Feedback, complaints or concerns
Learn how you can give feedback or raise a complaint about LGA or a South Australian council.
For LGA issues or concerns, please submit our LGA feedback or complaint form.
Feedback or complaint about a council
Contact your local council or your elected council member if you're concerned about:
- a council action or decision
- want to provide feedback on your experience
- believe that the council or its employees are not acting in accordance with council policies, procedures or legislative requirements.
Many issues can be resolved relatively quickly by approaching the council or a council member in the first instance and finding out the reasons for an action or decision.
Role of LGA South Australia
LGA is a membership organisation which represents the interests of SA councils.
LGA doesn't have any regulatory or compliance role in relation to councils. It does not carry out investigations or become involved in the merits of complaints against individual councils.
Learn more about LGA South Australia.
Complaints about an individual council member
If you have a complaint about the behaviour of an individual council member or council employee, you can make a complaint under the relevant codes of conduct for council members or employees.
Contact your local council for further information on a council's behaviour management framework and how to lodge a complaint.
Complaints about a development assessment panel
Development Assessment Panel members are bound by a 'code of conduct' under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act. This includes independent members on the panel.
See the PlanSA website for information about the code.
Complaints about a Development Assessment Panel should be referred to the public officer appointed by the council.
Contact your local council to find out more.
Requesting an internal review of council decisions
If your complaint remains unresolved, you may ask the council, in writing, for an internal review.
Under section 270 of the Local Government Act 1999, all councils must have a policy and procedures for reviewing their decisions and actions for decisions. The council is required to provide you with information about how this review works and what it means for you.
Contact your local council for a copy of their policy and procedure for an internal review of a decision.
Actions or decisions made under other legislation
Councils make decisions under a wide range of legislation. Each piece of legislation may have its own separate processes for seeking redress.
Examples of this include the:
- Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act – for planning and development related complaints
- Dog and Cat Management Act – for dog or cat related complaints
- Expiation of Offences Act – for complaints about parking and other fines.
Contact your local council to find out how to make complaints under these (and other) Acts.
View all South Australian legislation.
Raising a complaint with the SA Ombudsman
If you're not satisfied with the council's response, you can contact the South Australian Ombudsman. Their role is to investigate complaints about councils and state government agencies.
Visit the Ombudsman SA website for details on how to raise a complaint.
Reporting misconduct, corruption or maladministration
The Office for Public Integrity manages complaints and reports about public administration. Their role is to make sure they're dealt with by the relevant body.
Contact the Office for Public Integrity if a council or its staff has engaged in:
- misconduct
- corruption
- maladministration.
Visit the Office for Public Integrity website to find out when and how to contact them.