The Western Australian Government has announced key amendments to the Local Government Act 1995 that aims to address ‘significant’ governance and public administration issues in the sector.

 

The amendments sought to improve the standard, performance and calibre of local governments and its elected members and contribute to the best possible services being provided to metropolitan and regional Western Australian communities.


The key amendments would:

  • disqualify council members from office if elected to State Parliament or they are convicted of a major crime
  • extend the Salaries and Allowances Tribunal’s power to make determinations on the levels of local government chief executive officer salaries and remuneration
  • include a new power for the Salaries and Allowances Tribunal to set the levels of fees and allowances paid to council members
  • regulate the types of investments in which local government may invest
  • enable the Minister to suspend a council for up to six months and/or require members of a council to undertake remedial action where a council has become dysfunctional.


State Local Government Minister John Castrilli said there had been extensive consultation with State Government agencies, local government and other key stakeholders in identifying the main areas of reform.


“Strengthening the legislation under which local governments operate is critical to achieving good governance,” Mr Castrilli said.


The State Government recently brought new laws into operation requiring local governments to develop integrated 10-year strategic plans.