LGEMA - Local Government Elected Members Association

LG Extraordinary Elections 25 June 2026

Please make sure you are on electoral roll for upcoming extraordinary elections 25 June 2026
Please make sure your scrutineers know breadth of their scrutiny permitted – ask LGEMA
After the close of nominations some Local Governments did not proceed to election because no nominations were received for the vacancy (Shire of Dowerin and Shire of Merredin) – wonder why that is?!
Shire of Brookton
Shire of Chittering
Shire of Coolgardie
Shire of Dowerin - not proceeding to election (wonder what WAEC will charge?)
Shire of Merredin - not proceeding to election (wonder what WAEC will charge?)
Shire of Upper Gascoyne

2026 June Local Government Extraordinary Elections | Western Australian Electoral Commission Local Government Extraordinary Elections will be conducted as postal elections on Thursday, 25 June 2026, for the four local governments listed below.Local Government Extraordinary Elections in Western Australia are elections held outside the normal two-year cycle to fill a vacancy that occurs mid-...

Dictatorships Four

1. Hayne’s Banking Royal Commission crystallised elements of good governing … The first general rule, that the law must be applied and its application enforced, requires no development or explanation. It is a defining feature of a society governed by the rule of law … Entities and individuals acted in the way they did because they could … Misconduct will be deterred only if entities believe that misconduct will be detected, denounced and justly punished ...

2. and that, … the culture of an organisation is what people do when no-one is watching; … and then outlined good governance, ... Hence it is rightly said that the tone of the entity is, and must be, set at the top. But that tone must also be echoed from the bottom and reinforced at every level of the entity’s management and supervision; but it must always sound from above, … and then, … as to culture, … a culture that fosters poor leadership, poor decision making or poor behaviour will undermine the governance framework of the entity.

3. A culture of fear, in the sense that any person departing from the rules knows there will be serious consequences, is an essential element of good governance.

4. Highly disturbing LGIRS regulatory failures in LG have been closely examined by the OAG but continue: see Regulation and Support of the Local Government Sector 30 April 2021.

See How to be a Dictator: the cult of personality in the twentieth century F. Dikotter, Bloomsbury Publishing 2019

Dictatorships: Three

1. In a dictatorship culture, manipulation, divide and rule are applied to outspoken EMs or employees trying to foster good governance.

2. Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty (it is hard soul destroying work).

3. Power is so easily stolen (see recent mystifying amendments to LG Act to enhance CEO powers and reduce EM support and Council roles).

4. EMs who are constantly vigilant to protect their and Councils’ roles while fostering a healthy culture become psychologically worn out. Note helpful commentary and findings in the Independent Review into bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct at the Parliament of NSW, referred to as the Broderick Report; and see especially Commission of Inquiry into the Moira Shire Council 26 February 2023 (Moira Inquiry Report) to understand the shocking impacts on good governing EMs.

See How to be a Dictator: the cult of personality in the twentieth century F. Dikotter, Bloomsbury Publishing 2019

www.parliament.vic.gov.au

Dictatorships Two

1. Freedom of speech is the first casualty of dictatorships (see EM Conduct Rules).

2. Loyalty to the one and not the group is a dictatorship essential, as is being surrounded by fearful sycophants.

3. Personalised power makes dictator’s word law (such as refusing EM access to records).

4. Dictators lie (LG Minister refusal to amend LG Act to require CEOs to act in good faith as recommended by parliamentary inquiry report into serious misconduct).

5. Coerced behaviours are dressed up as consent.

6. Popular support is a crafted illusion using props such as self-glorification, self-promotion, acclaim, awards, honours and accreditations, all of which are mere virtues signalling.

7. Rivals and challengers are treated ruthlessly (see weaponisation of EM conduct rules, grooming and bullying of EMs).

See How to be a Dictator: the cult of personality in the twentieth century F. Dikotter, Bloomsbury Publishing 2019

Dictatorships One

Dictatorial tendencies of some CEOs are revealed by ruling not managing behaviours, which result in acquiescence, receding levels of freedom and unmeritorious decision-making thereby degrading LGs’ integrity, principles and intentions.

See How to be a Dictator: the cult of personality in the twentieth century F. Dikotter, Bloomsbury Publishing 2019

Tree Canopy Advocacy

Anyone interested in saving tress will read this SAT decision carefully to find out what was in place that saved this Rose Gum (Eucalyptus grandis), providing significant local amenity and with at least 40 years of good life ahead, from destruction.

Well done to Bassendean!

NEE and TOWN OF BASSENDEAN [2026] WASAT 66

ecourts.justice.wa.gov.au

Local Government Policy

1. Council makes policy to guide the exercise of any discretion in a decision in interests of its own District community.

2. Only Council can make policy.

3. This does not mean simply approving policies initiated by CEOs.

4. Council policy making is a fundamental EM/Council role.

5. Policies do not bind Council but can bind employee delegates as Council decides.

6. This means all employee delegates have to make decisions in compliance with Council policy or bring the decision to depart to Council for Council to decide.

7. For example: what records are available to the public, how employees treat ratepayers who complain or who have not paid their rates; how whistleblowers are treated; how questions are answered at public question time.

8. LGEMA has draft policies, along with a draft Notice of Motion to introduce a policy, on many topics that will engage your electors.

9. Members just have to ask us for what they need. For example: our recently updated policy on access to records, our model CEO contract template; and our recently completed local government response to homelessness.

Local Government, Housing and Homelessness

LGs bear the cost and concerns around homelessness.
Council can adopt a homelessness policy and petition state government for amendments to LG Act to help fund LG responses.

For Example: According to the ABS 2021 Census, Australia had 10.85 million private dwellings, of which 1,043,776 were unoccupied on Census night (approximately 10.1%). Western Australia recorded 118,109 unoccupied dwellings (approximately 10.9% of all dwellings in the State). At the same time, the ABS estimated 122,494 Australians were experiencing homelessness on Census night in 2021. What about a differential rate for vacant dwellings?

LGEMA has a draft Notice of Motion for LG Housing and Homelessness policy and a draft policy available to LGEMA members.

Governance or Administration?

Administrative law and governance demand that EMs be sufficiently involved to:
• understand the issues;
• exercise independent judgment;
• avoid fettering discretion;
• demonstrate proper consideration of submissions.

EMs generally entitled to rely on:
• officer reports,
• expert advice,
• legal advice,
PROVIDED they actually consider the material themselves and are given the source material in sufficient time to properly consider it.

Councils merely adopting recommendations mechanically without genuine consideration expose decisions to challenge on grounds such as:
• failure to consider relevant matters;
• improper exercise of statutory power;
• procedural unfairness (in some circumstances).

Safest governance practice is therefore:
• officers perform the detailed review work;
• council remains engaged at key decision points;
• council makes the final statutory determinations itself.

Local Law Reviews

Under LG Act Schedule 9.3 Division 7 clause 65, any local law that:
• was already due for review, or
• would become due shortly under the former 8-year rule,
must be reviewed within the 2-year transitional period ending 7 December 2026, unless the local law had already been reviewed within the previous 8 years.