Local governments play a critical role in the viability and vibrancy of local communities. Therefore, it is important for state and local governments to work together to address the sustainability challenges councils face.
The Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers has introduced a new guideline – Financial Management (Sustainability) Guideline (2023) – that applies to the sector from the 2023–24 financial year. The new guideline considers the challenges that councils face, especially in rural and remote areas, and introduces more measures for the financial sustainability of councils.
This audit will be the fifth in a series of local government sustainability audits that we have undertaken. It will examine the sector’s progress in meeting its sustainability challenges. It will assess how effectively the sector has acted to address previous QAO findings and recommendations.
- Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers
- selected local governments.