FINAL REPORT

On Wednesday, 17 August 2005, the Review Board released its final report entitled "Rising To The Challenge: Towards Financially Sustainable Local Government in South Australia".

The final report is in two volumes.

Volume 1 "Overview" (24 pages) sets out the Review Board's main findings, interpretations and recommendations. It is capable of being read on a stand-alone basis. It contains a Key Points section, an Executive Summary section, a listing of all of the Review Board's formal findings and recommendations. Volume 1 can be accessed here.

Volume 2 "Supporting Analysis" (150 pages) details the descriptions and analysis underpinning the views expressed in the Overview volume. Volume 2 can be accessed here.

Also accessible here is a MS Word version of the Review Board's formal findings and recommendations, both in number order."

INTERIM REPORT

The Review Board published its Interim Report on Monday, 30 May 2005. Click here for a copy of the Interim Report.

The Interim Report sets out the Review Board's initial findings regarding the state of - and key factors contributing to - the local sector's finances in South Australia.

Click here for an extract from the Interim Report providing the Review Board’s overview and summary of its interim findings. Full details of the Review Board’s underlying assessments and conclusions are to be found in the Interim Report itself.

The report is intended to provide a basis for further consultations with councils and other stakeholders before the Review Board finalises its conclusions and develops specific recommendations.

The Draft Technical Paper by Access Economics accompanying the Interim Report was released on Monday, 6 June. Click here for a copy of the report.

The Review Board invites written submissions from interested parties in relation to the matters raised in this Interim Report.
Submissions are requested by Friday, 1 July 2005.

Submissions should be emailed to:
review.board@localgovinquiry.net.au
or, alternatively, posted to:
Independent Inquiry: Interim Report
GPO Box 1550, Adelaide SA 5001

DISCUSSION PAPER

On 8 March 2005, the Review Board released a Discussion Paper as a starting point for the Inquiry. Click here for a copy of the Discussion Paper.

The Discussion Paper sets out the Review Board's understanding of the Inquiry's Terms of Reference, scopes out the relevant issues, identifies the information to be gathered in support of the Inquiry, and poses questions aimed at stimulating submissions.

Click here for an easily copyable version of the Discussion Paper's
Information Required and Some Questions for Discussion boxes.

The Review Board invited written submissions from interested parties in
relation to the matters raised in this Discussion Paper. Submissions were
sought from:

• individual councils;
• local government organisations (including regional organisations as well as the LGA);
• other levels of government (State Government, Commonwealth Government);
• ratepayers, both individuals and representative organisations; and
• other community stakeholders (e.g., business, service recipients).

The call for submissions on the Discussion Paper is now closed. An
opportunity for further submissions will arise following publication of
the Review Board's Interim Report on Monday, 30 May 2005.