Australian Local Government: Reform and RenewalBrian Dollery, Neil Marshall The last few years have seen unprecedented change taking place in the Australian local government arena. In all states the functions and responsibilities of local authorities have been subjected to extensive reform. New legislation has redefined the role of councillors. Local governments have been required to introduce more efficient and effective management practices and become more open and responsive to their constituencies. The scope of traditional regulatory practices has been altered and councils forced to develop a competitive environment for the provision of services. The place of local authorities in the intergovernmental landscape has also changed. Different forms of interaction between Commonwealth, state and local government are evolving along with the emergence of new funding strategies to encourage a regional focus. This is the first book to offer a detailed discussion of the reforms that have taken place, and at the same time provide an informative and readable analysis for practitioners and students of government, politics and public sector management. |
Common terms and phrases
accrual accounting achieve activities administration agenda ALGA amalgamation approach approval areas assessment assets Australian local government authorities Bains building cent City committee Commonwealth community and cultural competitive tendering compulsory competitive tendering contracting cost councils cultural participation decisions economic development effective efficiency emphasis ensure environment environmental established example focus functions funding Government Act government in Australia government's grants identified implementation improve increased industry initiatives intergovernmental involvement issues LARP Launceston legislation levels of government Local Government Association major managerial ment microeconomic reform minor boundary changes municipalities operations organisations outcomes Parramatta City Council performance political powers programs public sector Queensland RDOS recognised regional development regulatory relations relationships responsibilities restructuring revenue role of councillors service delivery shire social South Australia South Wales spheres of government staff strategic management structure Tasmania tion Victoria Western Australia Whitlam workplace reform