LG Equip - Local Government Reform
Background
The implementation of the Review Act is a once in a generation set of reforms that present an opportunity for the local government sector to demonstrate excellence in leadership, governance, and administration, enhancing the value that councils provide their communities.
This project enables the LGA to support member councils through the reform implementation process.
Further information is available to South Australian councils on the Local Government Reform webpage.
Project outputs and outcomes
Behavioural Management Framework (BMF) including:
- Council resources on sexual harassment
- Health and safety duties
- Conduct management framework
- Council resources on integrity provisions - subsidiaries and committees
- Council resources on registers of interests
- Council resources on suspensions
- Submissions to SA Government consultations on standards and regulations in accordance with government timelines
- Resources continuing to be developed and added to the Local Government Reform webpage
Progress - January 2024
The initial timeline for the LG Equip project was based on timely implementation of reforms following passage of the Statutes Amendment (Local Government Review) Act 2021. The proclamation and commencement of provisions has been delayed and is occurring in a staged manner.
While many of the reforms have commenced and the LGA has produced extensive information and guidance to councils to support them in meeting the requirements of the reforms, some have not yet commenced and the LGA is therefore not able to finalise the LG Equip suite of resources. For example, reforms relating to councils' community engagement have not been proclaimed for commencement and the commencement timeline is not yet known. The participation and elections review process commenced in October 2023 and is exploring community views on councils' approach to community engagement. This review is expected to result in the commencement of the community engagement reforms in 2024.
The following has been completed as per January 2024:
- behavioural management/support policies
- council resources on sexual harassment
- council resources on suspensions
- council resources on employee behavioural standards
- submissions to SA Government consultations on standards and regulations in accordance with government timelines.
This project was approved by the LGA Board of Directors on 21 May 2021
This project has been merged with the Local Government Reform Implementation project.