Governance Registers

Section 5.75 of the Local Government Act 1995 (the Act) requires Elected Members, Chief Executive Officer and delegated employees to complete a Primary Return within three months of the start date or an annual return by the 31 August of the year.

Section 5.76 of the Act requires that each year, Elected Members, Chief Executive Officer and delegated employees to complete an Annual Return by 31 August of that year.

Section 5.96A (1) (i) of the Act requires the name of each council member and position of each employee who lodge a primary or annual return for a financial year beginning on or after 1 July 2020 to be published on the Shire’s website.

Returns Register – updated 05/02/2024 Elected Members
Returns Register – updated 05/02/2024 Employees

A council member commits a minor breach if he or she contravenes the Local Government (Rules of Conduct) Regulations 2007 (the Regulations; Act section 5.105[1]). The Regulations contain a set of rules for the conduct of council members. Only conduct that is prohibited under the Regulations can be found to be a minor breach. Under the Regulations, breaches of some parts of a Local Government’s Standing Orders Local Law are considered a minor breach.

Click here to access the Register of Minor Breaches Complaint

In accordance with the Act, council members (section 5.87A) and CEOs (section 5.87B) are required to disclose gifts that are received in their capacity as a council member or CEO and:

• are valued over $300; or
• are of a cumulative value that exceeds $300 where the gifts are received from the same donor in a 12-month period.

Additionally, a gift given by two or more related bodies corporate (as defined by section 50 in the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)) is considered to have been given by a single corporation. All such gifts must be disclosed within ten days of receipt – the CEO makes the disclosure to the mayor or president; council members make the disclosure to the CEO. The CEO must update the gifts register within 10 days and an up-to-date version of the register is required to be published on the local government’s official website.
Form 4 of the Local Government (Administration) Regulations 1996 sets out the information that is to be disclosed:

• a description of the gift
• the name and address of the donor
• the date of receipt
• the estimated value of the gift
• the nature of the relationship between the donor and recipient
• in the case of travel, the date of the travel and a description
• in the case of an excluded gift, the date of the approval and reasons for the approval.

These disclosures can be made by email to the CEO, ensuring all information is included.

Gifts Register – updated February 2024

Under section 5.126 of the Local Government Act 1995 all Council Members must complete five modules of the compulsory training course Council Member Essentials within 12 months of being elected, unless exempt.

Under section 5.127 of the Local Government Act 1995, the Shire is required to report on who has completed the compulsory training.

Council Members Training Register

In accordance with regulation 29C of the Local Government (Administration) Regulations 1996, the type and amount or value of any fees, expenses or allowances paid to each council member during a financial year is to be published on the Shire’s website.

Register of Fees and Allowance paid to Elected Members

The Local Government (Functions and General) Regulations 1996 requires a local government to call public tenders when the local government wishes to procure goods and services where the value is, or is expected to be, over $250,000. Local governments are also required to keep a register of all tenders that it has called.

Tender Register

Register of Financial, Proximity and Impartiality Interests – updated February 2024

Financial Interest
A financial interest is when it can reasonably be anticipated that a particular matter under consideration will result in a financial gain, loss, advantage, or disadvantage for the individual disclosing the interest.

Proximity Interest
A proximity interest in a matter occurs when the matter being reviewed involves the redevelopment or alteration of land that is adjacent to, shares a common boundary with, or is directly across a roadway from any property owned by the individual making the declaration of interest.

Indirect Financial Interests
An indirect interest arises when a matter being assessed by the local government pertains to another individual or entity with whom the person making the declaration maintains a financial connection.

Impartiality Interest
An impartiality interest occurs when there exists an actual or perceived relationship that could potentially compromise the impartiality of the person responsible for making the decision. This can encompass relationships with family members, friends, or membership in an association.