News

Latest news from the department.

Featured news

A stylised banner with an image of an outdoor cinema with the words, 'Local government elections 2023. Speak for those who can't. Stand for your local council. Nominations open 31 August 2023.'

Make your voice heard by becoming a local government councillor

Aug 9, 2023
Members of the Western Australian community are being urged to consider nominating for the upcoming local government elections to be able to influence the decisions being made that potentially impact the lives of thousands of residents.

All news

Twilight beach near Esperance in Western Australia

New long service leave regulations kick in

LG Alert

New regulations for local government employees’ long service leave are now in place, providing a raft of improvements for workers across Western Australia.
RSPCA WA Chair Lynne Bradshaw, Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley holding a small dog, and RSPCA WA CEO Ben Cave

Pet sterilisation funding to help WA dog and cat owners

Media release

The State Government is delivering a significant cost of living relief measure providing $500,000 to RSPCA WA to subsidise the sterilisation of dogs and cats in Western Australia.
4 off-road motorcyclists on a dirt track

New funding to help local governments create or upgrade off-road vehicle areas

$4.8 million funding initiative to help local governments meet growing community demand for safe, high-quality facilities.
A man with a caravan with the words, 'Changes to camping approvals on private land'

Simpler temporary accommodation (caravan and camping) approvals

LG Alert

Local governments to enable temporary accommodation approvals for people camping including caravans and tiny homes on wheels.
6 workers in an office stand over papers and documents on a table in a meeting room.

Local Government Amendment Bill 2024 introduced

LG Alert

Significant reforms to local government move forward with the introduction of the Local Government Amendment Bill 2024 today.

Pilot program to help local governments improve cyber security

LG Alert

Local governments will benefit from increased support and training resources to help tackle cyber security issues, thanks to a new pilot program.
Exciting update: PetsWA a central register of dogs and cats. Image of a cat and a dog on a branded image.

Contract awarded to build new PetsWA centralised registration system for dogs and cats

A significant milestone has been reached in the State Government’s Stop Puppy Farming reforms, with a contract awarded to build a new centralised registration system for dogs and cats in Western Australia.
Staff member using office equipment

Model Financial Statements 2023-24 update

LG Alert

The Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) has released updated Model Financial Statements (MFS) guidance material for 2023-24 for all classes of local governments.
A woman standing up in an audience speaking into a microphone

Standardised meeting procedures consultation period extended

LG Alert

Feedback to inform new standardised local government meeting procedures will now close on Friday 7 June 2024.
Woman leans over desk and shakes the hand of a man visiting her office

Funding to establish the Office of the Local Government Inspector

Media release

The first stage of establishing the proposed new local government inspector and monitors will get underway, with the State Government allocating $702,000 in the State Budget to begin planning and establishing this new office that will prevent and address dysfunction in local government in WA.
Staff member using office equipment

Valuation of Land – Mining Tenements on land subject to Miscellaneous Licence

LG Alert

Section 6.26 of the Local Government Act 1995 provides that certain categories of land are not rateable, meaning that a rate bill may not be issued in relation to that land.
Kalgoorlie town hall

New Long Service Leave Regulations and Reform Webinar 9

LG Alert

New Local Government (Long Service Leave) Regulations 2024 now replace the Local Government (Long Service Leave) Regulations of 1977.
Twilight beach near Esperance in Western Australia

Improved long service leave for local government employees

About 23,000 local government employees in Western Australia will benefit from clearer long service leave entitlements with the State Government introducing new regulations that will provide clarity and certainty.
Regulations

CEO recruitment and termination

LG Alert

Local government councils must approve, by absolute majority, appointments to the position of chief executive officer (CEO) and their employment contracts.
A presenter standing at a lecturn engaging an audience

Guidance on council and committee meetings updated

LG Alert

Guidance material on council and committee meetings has been updated to better support the establishment and operation of committees in accordance with the Local Government Act 1995.
A woman speaking into a hand held microphone, seated within an audience

Consultation paper proposes simplified local government meeting processes

Media release

Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley encouraged local government council members, staff, stakeholders and community members to provide their feedback on proposals to standardise council meeting rules as she opened a 3-month consultation today.

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Page reviewed 10 November 2023