We publish reports on major investigations and compliance reviews to provide guidance to the local government sector about issues in the reports.
All newer reports can be read online or downloaded and printed. The older reports are only published as printable documents.
Our annual reports can be found on the annual report page.
We also produce fact sheets on topics of interest and summaries of recently completed reports.
Checking compliance: a review of council policies
We conducted a review of compliance into councils' implementation of the Local Government Act 2020 and the requirement to create or update a range of documents and policies.
We reviewed more than 1,000 individual polcies and documents from all 79 councils and found a high level of compliance.
Checking compliance: a review of council policies - online version
Personal interests returns: encouraging disclosure and increasing transparency
We reviewed the personal interest returns of 650 councillors and found 332 did not complete their returns in compliance with the Local Government Act.
The project looked at 4,600 councillor returns between October 2016 and February 2020. It included a high-level review of councillor personal interest returns from 61 councils and a detailed review of councillors from 17 councils.
Personal interest returns: encouraging disclosure and increasing transparency - online version
Report summary
Summary: Personal interest returns report - online version
Sample checklists
Melbourne City Council kindly provided the following sample checklists and emails to help other governance teams with the personal interests returns process. The documents are available in two formats.
Social media fuels rise in complaints during 2020 council elections
Our comprehensive report into the 2020 council elections details the numbers and trends of complaints we received before, during and after the election period.
Complaints to the Local Government Inspectorate about council elections in 2020 more than doubled compared to the previous general elections, with 848 formal complaints in 2020 compared to 409 in 2016.
Social media fuels rise in complaints during 2020 council elections - online version
Report summary
Summary: 2020 council elections report - online version
Councillor expenses and allowances: equitable treatment and enhanced integrity
Our review of councillor support involved two main aspects: surveys of councillors and governance staff on the level of support councillors receive, and an audit of several councils to assess compliance with legislation and identify best practice for the benefit of the whole sector.
Councillor expenses and allowances - online version
Report summary
Protecting integrity: leading the way - Managing the employment cycle of a council CEO
This report includes views from across the sector and recommendations for improvements to legislation, policies or processes that would enhance future management of the CEO employment cycle.
Managing the employment cycle of a council CEO - online version
Report summary
Summary: Managing the employment cycle of a council CEO - online version
Protecting integrity: Yarriambiack Shire Council investigation
We conducted a comprehensive investigation into specific allegations related to Yarriambiack Shire Council, which focused on the key topics of staff use of plant and equipment, and mismanagement of council assets including the unauthorised use or sale of council equipment, sale of land, rates recovery and corporate credit cards.
Protecting integrity: Yarriambiack Shire Council investigation report - online version
Protecting integrity: West Wimmera Shire Council examination
In November 2018, we delivered a report to West Wimmera Shire Council detailing an examination into their governance arrangements and operations and the result of an investigation into specific allegations made about council activities. The council responded with a detailed action plan in January 2019, which was published on the council's website.
Protecting integrity: West Wimmera Shire Council examination - online version
2016 Wyndham City Council elections
We receive a larger number of complaints during local government elections, particularly those in municipalities with a high number of candidate nominations. There were 95 candidates running for Wyndham City Council in the October 2016 election. Community members submitted complaints about the eligibility of candidates, during and after the election. We completed an investigated and published the findings in the final report:
Central Goldfields Shire Council investigation
We completed a comprehensive report on Central Goldfields Shire Council following an investigation. The report highlights poor governance and mismanagement of key areas of responsibility within the organisation.
2016 council elections report
Our report on the 2016 council elections report highlights key election issues, challenges and outcomes from an integrity perspective. We conducted:
- an election period policy review
- a candidate eligibility audit and
- completed campaign donation returns project.
Older reports
Access an archive of our older reports and bulletins on our governance reviews or investigations.
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