- Second tranche of local government reforms introduced to WA Parliament
- Local Government Inspector to provide greater oversight and early intervention
- New laws to benefit ratepayers including requiring councils to publish future rate forecasts
Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley today introduced the Local Government Amendment Bill 2024, which continues the delivery of the Cook Government's landmark local government reforms - the biggest in the sector in over 25 years.
The Bill introduces the new Local Government Inspector and Monitors and provides for a range of early intervention tools to address problems at a local government at the earliest possible stage.
The Inspector will have powers to appoint specialist Monitors to proactively assist local governments in resolving issues and addressing dysfunction.
The Bill overhauls the current system of complaints, to enable allegations to be carefully considered and addressed. Adjudicators - experts with legal training - will replace the Local Government Standards Panel and make findings on alleged conduct breaches by council members.
The new laws increase most penalties, including council members having their allowances withheld or being suspended from office for up to three months.
Council members will be disqualified from office if they are suspended for breaches three times.
The Inspector and Adjudicators will also be able to utilise mediation to resolve complaints.
Other major reforms include:
- establishing clearer roles and responsibilities for the council, Mayors and Presidents, Councillors, and local government Chief Executive Officers;
- requiring all councils to publish an annual rates and revenue policy to provide ratepayers with a clearer forecast of future rates;
- ensuring meetings are only closed when absolutely necessary by strengthening the rules for the limited circumstances a council meeting can be closed to the public;
- measures to support the sharing of senior staff between local governments;
- powers to allow local governments to no longer respond to repeated vexatious complaints, reducing the diversion of resources away from delivering community services;
- enabling powers for building upgrade finance agreements to fund works such as energy efficiency investments and the restoration of heritage buildings;
- stronger rules to prevent council members who fail to complete mandatory training from receiving their allowances;
- enabling councils to pay superannuation to council members; and
- reforms to reduce red tape in making local laws, if not reviewed after 15 years they will lapse.
These reforms have been developed through extensive work and public consultation since 2017. For more information, visit: https://www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/local-government/local-government-reform
As stated by Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley:
"Local governments across Western Australia do incredible work delivering important public services for our communities.
"Unfortunately, isolated cases of division and dysfunction can unfairly tarnish confidence in the wider local government sector.
"That is why it is important that local governments are supported to identify and resolve problems at the earliest possible stage.
"These reforms also reflect the public expectation that serious conduct breaches by council members can result in a significant penalty, including suspension from office or withholding of allowances.
"Our legislation is designed to provide greater transparency and accountability, reduce red tape, clarify roles and responsibilities, and improve local government financial management and reporting.
"I would like to thank the Western Australian Local Government Association, Local Government Professionals WA, sector unions, and other stakeholders for all of their input and engagement to our reform process since 2017."
