Proposed reforms to stamp out bad councillor behaviour and increase transparency in local government

Thursday, 5 September 2024 The NSW Government is proposing reforms to overhaul the broken Code of Conduct system for elected councillors, which is generating thousands of trivial complaints making it almost impossible to act swiftly and fairly on matters of...

Public Inquiry into Liverpool City Council to proceed immediately as time expires on postponing elections

Thursday, 5 September 2024 There will be no further delays to interrogating the evidence of serious maladministration and dysfunction inside Liverpool City Council with a public inquiry to proceed urgently. Legal proceedings initiated in the Land and Environment Court and...

Council Circular 24-16 Councillor Handbook 2024

The Office of Local Government (OLG) has issued a 2024 edition of the Councillor Handbook to assist and inform new and returning councillors in the exercise of their functions. The Councillor Handbook is a “how to” guide to being a councillor and provides comprehensive guidance to councillors on all aspects of their role and responsibilities.

Statement on Liverpool City Council court decision

Monday, 2 September 2024 The NSW Government welcomes Justice Robson’s ruling today in the Land and Environment Court.As per the undertakings agreed during the hearings, Liverpool City Council, who were largely unsuccessful in their legal challenge, will be required to...

Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government announced

Wednesday, 21 August 2024 Talented women from councils across NSW have been recognised for their outstanding achievements at the 2024 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government. The award recipients were announced during a ceremony at NSW Parliament House co-hosted...

Council Circular 24-15 Post-Election Guide launched on the Office of Local Government’s website

here are several key decisions and activities that need to occur at the first meetings of councils, county councils, and Joint Organisations following the upcoming local government elections and in the 12 months that follow. The Office of Local Government (OLG) has prepared a post-election guide for councils, county councils, and Joint Organisations (Post-Election Guide) to assist them to comply with these requirements.

Council Circular 24 – 14 Local Government elections communication toolkit

The Office of Local Government (OLG) has issued a communication toolkit for use by councils ahead of the 2024 local government elections. The Toolkit can be found under ‘Community Resources’ on OLG’s Local Government Elections webpage.

Nominations now open for local government elections

Monday, 5 August 2024 Editor’s note: Audio grabs available here Nominations for the 14 September local government elections open today and people across NSW are encouraged to put their hand up to represent their community on local council. There are...

$252 million boost set to deliver 1,300 new apprentices and trainees

The Minns Labor Government is investing $252.2 million to employ an additional 1,300 apprentices and trainees in the local government sector across the state, the largest state government investment in directly hiring new apprentices in recent memory. This investment will train up the next generation of skilled labour while keeping jobs within local councils, reversing the trend of councils outsourcing jobs to contractors.