LGEMA - Local Government Elected Members Association

02/09/2026

Council motions must say what Council decided

Council Resolutions cannot leave public guessing.

Motion needs show community substantive subject matter decided.
LG Administration Regulations require this: Reg11(d), which has been examined by Supreme Court.

DLGIRS guide says resolutions must stand alone and be clear as to their intent.

So “ADOPTS paragraph X of the report” is not good enough, especially if paragraph X not publicly available, so public cannot tell what Council actually decided.

Rules about transparency requires substantive resolution to be stated and disclosed — not hidden behind a cross-reference.

01/09/2026

WHO REVIEWS LG CEO PERFORMANCE?

Council.

Not the CEO. Not Council employees. Not CEO organised contractors. Not WALGA. Not DLGIRS.

CEO controls employment, management, supervision, direction, dismissal of all other employees > obvious perceived or actual conflict if employees are involved in assessing CEO or organising any assessment or reporting to Council about any assessment, noting conflict of interest regulations applying to LG employees.

Employees can provide confidential evidence to a Council appointed and controlled independent person, and Council must safeguard employees in that process given its responsibility for the LG’s PCBU obligations.

CEO performance assessment belongs entirely with Council.

It must be impartial, transparent, evidence-based.

31/08/2026

Domestic Cat Containment

Submissions on this are due today to [email protected]
If you do not have time you can submit that you endorse LGEMA submission to contain domestic cats. We can send you a copy on request to our email at [email protected]

28/08/2026

Reviews of Adjudicator decisions

Under new Local Government Adjudicator system: a review of a conduct breach by SAT under LG Act s.8A.22 is likely to be a "de novo" merits review, even though s.8A.22 does not use the words “de novo”. Applicants seeking SAT review under the new system will need to make submissions about how the new regime is or is not different.

28/08/2026

City of Nedlands Audit Woes

23/24 OAG 23/24 financial Audit > audit disclaimer (which means not enough records to do an audit and is worst audit outcome) > Council appoints external forensic auditor to find out why and set a remediation pathway > Council appoints from outside purple circle a CEO with economic, financial, legal qualification >

OAG 24/25 financial Audit improves incredibly well to a qualified audit > LG Minister dismisses Council > appoints Commissioners under whom CEO and forensic accountant cease employment, and forensic accountants report removed from City' website > Commissioners and interim CEO finish after Council elections >

OAG 25/26 financial Audit reverting to audit disclaimer for period mainly under Commissioners and interim CEO finally revealed 26 August 26 by the administration to incoming Council, community and new CEO (but certain associated documents disturbingly have been kept away from Council public agenda by new Council majority).

Go Figure!

27/08/2026

So Perth hearings by House of Representative Committee looking into LG funding from Federal government took place today.

LGEMA committee members listened in person to most of the hearings today including from Stirling, Wanneroo, Irwin, Greater Geraldton, Wiluna, LG Pro and the LG Grants Commission.

Three of your LGEMA committee members, Sandra Boulter, Cr Mark Hutchinson and Dep Lord Mayor David Goncalves each made three minute presentations on how existing grant monies could be better directed and better spent.

The most moving presentations we heard today were from five ASU members who are workers at LG coalface including in parks and gardens, library, and events and community organiser who are actually delivering LG asset maintenance and community services.

24/08/2026

CEO REmuneraton

New Salaries and Allowances Tribunal LG determination does not, of itself, amend an existing CEO employment contract or automatically entitle CEO to increase.

Subject to any express contractual adjustment clause in CEO contract and compliance with statutory minimum remuneration, Council can defer consideration of CEO remuneration increase until CEO's performance and remuneration are reviewed.

Tribunal determinations do not decide precise CEO remuneration.
Any discretionary decision concerning CEO remuneration must be made by an appropriately authorised and impartial expert advising Council, not by CEO whose remuneration is being determined.

19/08/2026

LG Funding House of Representative Public Hearings

House Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport Committee Public Hearings into Local Government Funding

PERTH Date 27 August 2026; time 8:40 am and will close at 4:25pm.
Perth Venue: Western Australia Legislative Council, Committee Room 1, Level 1, 2 Parliament Place,

NORTHAM date: 28 August 2026; time 9:00am > 4:30pm.
Northam Venue: Bridgeley Community Centre, Avon Auditorium, 91-93 Wellington St, Northam

Both are public hearings, can be attended by observers/members of public in person and will be livestreamed on the Parliament’s YouTube channel and at the APH Watch, Read, Listen website.

Due to security at WA Parliament, Secretariat would appreciate advanced notice of observers attending Perth hearing to ensure they are allowed into the meeting room promptly. Members of public may attend without providing notice, but there may be delays in getting through.

19/08/2026

Guide for Elected Members on Alternate Motions

Turning Alternative motion into Substantive Motion considered first, but subject to checking your Meeting Procedures Local Law as they vary, proceed as follows:

1. As soon as the agenda item is called, interrupt firmly speak quickly and firmly before the officer recommendation is moved: “Presiding Member, I wish to move an alternative substantive motion on this item.” Move the alternative motion by reading it out > get seconder > vote on procedural issue (no debate, no comments permitted).

2. If the Presiding Member refuses to accept it > “I seek a ruling. What provision of the Standing Orders prevents me from moving an original substantive motion before another substantive motion has been moved?”

3. If the ruling is against you: “I dissent from that ruling and move that the ruling of the Presiding Member be disagreed with.” Get a seconder > Council decides procedural issue by vote (no debate, no comments).

4. If the Presiding Member tries to proceed with officer recommendation while your procedural objection is unresolved: ““Point of order. My procedural objection has not been determined. I ask that it be dealt with before the substantive motion is put.”

17/08/2026

"Planning and Environmental Law in Western Australia" by Stephen Willey should be in every local library for community members, and every Council chambers for EMs needing to understand how planning law works, how to draft amendments and conditions, all about appeals etc even if it was published n 2021.

Planning and Environmental Law in Western Australia is the first legal text to focus on the key areas of land use planning and environmental law in Western Australia.