Migrants trapped in ‘slave-like’ conditions at Aussie farms

A special investigation into worker exploitation in Australia’s fruit-picking sector.

25 April, 2019

ALGA rallies troops ahead of election

The peak national body for local government is rallying councils to campaign for increased federal funds ahead of the election.

18 April, 2019

NT takes action to resolve all land claims

The Northern Territory government is moving to finalise all land claims as part of a sweeping Aboriginal action plan.

17 April, 2019

Qld watchdog probes misuse of social media by councillors

Queensland local councillors now have social media guidelines designed to protect them against themselves.

15 April, 2019

Turbo-charging the customer experience

There is much more to do in terms of digitising transaction and services, and I will be working closely with my cabinet colleagues to ensure the citizen remains front of mind.

11 April, 2019

Victorian council faces suspension

South Gippsland Shire Council has been given two weeks to argue why it shouldn’t be suspended.

8 April, 2019

Amalgamation anger lingers ahead of NSW election

A public policy expert says public discontent from forced council mergers remains a key issue for the NSW election.

19 March, 2019

NSW election ‘pivotal’ for local government

The NSW election will be a pivotal one for local government, the head of the state’s peak body for councils says.

11 March, 2019

QLD councils prepare for reform

Queensland councils are preparing for a suite of reforms after the state government announced a shake-up of the sector aimed at stamping out corruption.

7 March, 2019

Women in local government hit historical high

As Australian governments mark International Women’s Day, representation of women in local government has reached a historical high point.

7 March, 2019

Trust in local government high, councils told

Australians have a strong connection to their local councils despite public confidence in institutions falling, a conference has been told.

28 February, 2019

Perth City Council to be suspended

The City of Perth, popularly known as Perth City Council, has been a soap opera for a year or more. Now the State Government has had enough, and has declared the Council will be suspended, and Commissioner appointed. WA Local Government Minister David Templeman has announced the suspension will take place from Friday 2 March. […]

1 March, 2018

Opinion – Murray Darling debacle shows the failure of federalism

The current standoff over water allocations in the Murray Darlin Basin is as good an example as you could ever find of how Australia’s federal system is broken. The Murray Darling Basin Plan was supposed to be the epitome of how Australia’s states and territories could work with each other and the Federal Government for […]

15 February, 2018

Logan City Council in uproar as CEO sacked

Logan City Council has sacked its CEO Sharon Kelsey, who was appointed only in June 2017 after an intensive nationwide search. The council has refused to give any reasons for her termination, and Ms Kelsey herself has said she cannot comment for legal reasons. The Council meeting that decided on the move ended in uproar […]

12 February, 2018