Local governments

Information for local governments to help deliver good governance to the community.

Question and information iconsCoronavirus (COVID-19) information

Latest COVID-19 information, updates and resources.

COVID-19 contact register

SafeWA contact register app logo with smartphoneIt is mandatory for most businesses and venues to maintain a contact register by collecting contact details of patrons attending their premises, including customers, staff, contractors, and visitors.

The department provides advice and support to WA's 137 local governments and two Indian Ocean Territories.  

We aim to improve the capacity of local governments to respond to community demands and expectations and improve levels of accountability and legislative compliance.   

The resources and information in this section are provided to assist local councils to fulfil their legislative obligations and develop best practices.

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.

Circulars and alerts

Compliance and governance

The department supports the local government sector in the provision of good governance and compliance by monitoring, promoting and enforcing compliance with legislation.

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.

Training

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.

Elections, rates, local laws, and parking

Council elections

Information on how the council election system works

Rates setting

Information on how rates are set

Local laws

The department monitors and provides advice to assist local governments with making their local laws.

Parking for People with Disability

Information and guidance materials on parking for people with disability

Boards, commissions and regional subsidaries

Boards and commissions

The department provides executive support to both the WA Local Government Grants Commission and the Local Government Advisory Board.

Regional subsidiaries

A regional subsidiary is designed to be a convenient way for local governments to pool their resources and cooperate more closely with neighbouring districts.

Events

There are no upcoming events.

Page reviewed 31 July 2019
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