The department provides support and advisory services to 139 local governments, including 2 Indian Ocean Territories.
Our services aim to improve the capacity of local governments to respond to community demands and expectations, levels of accountability and legislative compliance.
There are 2 support services available to local government officers and council members — a general advisory line and a financial policy and accounting help desk. Members of the public with concerns involving their local government should attempt to resolve them directly with their local government.
Find out more about resolving a concern with your local government
Email lghotline@dlgsc.wa.gov.auTelephone 1300 762 5118:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday
To allow for an informed response, it is preferred that complex enquiries are made by email in the first instance.
Questions related to long service leave should be directed to the responsible area of the relevant local government, or if a member, to WALGA's Employee Relations service.
Financial and accounting support for WA’s local government sector.
Guidelines to help local governments work efficiently and effectively.
A guide to meetings for elected members to support their effective participation in council and committee meetings.
LG Alert
Changes to make it easier for community members to compare data.
Changes streamline decision making process for local governments
The Local Government Amendment Act 2023 included new requirements for the publication of the results of performance reviews of local government chief executive officers (CEOs) and a series of public registers of important information. These reforms deliver on the reform themes of greater transparency and accountability.
Local Government Amendment Act 2024 advances a range of major reforms to the local government sector
The Governor has declared that the Celebration Day for the Anniversary of the Birthday of the Reigning Sovereign (King’s Birthday public holiday) will be observed in 2025 on Monday 29 September.
Re-designing local government financial ratios and indicators for the new Local Government Financial Index.
Remembrance Day is a day of special significance, commemorating the loss of Australian lives in all wars, conflicts and peace operations.
New regulations for local government employees’ long service leave are now in place, providing a raft of improvements for workers across Western Australia.
Local governments to enable temporary accommodation approvals for people camping including caravans and tiny homes on wheels.
Significant reforms to local government move forward with the introduction of the Local Government Amendment Bill 2024 today.
Local governments will benefit from increased support and training resources to help tackle cyber security issues, thanks to a new pilot program.
Local governments in WA are encouraged to have their placemaking initiatives recognised by entering this year’s Minister for Local Government’s Place Innovation Awards.
Release of the Local Government Child Safety Self-assessment helps strengthens child safe practices
Feedback to inform new standardised local government meeting procedures will now close on Friday 7 June 2024.
Section 6.26 of the Local Government Act 1995 provides that certain categories of land are not rateable, meaning that a rate bill may not be issued in relation to that land.
New Local Government (Long Service Leave) Regulations 2024 now replace the Local Government (Long Service Leave) Regulations of 1977.
Local government councils must approve, by absolute majority, appointments to the position of chief executive officer (CEO) and their employment contracts.
Guidance material on council and committee meetings has been updated to better support the establishment and operation of committees in accordance with the Local Government Act 1995.
A 3-month consultation period is now open to inform the development of new regulations and guidance materials to standardise local government council and meeting procedures in WA.
Please join us for our first local government reform webinar for this year.