4.3.12
MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
OVERVIEW
Agency
Forecast
Estimate
1997-98
1998-99
Variation
$m
$m
%
Total Expenses ........................................................
84.8
89.6
5.7
Asset Acquisitions ....................................................
0.1
0.1
…
Total Expenses ........................................................
84.8
89.6
5.7
Asset Acquisitions ....................................................
0.1
0.1
…
Department of Local Government
Total, Minister for Local Government
DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
The Department of Local Government’s main functions are -

to provide strategic direction to the local government sector;

the development and oversight of the legislative and policy framework
within which local councils operate;

the examination and investigation of issues affecting local government
performance and operations;

the improvement of local government accountability to their residents
and ratepayers for their performance; and

managing the State’s relationship with local government.
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Expenditure Trends and Recent Developments
A major focus for the Department during 1998-99 will be the review of the Local
Government Act. Also, the Department will have an increasing role in
monitoring the effectiveness of implementation of National Competition Policy in
Local Government and a new role in establishing a system for auditing for private
certifiers under the integrated assessment provisions of the Environmental
Planning and Assessment Amendment Act.
Consistent with the New South Wales position as the State with the largest
building industry, the Department’s involvement will continue with the Australian
Building Codes Board and the responsibilities it has in the national application of
performance based building regulation.
The Inter-Governmental Agreement continuing the Australian Building Codes
Board has been agreed by all jurisdictions and will continue the process of
performance based building regulation with consistent national application.
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A number of major legislative and regulatory amendments have resulted in
changes to State of Environment reporting, conduct of open meetings and
treatment of on-site sewage.
Strategic Directions
The 1993 Local Government Act is the principal piece of legislation under which
councils operate and is kept under regular review to meet the needs of
systematic change, micro economic reform and changes in the method of
regulation. The Department’s present functions relate to the policy and
strategic management of the local government framework, in meeting the
ongoing needs of the community, as well as maintaining a direct oversight of
some local council operations and responsibility for the investigation and
prosecution of pecuniary interest complaints about councillors and staff.
During 1998, the Department is required to review the Local Government Act
together with all its Regulations. This is part of a five-year review required both
under the legislation itself and the Regulation review provisions. A report of the
Review will be tabled in Parliament towards the end of 1998. The Review will
focus on ensuring that the intent and integrity of the Act has been retained.
All local councils are required to fully implement the National Competition Policy
on Local Government by 1 July 1998. The Department is responsible for handling
complaints about competitive neutrality in councils. This role will increase
during 1998-99.
The final report of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal into
Benchmarking was handed down in May 1998. The recommendations indicate
that further work will be required on comparative performance data and
benchmarking processes. The Department has undertaken a review of
performance indicators and the enhanced format has recently been published.
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The program of the Minister’s Local Government Reform Taskforce is continuing.
Major issues currently progressing include Companion Animals legislation,
Community Land proposals, access and equity issues relating to local government
and regional co-operation.
The Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment Act requires a system
of auditing for private certifiers to be established by the Department of Local
Government.
1998-99 Budget
Total Expenses
Total expenses include pensioner concession subsidies of $71.25 million.
Asset Acquisitions
For 1998-99, $70,000 has been allocated for the Department’s computer and
related equipment replacement program.
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