The Local Government Act Review - highlights of the local government bill

摘要

As the result of a review of the Local Government Act 1974, a Bill to replace this Act was introduced into Parliament on 19 December 2001. The Bill is expected to be passed into law mid 2002 and will take effect from July 2003. The Bill sets out a statement of purpose for local government and provides for the general empowerment of local authorities while at the same time making them more transparent and accountable. Local authorities will be able to respond to the needs of their communities through mandatory improved consultative procedures. For the first time the sustainable social, environmental, cultural, and economic well-being of communities is included in a statutory definition of the purpose of local government. The Bill also makes many changes to specific council services and procedures, which taken together represent considerable improvements on the current legislation.