Lyla Lindsey
Western Australia has 137 local government areas (LGAs) that are made up of 27 cities, 102 shires, and 8 towns. These LGAs are governed by their respective councils, which are subject to the Local Government Act 1995. The Act established a clear separation of responsibility between elected councillors and local government administration. Western Australia currently has ten regional councils, each comprising two or more LGAs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of local government areas (LGAs) | 137 |
| Number of cities | 27 |
| Number of shires | 102 |
| Number of towns | 8 |
| Number of regional councils | 10 |
| Total annual operational expenditure | $43bn (2020-21) |
| Number of Australians employed by local government | 190,800 |
| Largest local government area | Shire of East Pilbara Council |
| Smallest local government area | Shire of Peppermint Grove Council |
| Largest local government area by population | Brisbane City Council |
| Percentage of women councillors | 39.61% |
| Number of councils with majority women councillors or gender parity | 47 |
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What You'll Learn
- Western Australia has 137 local government areas (LGAs)
- There are 10 regional councils, each comprising 2+ LGAs
- The 3 classifications of local government in Western Australia
- The Local Government Act 1995 established a clear separation of responsibility
- Western Australia's local government elections were last held in 2023
Western Australia has 137 local government areas (LGAs)
The three classifications of local government in Western Australia are: City, Shire, and Town. Cities are predominantly urban areas, with seven significant regional centres. Shires are predominantly rural or outer suburban areas, including the Shire of Peppermint Grove and the Shire of East Pilbara Council, which is Australia's largest local government area by size. Towns are predominantly inner urban, including the Town of Port Hedland, which has a population of 1,524 residents, making it the smallest local government area by population.
The Local Government Act 1995 also mandates that councils must vote to accept an annual budget that aligns with the local government's Strategic Community Plan. This plan is developed in collaboration with the community to ensure that expenditure reflects community needs and expectations. The Act further specifies 11 broad program areas for reporting expenditure, with five sub-categories defined in the Western Australian Local Government Accounting Manual.
Western Australia's local governments provide essential waste and recycling services to their residents, including the collection of mixed waste, dry recyclables, and organic garden waste. Some councils also offer food waste collection as part of a Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) service. These services aim to produce organic products like compost and mulch, contributing to environmental sustainability.
The history of local government in Western Australia dates back to the 1830s with the Towns Improvement Act of 1838. The Act empowered ratepayers to elect Trustees and collect property taxes for road construction. However, many early town trusts faced administrative and financial challenges, and reforms in the 1980s and 1990s sought to improve efficiency and autonomy in local governments. Despite periodic efforts to encourage the amalgamation of local governments, Western Australia has maintained a high number of LGAs, with only a small number of mergers over time.
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There are 10 regional councils, each comprising 2+ LGAs
Western Australia has 10 regional councils, each comprising 2+ local government areas (LGAs). The state has 137 LGAs in total, which include 27 cities, 102 shires, and 8 towns. The LGAs manage their own affairs within the framework of the Local Government Act 1995, which established a clear separation of responsibilities between elected councillors and local government administration.
The three classifications of local government in Western Australia are: City, Shire, and Town. Cities are predominantly urban areas, with seven significant regional centres. Shires are predominantly rural or outer suburban areas, and Towns are predominantly inner urban. The Shire of Christmas Island and the Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands are federal external territories, and while they are included for comparison purposes, they are not officially part of Western Australia.
Local government in Western Australia has a range of responsibilities, including waste management and recycling services. Councils must vote to accept an annual budget that outlines spending priorities, and they are required to report their expenditure according to specific regulations. Local governments also employ a significant number of Australians and have a substantial total annual operational expenditure.
There has been a push for greater representation of women and Indigenous Australians in local government. While there has been some progress, with an increase in the percentage of women councillors in some states, Indigenous representation remains low in some areas. Efforts are being made to address this issue and improve opportunities for Indigenous Australians at the local community level.
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The 3 classifications of local government in Western Australia
Western Australia has 137 local government areas (LGAs), which are made up of 27 cities, 102 shires, and 8 towns. These LGAs are governed by the Local Government Act 1995, which allows them to manage their own affairs. There are three classifications of local government in Western Australia:
- City: This classification includes predominantly urban areas, as well as seven significant regional centres. There are 27 cities in Western Australia, with the majority located in metropolitan areas.
- Shire: Shires are predominantly rural or outer suburban areas, with a focus on agricultural and natural resource management. Western Australia has 102 shires, including the Shire of Peppermint Grove, which is the smallest local government area in Australia by size and population.
- Town: Towns are predominantly inner urban, with a focus on providing services and infrastructure for residents. Western Australia has 8 towns classified as local government areas, including the Town of Port Hedland.
It is worth noting that the Shire of Christmas Island and the Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands are federal external territories. These shires are covered by the Indian Ocean Territories Administration of Laws Act, which allows the Western Australian Local Government Act to be applied as if it were a Commonwealth act.
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The Local Government Act 1995 established a clear separation of responsibility
Western Australia has 137 local government areas (LGAs), which include 27 cities, 102 shires, and 8 towns. Each of these towns manages its own affairs to the extent permitted by the Local Government Act 1995. The Local Government Act 1995 established a clear separation of responsibility between elected councillors and local government administration.
The Act was the result of a bi-partisan reform process that took place in the late 1980s and early 1990s. One of the key changes brought about by the Act was a significant reduction in the number of decisions requiring ministerial approval, which allowed for streamlined decision-making and greater local government autonomy.
The importance of the roles and responsibilities of elected and appointed officials working together in local governments cannot be overstated. Effective local government depends on a balance of the powers of policy-making and policy implementation. While councils and commissions make policies, mayors, city managers, county executives, and other public executives implement these policies.
In cities and towns, mayors or city managers essentially serve as chief executive officers (CEOs). For counties, some have elected county executives, while others have boards of county commissioners (BOCCs) that set policies and are responsible for policy implementation. County commissioners may also delegate executive authority to staff.
The Local Government Act 1995 also makes provision for regional local governments, referred to as "regional councils," which are established by two or more local governments for a particular purpose. Western Australia currently has ten regional councils, each comprising two or more local government areas (LGAs).
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Western Australia's local government elections were last held in 2023
Western Australia is divided into 137 local government areas (LGAs), which include 27 cities, 102 shires, and 8 towns. Each of these LGAs manages its own affairs to varying degrees, as outlined in the Local Government Act 1995. This Act also established a clear separation of responsibilities between elected councillors and local government administration.
The elections in Western Australia are officially non-partisan, and most candidates and councillors are not affiliated with any political party. However, the Labor Party had 43 members running for council, and the Greens endorsed two candidates. Members of smaller parties, such as the Animal Justice Party and the Legalise Cannabis Party, also contested the elections.
Western Australia has ten regional councils, each comprising two or more LGAs. The state has resisted forced amalgamations of local governments throughout its history, and the number of authorities has only marginally declined over the last century. The Shire of East Pilbara Council, covering 379,571 square kilometres, is Australia's largest local government area by size, while Brisbane City Council is the largest by population, with 1.2 million residents.
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