The department provides executive support to both the WA Local Government Grants Commission and the Local Government Advisory Board.
The Local Government Advisory Board is a statutory body established under the Local Government Act 1995 (the Act) to advise the Minister for Local Government on local government constitutional matters.
It has five members and four deputy members, including members nominated by local government and the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.
The Minister appoints the chair of the board and a member from the department, as well as two members from nominations supplied by the Western Australian Local Government Association and one member from nominations supplied by Local Government Professionals Western Australia.
The board's major function is to assess proposals to change local government boundaries and their systems of representation and then make recommendations to the Minister.
In May 2019, the board resolved to conduct a formal inquiry into a proposal to amend the boundary between the Shire of Nannup and the Shire of Manjimup so that 33 dwellings currently located on the Lower Donnelly River in the Shire of Nannup would be transferred to the Shire of Manjimup.
The board conducted a public submission period from 29 June 2019 until 2 August 2019.
The Minister endorsed the board’s recommendation to not accept the proposal submitted by the Lower Donnelly River Conservation Association (LDRCA) to amend the boundary between the Shire of Nannup and the Shire of Manjimup.
In January 2017, the board resolved to conduct a formal inquiry into a proposal to amend the City of Belmont’s district boundary to include a portion of the suburb of Ascot and a portion of the suburb of Redcliffe currently located in the City of Swan.
The minister approved the board's recommendation to accept the proposal submitted by the City of Belmont to transfer parts of Ascot and Redcliffe from the City of Swan to the City of Belmont. The proposal rationalises the boundary around three industrial lots, two of which are bisected by the current boundary with the City of Swan.
In July 2016, the board resolved to conduct a formal inquiry into a proposal to amend the City of Swan's district boundary to include a portion of the suburb of Ascot and a portion of the suburb of Redcliffe currently located in the City of Belmont.
The minister approved the board's recommendation to not accept the proposal submitted by the City of Swan to rationalise the boundary around three industrial lots, two of which are bisected by the current boundary.
In June 2016, the board resolved to conduct a formal inquiry into a proposal to amend the City of Fremantle's district boundary to include the suburb of Hamilton Hill and a portion of the suburb of North Coogee currently located in the City of Cockburn.
The minister approved the board's recommendation to not accept the proposal submitted by the Greater Freo community group to amend the City of Cockburn’s district boundary to transfer Hamilton Hill and part of North Coogee from the City of Cockburn to the City of Fremantle.
In October 2015, the board resolved to conduct a formal inquiry into a proposal to amend the City of Gosnells district boundary to include part of the locality of Wattle Grove currently located in the Shire of Kalamunda.
The minister approved the board's recommendation to not accept the proposal submitted by the Wattle Grove electors' group to amend the area bounded by Tonkin Highway to the west, Welshpool Road to the north, the Wattle Grove locality boundary to the east and the existing municipal boundary between the Shire of Kalamunda and the City of Gosnells to the south.
(Nominated by the Minister)
Dan Bull was appointed as chair of the board in October 2021. His term of appointment concludes in August 2024. Dan is currently a councillor at the City of Bayswater — a role he has held since 2015. He was also the City’s Mayor from 2017 to 2021. Dan is a member of a number of internal and external committees, including the Aged Care Governance Committee, the Policy Review and Development Committee and the Joint Development Assessment Panel. Dan graduated from UWA with a Bachelor of Laws.
(Department staff member)
Mary Adam has been a member and deputy chair of the board since 2013. Her term of appointment concludes in August 2022. Mary currently works with the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries as General Counsel. She is immediate past President of the WA Chapter, and a national director of the Association of Corporate Counsel Australia and a member of Women Lawyers WA.
(Nominated by LGPro)
Anthony Vuleta has been a member of the board since 2016. His term of appointment concludes in August 2022. Anthony has been the CEO of the Town of Victoria Park since 2014. He is also the current deputy president of LGPro WA. Anthony was previously president of the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (WA) and is now a member of that board. He is also a member of the Burswood Park Board and Local Government Professionals.
(Nominated by WALGA)
Russ Fishwick has been a member of the board since 2016. His term of appointment concludes in August 2022. Russ has more than 40 years’ experience as a serving local government officer and previously worked as the Executive Manager of Governance with the Town of Victoria Park. He has also acted in the role as its CEO. Russ is currently a councillor with the City of Joondalup and was first elected in 2006. He is also serving his third term as its Deputy Mayor. Russ was the Chair of the Mindarie Regional Council for 10 years and is a WALGA Life Member and State Councillor.
Caroline Knight was appointed as a member of the board in October 2021. Her term of appointment concludes in August 2024. Caroline is currently the Deputy Mayor of the City of Mandurah — a role she has held since 2017. She was a councillor at the City for six years prior to being elected to the position. Caroline is currently Chair of the Peel Harvey Catchment Council, and is also Chair of the Mandurah Environmental Advisory Board. She is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Caitlin Marson was appointed as a deputy member to the Board in January 2022. Her term of appointment concludes in August 2024. Caitlin currently works with the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Management’s Leadership Development Program. She has extensive public sector experience, including working with the Department of Communities and the Disability Services Commission.
Helen Sarcich was appointed as a deputy member of the board in September 2019. Her term of appointment concludes in August 2022. Helen is currently the deputy CEO at the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale. Helen’s experience in local government dates back to 2006 and she has held positions with the Cities of Wanneroo, Rockingham, Kwinana and Fremantle. Helen was previously a councillor with the City of Kalgoorlie Boulder.
Karen Wheatland was appointed as a deputy member of the board in September 2019. Her term of appointment concludes in August 2022. Karen has been a councillor with the City of Melville since 2017, where she is also a member of a number of committees. Karen is currently undertaking her Diploma in Local Government with WALGA.
Jannah Stratford was appointed as a deputy member of the board in October 2021. Her term of appointment concludes in August 2024. Jannah is currently the President of the Shire of Koorda – a role she has held since 2020. She was a councillor at the Shire for two years prior to being elected to the position. Jannah has previously held the position of Chair of the North Eastern Wheatbelt Region of Councils (NEWROC) and is a member of the Eastern Wheatbelt District Health Advisory Committee. She is also involved with a number of sporting and community clubs in the Shire of Koorda.
Under Schedule 2.1 of the Act, proposals to change local government district boundaries can be submitted to the board by the minister, local governments or electors of an affected local government.
Where the board decides that a proposed district boundary change is not minor, it must conduct formal inquiries giving affected local governments and electors six weeks to make submissions.
The board must consider any submissions received and take specific factors into consideration. When its assessment is complete, the board submits a report to the Minister for Local Government with a recommendation. This may recommend that the proposal be accepted or rejected. The minister may accept or reject the board’s recommendation but cannot change it.
Under Schedule 2.2 of the Act, local governments with wards must conduct regular reviews of ward boundaries of representation in consultation with their communities.
The board considers the outcome of these reviews and ensures that the local governments have complied with the Act.
The board must recommend to the minister any proposal that, in its opinion, correctly takes account of the criteria in the documents below. The minister may accept or reject the board's recommendation but cannot change it.
In June 2021, the Minister for Local Government provided a Statement of Expectation to the Local Government Advisory Board.
This statement reflects the Public Sector Commissioner's governance and performance requirements for State Government boards.
In August 2021, the Local Government Advisory Board provided a Statement of Intent to the Minister for Local Government.
Telephone 61 8 6552 7300Email advisoryboard@dlgsc.wa.gov.au
The WA Local Government Grants Commission (Grants Commission) is a statutory body established under the Local Government Grants Act 1978.
Its principal function is to make recommendations to the Minister for Local Government regarding the allocation of Commonwealth financial assistance grants to WA's 137 local governments.
The commission consists of a chairperson, deputy chairperson and three local government elected members. The commission also includes four deputy members. It is supported by departmental officers.
The current membership (as of 1 September 2021) is:
In June 2021, the Minister for Local Government provided a Statement of Expectation to the WA Local Government Grants Commission.
The Statement reflects the Public Sector Commissioner's governance and performance requirements for State Government boards.
WA Local Government Grants Commission - Ministerial Statement of Expectation
To the Minister for Local Government
Thank you for your Statement of Expectation, dated June 2021. On behalf of the WA Local Government Grants Commission, I am pleased to respond with this Statement of Intent, which outlines how the Commission will implement your expectations.
I formally commit the Commission to meeting your expectations and to ensuring that the Government's key requirements for the Commission are realised. We will continue to work to ensure that the community's confidence in the Commission is preserved and strengthened and that, in all our activities, we operate in a way that promotes collaboration and demonstrates accountability and transparency in support of the government's priorities.
We wish to reaffirm all elements of the Statement of Expectations and include the following priorities:
Commission members will undertake their duties with the required diligence, care and skill. The Commission will adopt and follow best practice governance processes, ensuring all members are aware of, and comply with, governance principles and reporting arrangements as set out in the Local Government Grants Act 1978 (WA) and in the Commission's governance documents, such as the Code of Conduct and the Commissioner's Charter.
Corporate governance documents will be reviewed on a regular basis. Appropriate training will be provided to Commission members as required. The Commission will continue to maintain the high level of corporate governance that is already in place, including a robust, transparent and accountable system of annual reporting to Parliament.
Commission members will act ethically and impartially at all times and will identify, declare and manage any real or perceived conflict of interest in the discharge of its functions.
The Commission will continue to develop processes and methodologies that ensure that the allocation and distribution of Commonwealth grants funding by the Commission is evidence based, fair, objective and impartial.
As required, the Commission will undertake performance reviews, to ensure that:
Advice will be provided to you in a timely manner in relation to Commission appointments. Consideration will also be given to the benefits of combining longer term, more experienced members, with newer members, who may provide a path to Commission renewal.
In addition to statutory functions, the Commission will take into account wider economic benefits to the State, impacts on other Government agencies and key Government policies as part of the planning and decision-making processes, as appropriate.
The Commission will also comply with relevant general policy requirements and will inform the Minister of any instances of non-compliance and the subsequent actions being taken to address the situation.
The Commission will endeavour to meet all required statutory financial management obligations. This will include ensuring that any actions taken in achieving the Commission's objectives represent value for money.
The Commission will ensure that timely and accurate information is provided to you to allow you to effectively meet your Ministerial and Parliamentary obligations.
The Commission will also do the same for your advisers and the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.
The Commission will continue to diligently manage its activities in accordance with legislative requirements and will continue to comply with all relevant corporate governance requirements.
All new members of the Commission will undergo an induction program and will receive a comprehensive handbook detailing their role and responsibilities. All Commission members are to abide by the Code of Conduct and will be offered ongoing support by the Chair and executive staff.
The Commission looks forward to continuing to work with you and delivering on your Ministerial expectations.
Hon Fred Riebeling AM JPChair, WA Local Government Grants Commission