- $702,000 to support the
establishment of new local government inspector
- Commitment is a major component
of the Cook Government's reform agenda
- Reforms
designed to strengthen oversight of all Western Australian local governments
The Cook Government will commit $702,000 in
its 2024-25 State Budget to support the establishment of the proposed new local
government inspector and monitors.
The local government inspector and monitors
are intended to strengthen the oversight of local governments, by providing for
earlier intervention and assistance when councils encounter problems.
It is planned the inspector will oversee
local government, including by handling complaints, managing inquiries and
investigations, and appoint 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.
The inspector and monitors are a key part
of the Cook Government's local government 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.
The new
funding provided in the Cook Government's 2024-25 State Budget will enable
further planning work to establish the Inspector.
Comments attributed to Local Government
Minister Hannah Beazley:
"Local governments across our State do incredible work every day.
"Unfortunately, when problems do arise within a local government, they
can impact on the quality of services delivered to ratepayers and undermine
public confidence in the sector.
"The local government inspector and monitors are
a key part of the Cook Government's local government reform.
"By preventing problems from escalating and
fixing issues at an early stage, we will ensure everyone in local government
can focus their energy on delivering important public services."
