Funding to establish the Office of the Local Government Inspector
The first stage of establishing the proposed new local government inspector and monitors will get underway, with the State Government allocating $702,000 in the State Budget to begin planning and establishing this new office that will prevent and address dysfunction in local government in WA.
The inspector and monitors are intended to strengthen the oversight of local governments, by providing for earlier intervention and assistance when councils encounter problems. This includes handling complaints, managing inquiries and investigations, and appointing specialist monitors to work proactively with local governments to resolve their problems at the earliest possible stage.
By providing a range of early intervention tools, these important reforms will address issues more quickly and reduce the need for lengthy investigations, ultimately delivering cost savings to local governments and ratepayers.
This commitment is a major component of the State Government’s reform agenda. Legislation to establish the inspector and monitors is set to be introduced to State Parliament later this year. An expression of interest process for monitors is planned for late 2024.