Lyla Lindsey
Local government in Australia is the third level of government, with limited autonomy under the states and territories, and beneath the federal government. Local government is not mentioned in the Constitution of Australia, and two referendums to alter this in 1974 and 1988 were unsuccessful. Despite largely having a single tier of local governance, there are some exceptions, such as in New South Wales, which has county councils. Local governments in Australia have similar functions and powers but have different designations in different states, such as cities, towns, shires, boroughs, districts, and municipalities. There are 537 councils Australia-wide, with over 5670 councillors, and nearly 191,000 employees across more than 400 occupations.
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What You'll Learn
- Local government areas (LGAs) are unique and have different designations in different states
- The Australian Capital Territory has no separate local government
- Local government is the third level of government in Australia
- Local governments are not in the Federal Constitution
- Local government areas have unique five-digit codes
Local government areas (LGAs) are unique and have different designations in different states
Local government is the third level of government in Australia, with no mention of it in the country's constitution. Local governments are not separate entities in the constitution, existing due to local government acts created by state governments. Local government areas (LGAs) are unique and have different designations in different states.
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has no separate local government, and municipal functions in Canberra and the surrounding regions are overseen by the ACT Legislative Assembly. In some cases, the functions that would typically be the responsibility of local governments are undertaken by the territorial government of the ACT.
The term "local government area" (LGA) is used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to refer to all local government administrative zones, despite their varying designations. LGAs are identified by unique five-digit codes consisting of a one-digit state or territory identifier and a four-digit LGA identifier. These codes change when an LGA is removed or significantly altered, with the retired code replaced by the next available identifier in alphabetical order.
While most urban municipalities in all states are "cities", the specific designations vary across the different states. For instance, many local governments in Western Australia are officially "towns", even within the Perth metropolitan area. In Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia, many rural areas are designated as "shires", while rural areas in South Australia have "district councils", and those in Tasmania are "municipalities".
The word "municipality" also has different meanings in different states. In New South Wales, it typically refers to older urban areas, while in South Australia, it is used for some rural towns. Larger towns and small metropolitan centres in Queensland and Western Australia are simply "towns", whereas in Victoria, they are "rural cities".
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The Australian Capital Territory has no separate local government
Australia has a single tier of local governance, with powers held by local governments in established Local Government Areas (LGAs). However, there are some regions that are not part of any LGA and are instead directly administered by state or territory governments. One such example is the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), which has no separate local government.
The ACT, which includes Canberra and the surrounding regions, is overseen by the ACT Legislative Assembly, with the territory government responsible for both state-level and local-level matters. This is due to the small size of the ACT, which has a low population density as a result of its unique layout. Arterial roads connecting inhabited clusters run through undeveloped areas of open land or forest, leaving idle land available for future development. This design ensures that Canberra, the capital city, has substantially more green space than other Australian capital cities.
The absence of a separate local government in the ACT means that municipal functions typically performed by local governments in other states are instead undertaken by the territorial government of the ACT. This includes the provision of public transport, such as the government-operated bus service ACTION, and the regulation of ride-sharing services like Uber. The ACT government also manages cultural facilities, such as the Canberra Theatre Centre and the Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMAG), and provides essential services such as electricity, gas, and drinking water through entities like EvoEnergy and Icon Water Limited.
While the ACT has no separate local government, it is governed according to the principles of the Westminster System, a form of parliamentary government based on the UK model. Legislative power rests with the unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly, and executive power is held by the executive, consisting of the chief minister and ministers, also known as the Cabinet. The ACT government is the executive branch of the territory, and the leader of the party or coalition with the confidence of the Legislative Assembly forms the government. The current Chief Minister, Andrew Barr, has held this position since December 2014.
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Local government is the third level of government in Australia
The Australian local government is generally run by a council, and its territory of public administration is referred to generically by the Australian Bureau of Statistics as the local government area or LGA. Each LGA has a unique five-digit code consisting of a one-digit state or territory identifier and a four-digit LGA identifier. The administrative area covered by local government councils in Australia varies significantly in size. For example, the Shire of Peppermint Grove in the Perth metropolitan region covers an area of 1.5 km2, while the Shire of East Pilbara in Western Australia's Pilbara region covers 372,571 km2.
Local government authorities across Australia have similar functions and powers, but their official designations differ between states. For instance, most urban municipalities in all states are "cities", while many in Western Australia are officially "towns". Many rural areas in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia are "shires", and those in Tasmania officially use the title "municipality".
Local government services cover all areas and can include infrastructure and property services, such as local roads, bridges, footpaths, drainage, waste collection, and management. They also provide recreation facilities, such as parks, sports fields, and stadiums, as well as health services like water and food inspection, immunisation services, and noise control. Local governments employ nearly 10% of the total public sector workforce, with a total annual expenditure of approximately $43 billion in 2020-21.
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Local governments are not in the Federal Constitution
Australia has a federal system of government, with power shared between the federal government and state governments. There are three levels of government in Australia: federal, state and territory, and local. Local government is the third level of government in Australia and is administered with limited autonomy under the states and territories. Local government authorities across the country have similar functions and powers, but their official designations vary from state to state. For instance, most urban municipalities in all states are "cities", while many in Western Australia are officially "towns".
Local governments are not mentioned in the Federal Constitution of Australia. Two referendums, in 1974 and 1988, to alter the Constitution relating to local government were unsuccessful. Local governments exist due to local government acts created by state governments, which dictate their role, powers, size, and electoral rules. Each state has a local government act that provides the rules for the creation and operation of councils. While these acts vary from state to state, they generally cover how councils are elected and their power to make and enforce local laws, known as by-laws.
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has no separate local government and is instead overseen by the ACT Legislative Assembly. The ACT combines the responsibilities of both local and state government. The Northern Territory also has a unicameral legislative assembly. In some cases, powers typically held by local governments in unincorporated areas may be exercised by special-purpose governing bodies established outside of local legislation or directly administered by state/territory governments.
Despite the absence of local governments in the Federal Constitution, Australians have representatives at each level of government. Australians aged 18 and over vote to elect representatives to federal, state and territory parliaments, and local councils. The federal Parliament was given responsibility for areas that affect the whole nation, while local councils are tasked with looking after the particular needs of their local communities.
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Local government areas have unique five-digit codes
Local government is the third level of government in Australia, with no distinction between counties and cities. Local government areas (LGAs) are referred to by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) as the generic term for all local government administrative zones, regardless of their designation.
Each of these LGAs has a unique five-digit code, which consists of a one-digit state or territory identifier, followed by a four-digit LGA identifier. For example, an unincorporated area of the Australian Capital Territory would be identified as "Unincorporated ACT". The codes are unique within each state and territory, and changes occur when an LGA is abolished or significantly altered. When a new LGA is created, it is assigned the next available identifier in alphabetical order. All LGA codes end with the digit zero.
The administrative area covered by local government councils in Australia varies significantly in size. The Shire of East Pilbara in Western Australia, for instance, covers 372,571 km2 (or 379,571 km2 according to another source), making it the country's largest LGA by area. In contrast, the Shire of Peppermint Grove in the Perth metropolitan region spans only 1.5 km2 (or 1.4 km2 according to another source), making it Australia's smallest LGA.
There are 537 councils across Australia, employing nearly 191,000 people across more than 400 occupations.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 537 councils Australia-wide, employing around 190,800 people.
Local government areas in Australia are referred to as LGAs or Local Government Areas.
Some examples of local government areas in Australia include the Shire of Peppermint Grove Council, Brisbane City Council, Shire of East Pilbara Council, and the City of Sydney Council.
Local government services cover all areas and can include infrastructure and property services, provision of recreation facilities, and health services.
