New guide to asset planning

Local councils in Queensland have received a new guide to help mayors and councillors better understand their responsibilities in managing billions of dollars in community assets. Released by Local Government Minister Desley Boyle on Thursday, the Guide to Asset Accounting in Local Governments provides information on assets and depreciation, with links and resources to assist […]

Victorian Auditor-General releases interim financial audit results

The Victorian Auditor-General has tabled in Parliament the findings of the interim financial audit of local government. Among the recommendations, the Auditor-General advised local governments to assess their own policies and procedures against identified internal control weaknesses and prepare policies for declarations of interest and gifts. The report also recommended that guidance be provided for the […]

Agencies meet financial requirements: Auditor-General

Interim audits of government departments and agencies have found an overall improvement in financial controls and a reduction in the number of significant and moderate risk. The results of the interim phase of the 2009-10 financial statement audits of all portfolio departments and other major general government sector (GGS) agencies were tabled in Parliament on […]

New investment policy guidelines

The New South Wales Government has released new investment policy guidelines for local government. The guidelines have been developed by the Division of Local Government to assist councils with the preparation of an investment policy and prudent management of council surplus funds. In a circular to councils, Division of Local Government chief executive, Ross Woodward, […]

Victorian councils should centralise service costing: Auditor-General

By Angela Dorizas Victorian councils do not understand the true cost of the services they provide to the community and the extent to which they subsidise them, the state’s Auditor-General has found. In a report tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, the Victorian Auditor-General Des Pearson examined service costing and pricing policies for waste management, preschool […]

Business as (un)usual

Local government must change the way it operates to cope with myriad future challenges. Angela Dorizas reports. Stable or lower government grants, increased service demands from an ageing population, infrastructure backlogs, the implementation of government climate change initiatives: these are just some of the future challenges councils can expect. In his address to the recent […]

Gago announces tougher auditing checks

By Staff Writer Local Government finances will be subject to tougher auditing checks under new legislation tabled in the South Australian Parliament. The Local Government (Accountability Framework) Amendment Bill 2009 was designed to raise standards of management and accountability in South Australia’s councils.   Minister for State/Local Government Relations Gail Gago said expanded auditing of […]

Qld in need of more financial support: LGAQ

By Staff Writer Queensland councils are facing massive and unique financial burdens due to State Government legislation, rapid population growth and maintaining 152,000 kms of council roads, according to the Local Government Association of Queensland. Acting LGAQ President Bob Abbot said councils in Queensland have far greater need for government support than those interstate because […]

LGAT addresses issues of sustainability

By Rob O’Brien The Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT) has defended its record after a report by the state’s Auditor-General found a majority of councils were financially unsustainable. Auditor-General Mike Blake released the report in which he found that, in the 2007-08 financial year, 17 of the 29 local councils posted operating deficits. Blake […]

Merged councils face financial tsunami

By Jo Cooper Amalgamated councils already beset by budgetary and cultural challenges have been warned the global financial crisis is likely to present further economic threats. Just prior to finishing his term as president of the Australian Local Government Association in November, Paul Bell told Government News that amalgamations, such as the widespread mergers that have occurred […]

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