Periodic adjustment of council member allowances
Council member allowances will increase by 4.7% from November 2026, following the latest annual CPI adjustment.
This increase applies to the existing allowance structure, ahead of a new framework secured through LGA advocacy that will introduce revised council groupings and higher base allowances following the April 2027 local government elections.
Following the commencement of the Local Government (Elections) (2027 Periodic Elections) Amendment Regulations 2026 LGA is providing guidance to councils on the fourth periodic adjustment to council member allowances, effective November 2026.
Under section 76 of the Local Government Act, 1999 (the Act) council members are entitled to an allowance determined by the independent Remuneration Tribunal of South Australia. The Tribunal’s Determination sets out the annual allowances payable to council members, together with applicable sitting fees and travel time allowances.
In accordance with section 76(9) of the Act, allowances must be adjusted on the first, second and third anniversaries of the 2022 periodic elections to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The 2026 Amendment Regulations provide for a fourth adjustment on the fourth anniversary in November 2026.
Transition from quarterly CPI to monthly CPI
In November 2025 the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) transitioned from quarterly CPI reporting to monthly CPI as Australia’s primary measure of headline inflation.
The November 2025 member allowance adjustment was based on the September 2025 Quarterly All Groups CPI Adelaide index series. As the new monthly CPI series measures inflation over a different period, the November 2026 elected member allowance adjustment has also been calculated using the quarterly series to ensure consistency with the previous adjustment. Accordingly, the relevant index is the September 2026 Quarterly All Groups CPI Adelaide index series (A2325821J in ABS CPI table 17).
ABS FAQ’s explain the changes from quarterly CPI to monthly CPI.
Annual allowance adjustment
The CPI percentage change for the September 2025 quarter to September 2026 quarter is calculated as 4.7%.
The table below sets out the adjustments to allowances and related items as specified within the Remuneration Tribunal’s:
- 2022 Determination 2 – Members of Local Government (PDF 176KB)
- 2022 Determination 3 – Allowances for Adelaide City Council (PDF 140KB).
We encourage councils to check the adjustment calculations before applying them.
View the November 2026 Allowance Amounts: CPI adjustment of council member allowances 2026 | LGA South Australia
Transition to new allowance framework in April 2027
The SA Remuneration Tribunal have also published 2026 Report and Determination No. 6 containing elected member allowances payable following the April 2027 periodic elections.
Following strong advocacy from LGA, councils will transition to this new grouping structure and associated allowance rates from April 2027.
For more information about the April 2027 allowances, visit: LGA advocacy win on elected member allowances | LGA South Australia