter, has been prepared to assist potential applicants.

These guidance materials help deliver DLGSC’s commitment to support local government’s capacity to comply with legislative requirements under its regulatory approach.

Support

Further support is available from the Local Government Advisory Hotline via email at lghotline@dlgsc.wa.gov.au or by phoning 1300 762 511.

To allow for an informed response, please send complex enquiries by email initially.

Queries that are limited to local government reforms can also be directed to actreview@dlgsc.wa.gov.au