The role of the department is to support the local government sector in the provision of good governance and compliance by monitoring, promoting and enforcing compliance with relevant legislation.
Local governments are autonomous bodies with their own rights and powers under law.
This includes investigating complaints relating to minor or serious breaches of the Local Government Act 1995 (the Act), and its subsidiary legislation.
Complaints relating to a council member committing a minor breach (such as breach of a rule of conduct), are referred to the Local Government Standards Panel. A breach by a council member of his/her local government's code of conduct is not a minor breach.
The minor breach system Minor breach findings
Complaints relating to a council member committing a serious breach of the Local Government Act should be forwarded to the department.
Serious breach complaints