Who runs local government in Australia?
Australia's local councils are created by state and territory laws, not by the federal Constitution, so the rules differ in each state. About 537 elected councils (shires, cities, towns and regional councils) run local roads, planning, waste and community services, but a state minister can sack a council and appoint an administrator. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land rights and native title add a separate layer of authority over large areas of land.
Commonwealth of Australia · Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy · Oceania
The levels of government below the nation
| Level | How it is chosen | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| States (6) and self-governing territories (2) | Elected parliaments; premier or chief minister from the majority | Create, merge and supervise local councils through their own Local Government Acts. |
| Local governments (about 537: cities, shires, towns, regional and Aboriginal shire councils) | Councillors elected (methods vary by state; voting compulsory in some states); mayors directly elected in some places and chosen by councillors in others | Local roads, planning approvals, waste, libraries, parks, rates (property tax). |
| No local tier in the Australian Capital Territory | Territory government | ACT government does what councils do elsewhere. |
Three questions about local power in Australia
Are local leaders elected?
Councillors are elected everywhere councils exist; some mayors are directly elected and others chosen by fellow councillors. Council chief executives are appointed staff.
Which laws set up local government?
Local government rests on state laws and is recognised in state constitutions, but not in the federal Constitution. Native title holders and land councils are formal under federal law. Elders' authority under traditional law is recognised only where a law gives it effect.
Who are local leaders accountable to?
Voters elect councils every three or four years. State ministers can investigate, suspend or dismiss councils and appoint administrators, usually after a public inquiry. Courts and state ombudsmen also review council decisions.
Traditional and customary authority
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have their own laws and elders, which are not part of the formal government system but are recognised in specific ways. The Native Title Act 1993 lets groups prove continuing rights to land and waters under their traditional laws; recognised rights are held by prescribed bodies corporate that must be consulted about some developments. In the Northern Territory, Aboriginal land councils under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 control access to large areas of Aboriginal-owned land. Some councils in Queensland and elsewhere are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander shire councils serving those communities.
Community and neighbourhood power
Residents' and ratepayers' associations, progress associations in country towns and 'friends of' groups take part in council consultations but have no legal power. Owners corporations (strata bodies) manage apartment buildings under state law and can make and enforce building by-laws. Councils often set up advisory committees and community reference groups.
Points to know
- Referendums to recognise local government in the federal Constitution failed in 1974 and 1988, and a planned 2013 vote was abandoned.
- The number of councils fell from 869 in 1980 to 537 through state-led mergers.
- Brisbane City Council is unusually large, with about 1.2 million residents, while most capital cities are split into many councils.
- The President of the Australian Local Government Association sits on national intergovernmental bodies alongside state leaders.
Local terms
- Shire
- A council, usually covering a rural area.
- Native title
- Legal recognition of Indigenous rights to land and waters under traditional law and custom.
- Rates
- Property tax collected by local councils.
Sources
- Constitution of Australia 1901 (rev. 1985) (English text), Constitute Project, checked 14 October 2026
- Country profile: Australia, OECD–UCLG World Observatory on Subnational Government Finance and Investment (SNG-WOFI), checked 14 October 2026
- The Local Government System in Australia: Country Profile 2017–18, Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF), checked 14 October 2026
- Native Title Act 1993, Federal Register of Legislation, Australian Government, checked 14 October 2026
See also: Australia's official statistics and leaders · the 10 levels of power.