The Local Government Act gives councils their core purpose:
- to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the community
- to represent the community's interests
- to ensure peace, order and good government.
To help manage these responsibilities, councils can also create their own specific laws, called by-laws. These allow a council to respond to local needs – like rules for parking or managing public spaces – and add to the powers given to it under other legislation.
For an overview of council services and the laws that guide them, go to Local Government Association of Tasmania.
