Premier's Local Government Council and Minister’s Local Government Forum
The Premier's Local Government Council and Minister’s Local Government Forum are forums for the Tasmanian Government and local government to discuss important and topical issues of statewide significance.
The objective of these forums is to facilitate strong collaboration between the two spheres of government on shared policy and reform matters, recognising both have a critical role in supporting the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of Tasmanian communities.
The Premier's Local Government Council was established in 2000 and the Minister’s Local Government Forum was established in March 2026.
Membership
The Premier's Local Government Council is made up of:
- Premier of Tasmania (chair)
- Minister for Local Government
- Local Government Association of Tasmania
- General Management Committee members of the Local Government Association of Tasmania
The Premier's Local Government Council is supported by an officials committee made up of senior staff from the Tasmanian Government, the Local Government Association of Tasmania and three councils.
The Minister’s Local Government Forum is made up of:
- Minister for Local Government (chair)
- Local Government Association of Tasmania General Management Committee members
- Chief Executive Officer of the Local Government Association of Tasmania
- Deputy Secretary overseeing the Office of Local Government
- Director of Local Government
How the forums work together
The Premier's Local Government Council and Minister’s Local Government Forum follow an agreement which sets out the principles, terms of reference, processes and rules for consultation. The agreement is reviewed regularly.
Consultation agreement with local government
The Tasmanian Government has a consultation agreement with Tasmania's local government sector. The agreement is based on six key principles for engagement between the Tasmanian Government and local government:
- working in partnership and good faith
- ensuring early engagement
- providing reasonable and practical timeframes
- enabling tailored and flexible engagement approaches
- undertaking coordinated and consistent efforts
- maintaining shared accountability for effective engagement.
These principles provide guidance for determining approaches to engagement between parties, including for proposals consisting of minor changes, moderate changes or major reforms.
Implementation and monitoring
The Office of Local Government supports the agreement by:
- Advising Tasmanian Government agencies on how to plan and coordinate effective engagement with the sector.
- Providing practical guidance and examples on what may constitute a minor, moderate or major consultation.
- Organising a formal review process involving the sector and state agencies on the operation and outcomes of the agreement.
