Local Government

Local government is Australia’s third tier of government and the one closest to everyday community life. Councils manage many of the services people notice most directly — rubbish collection, local roads, footpaths, libraries, playgrounds, planning applications, and local amenities.

Unlike the federal and state governments, councils are not recognised in the Australian Constitution. They exist only because state and territory parliaments create and regulate them by legislation.

How to use this guide

This page explains what councils do, how they are structured, who oversees them, and how council elections work. For a deeper look at electoral systems, see Part 5.

1. Overview  ·  2. Federal Government  ·  3. States & Territories  ·  4. Local Government  ·  5. Voting Systems

Councils provide many services that residents notice immediately when they work well — and when they do not. Their role is highly practical, focused on local infrastructure, local regulation, community amenities, and place-based planning.

What councils do not do

Councils do not run public hospitals, schools, police forces, or courts. They cannot override state planning law, levy income tax, or take over core state and federal functions. Their powers are local and delegated, not sovereign.

Most councils have a similar basic structure: an elected mayor, shire president, or president, plus elected councillors who together form the governing body. In some states the mayor is directly elected by voters; in others, councillors elect one of their own to serve as mayor.

Councils make decisions collectively, usually through formal public meetings and majority votes.

Administration and elected leadership

Councils are run day to day by a professional chief executive officer, general manager, or CEO. This person is appointed, not elected. That distinction matters: elected councillors set priorities and policy direction, while professional staff implement decisions and manage operations.

Types of councils

• City councils — mainly urban areas with higher population density
• Town councils — smaller urban centres
• Shire councils — large rural or regional areas
• Regional councils — broader amalgamated areas in some jurisdictions
• Aboriginal community councils / shires — remote Indigenous communities in some areas

The number of councils in each jurisdiction reflects its population, geography, and history of local government reform. Large-scale amalgamations over the past two decades have reduced total numbers in several states.

Because councils are creations of state and territory law, they are overseen by state and territory governments. Each jurisdiction has a minister responsible for local government, backed by departments or agencies that monitor council performance, manage compliance, and investigate serious problems.

In serious cases — such as financial mismanagement, misconduct, or prolonged dysfunction — a state government can suspend councillors and appoint an administrator to run the council temporarily.

How councils are held accountable

• Annual reports and audited financial statements
• Public meetings and access to council decisions
• State ombudsmen and integrity agencies
• Periodic elections

Council election rules vary between states and territories. That means how you vote, whether voting is compulsory, and how often elections happen depends entirely on where you live.