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

Local government financial reporting: non-accredited valuation contractors

Jun 2, 2023, 13:57 PM by User Not Found
Local governments have obligations to provide valuations for financial reporting purposes.

Local governments do this by engaging valuation contractors, most of whom possess the necessary accreditation required for appropriate financial reporting.

Employing accredited valuers ensures that professionals possess the required skills, knowledge and ethical standards to conduct valuations accurately and in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards and Local Government Regulations.

The engagement of non-accredited valuers raises concerns about the accuracy and reliability of valuations which may result in poor outcomes for local governments such as financial discrepancies.

To safeguard the integrity of financial reporting, the department encourages local governments to undertake the following steps:

  1. Review all valuation contractors currently engaged by your local government
  2. Verify each contractor possesses appropriate valuer accreditation
  3. Review and establish processes to ensure the engagement of valuers with appropriate accreditation. Also, consider including a requirement that the valuer should state in their valuation report that the valuation is in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards and Local Government Regulations.
  4. Communicate the importance of accreditation to all relevant stakeholders, emphasising its impact on financial reporting, auditing processes and the overall transparency of the local government.

The department encourages local government to take proactive steps to resolve any issues that may arise. This will ensure substantial long-term benefits, including the accuracy and credibility of financial information, and the minimisation of any risks associated with audits.

The Western Australian Local Government Association has confirmed that the nine suppliers on the Valuation Category of the Professional Services Panel are appropriate for local governments undertaking valuations.

These can be accessed via the WALGA website.

The Guide to Valuation and Depreciation may be helpful for local governments.

For more information contact DLGSC at LG.accounting@dlgsc.wa.gov.au

Circulars

Local government financial reporting: non-accredited valuation contractors

Jun 2, 2023, 13:57 PM by User Not Found
Local governments have obligations to provide valuations for financial reporting purposes.

Local governments do this by engaging valuation contractors, most of whom possess the necessary accreditation required for appropriate financial reporting.

Employing accredited valuers ensures that professionals possess the required skills, knowledge and ethical standards to conduct valuations accurately and in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards and Local Government Regulations.

The engagement of non-accredited valuers raises concerns about the accuracy and reliability of valuations which may result in poor outcomes for local governments such as financial discrepancies.

To safeguard the integrity of financial reporting, the department encourages local governments to undertake the following steps:

  1. Review all valuation contractors currently engaged by your local government
  2. Verify each contractor possesses appropriate valuer accreditation
  3. Review and establish processes to ensure the engagement of valuers with appropriate accreditation. Also, consider including a requirement that the valuer should state in their valuation report that the valuation is in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards and Local Government Regulations.
  4. Communicate the importance of accreditation to all relevant stakeholders, emphasising its impact on financial reporting, auditing processes and the overall transparency of the local government.

The department encourages local government to take proactive steps to resolve any issues that may arise. This will ensure substantial long-term benefits, including the accuracy and credibility of financial information, and the minimisation of any risks associated with audits.

The Western Australian Local Government Association has confirmed that the nine suppliers on the Valuation Category of the Professional Services Panel are appropriate for local governments undertaking valuations.

These can be accessed via the WALGA website.

The Guide to Valuation and Depreciation may be helpful for local governments.

For more information contact DLGSC at LG.accounting@dlgsc.wa.gov.au
Page reviewed 31 August 2023
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