Local governments

COVID-19 responses

To support local governments during the current COVID-19 pandemic, a number of legislative changes have been made to the Local Government Act and regulations.

Support and advice

Services to improve the capacity of local governments to respond to community demands and expectations, levels of accountability and legislative compliance

Operational guidelines

Guidelines to help local governments work efficiently and effectively

Acts and regulations

The department administers a number of acts of parliament covering a range of issues, and develops and amends acts and regulations within its responsibility.

Financial Assistance Grants

Local Government Financial Assistance Grants, funded by the Commonwealth Government, are distributed among 137 local governments in Western Australia each year.

Local Government Compliance Framework

Providing transparency and giving local governments and the public certainty about the department's approach to managing complaints

MyCouncil

The MyCouncil website is a place where you can find out how local governments are raising, spending and managing their money.

Smart Hub

Smart Hub is a portal enabling local governments, regional councils and the department to engage, using a secure and centralised online environment.

Breaches of the Local Government Act

Investigating complaints relating to minor or serious breaches of the Local Government Act 1995 and its subsidiary legislation.

Local Government Standards Panel

The standards panel has the authority to make binding decisions to resolve allegations of minor misconduct submitted by a local government.

Local government audit contracts

​Local government contract information from the current audit firms

Local Government Compliance Framework

The Local Government Compliance Framework outlines the department's approach to ensuring that the integrity of the local government sector is of the highest order.

Council member training

On 27 June 2019, changes to the Local Government Act 1995 were passed by Parliament which require all council members to undertake training within the first 12 months of being elected.