Chamber invited to review panel to improve local government

Written on the 2 July 2017

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA will be a part of an effort to modernise and reduce red tape in Local Governments.

CCI will join several other WA organisations like the WA Local Government Association and Local Government Professionals WA in a State Government-led review of the Local Government Act 1995 review.

The review is aimed at introducing changes to improve efficiency and effectiveness in councils, including the reduction of red table.

The review will be split into two phases.

The first phase will see local governments, residents, businesses and workers invited to participate when a discussion paper is released by the State Government later this year.

A second phase of the review, set to take place next year, will look at increasing community participation in local government decision-making, improving behaviour and relationships, enabling local government enterprises and improving financial management.

The reference group will support this phase of the review.

Local Government Minister David Templeman says the 1995 Act provides for the system of local government in Western Australia, but it has not kept up with changes in technology or, more importantly, with community expectations.

"This review, which is the first major review since the Act was introduced more than 20 years ago, will make local government more agile, smart and inclusive," he says.