Support and advice for local governments

The department provides support and advisory services to 139 local governments, including 2 Indian Ocean Territories.

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

There are 2 support services available to local government officers and council members — a general advisory line and a financial policy and accounting help desk.  

Members of the public with concerns involving their local government should attempt to resolve them directly with their local government.

Find out more about resolving a concern with your local government 

Local Government Advisory Line

Email lghotline@dlgsc.wa.gov.au
Telephone 1300 762 511
8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday

To allow for an informed response, it is preferred that complex enquiries are made by email in the first instance.

Questions related to long service leave should be directed to the responsible area of the relevant local government, or if a member, to WALGA's Employee Relations service.

Local Government Accounting Helpdesk

Guidelines

LG Alerts

Financial hardship provisions under the Local Government (COVID-19 Response) Amendment Order 2022 to end

Jan 30, 2023, 14:22 PM by User Not Found
A Local Government (COVID-19 Response) Amendment Order 2022 (the Order) was made by the Minister for Local Government and published in the Government Gazette on 24 June 2022.

The Order extended certain financial hardship concessions for the 2022-23 financial year in relation to: 

  • interest on money owed to local governments
  • options for payment of rates or service charges
  • accrual of interest on overdue rates or service charges. 

Following the end of the State of Emergency on 4 November 2022, the Order will automatically revoke three months after 4 November 2022.

This means that from 3 February 2023, all the provisions in the Orders made under a State of Emergency will end, including those for financial hardship, unless a further COVID-19 declaration or State of Emergency is declared and a subsequent new Order under part 10 of the Local Government Act 1995 is made.

The instalment interest on rates, interest on overdue rates and general debtors remain as adopted in the local government’s 2022-23 budget for the remaining 2022-23 financial period.

Local governments with any queries can contact DLGSC at: LGHotline@dlgsc.wa.gov.au

Circulars

Financial hardship provisions under the Local Government (COVID-19 Response) Amendment Order 2022 to end

Jan 30, 2023, 14:22 PM by User Not Found
A Local Government (COVID-19 Response) Amendment Order 2022 (the Order) was made by the Minister for Local Government and published in the Government Gazette on 24 June 2022.

The Order extended certain financial hardship concessions for the 2022-23 financial year in relation to: 

  • interest on money owed to local governments
  • options for payment of rates or service charges
  • accrual of interest on overdue rates or service charges. 

Following the end of the State of Emergency on 4 November 2022, the Order will automatically revoke three months after 4 November 2022.

This means that from 3 February 2023, all the provisions in the Orders made under a State of Emergency will end, including those for financial hardship, unless a further COVID-19 declaration or State of Emergency is declared and a subsequent new Order under part 10 of the Local Government Act 1995 is made.

The instalment interest on rates, interest on overdue rates and general debtors remain as adopted in the local government’s 2022-23 budget for the remaining 2022-23 financial period.

Local governments with any queries can contact DLGSC at: LGHotline@dlgsc.wa.gov.au

Page reviewed 31 August 2023
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