Supporting sustainable councils in Tasmania
The Office of Local Government within the Department of Premier and Cabinet provides advice and services to the Tasmanian Government, the local government sector and the Tasmanian community. We work to ensure councils are well governed, responsive, sustainable and act in the best interest of their communities.
In Tasmania, the system of local government (including all 29 councils) is created by laws passed by the Tasmanian Parliament. Given this system is established by state law, the Tasmanian Government has an ongoing responsibility to manage it, ensure it is working properly, and keep the rules up to date.
Improving the local government system
We develop policy and update the laws that govern local government to ensure the system is modern, fair, and effective.
Upholding the rules and supporting the sector
We ensure councils are accountable by monitoring their compliance with the law and investigating serious complaints. A key part of this is our proactive work to support the sector through training, guidance and resources designed to help elected members and council staff meet their legal and ethical obligations.
Monitoring council performance
We collect and publish a wide range of data on the performance of all 29 councils to improve transparency and help the sector identify opportunities for improvement. This is managed through a formal data collection process and public-facing dashboards.
Other functions and responsibilities
We have a range of legal and administrative duties and provide support to the Director of Local Government and other bodies such as boards of inquiry and the Local Government Board.
Contact
Email: localgovernment@dpac.tas.gov.au
Phone: 03 6232 7022
