Our reports

Find reports on council investigations and governance examinations we’ve completed.

We publish reports on major investigations and compliance reviews to provide guidance to the local government sector about issues in the reports.

All newer reports can be read online or downloaded and printed. The older reports are only published as printable documents.

Our annual reports can be found on the annual report page.

We also produce fact sheets on topics of interest and summaries of recently completed reports.

View report summaries and fact sheets

Checking compliance: a review of council policies

We conducted a review of compliance into councils' implementation of the Local Government Act 2020 and the requirement to create or update a range of documents and policies.

We reviewed more than 1,000 individual polcies and documents from all 79 councils and found a high level of compliance.

Checking compliance: a review of council policies - online version

Checking compliance: a review of council policies
PDF 1.64 MB
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Personal interests returns: encouraging disclosure and increasing transparency

We reviewed the personal interest returns of 650 councillors and found 332 did not complete their returns in compliance with the Local Government Act.

The project looked at 4,600 councillor returns between October 2016 and February 2020. It included a high-level review of councillor personal interest returns from 61 councils and a detailed review of councillors from 17 councils.

Personal interest returns: encouraging disclosure and increasing transparency - online version

LGI Personal Interests Returns Report
PDF 1.53 MB
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Report summary

Summary: Personal interest returns report - online version

LGI Personal Interests Returns Report Summary
PDF 263.76 KB
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Sample checklists

Melbourne City Council kindly provided the following sample checklists and emails to help other governance teams with the personal interests returns process. The documents are available in two formats.

City of Melbourne Personal Interests Returns checklist and sample emails
PDF 238.18 KB
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City of Melbourne Personal Interests Returns checklist and sample emails
Word 139.52 KB
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Social media fuels rise in complaints during 2020 council elections

Our comprehensive report into the 2020 council elections details the numbers and trends of complaints we received before, during and after the election period.

Complaints to the Local Government Inspectorate about council elections in 2020 more than doubled compared to the previous general elections, with 848 formal complaints in 2020 compared to 409 in 2016.

Social media fuels rise in complaints during 2020 council elections - online version

Social media fuels rise in complaints during 2020 council elections
PDF 1.95 MB
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Report summary

Summary: 2020 council elections report - online version

LGI election report 2020 summary
PDF 249.32 KB
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Councillor expenses and allowances: equitable treatment and enhanced integrity

Our review of councillor support involved two main aspects: surveys of councillors and governance staff on the level of support councillors receive, and an audit of several councils to assess compliance with legislation and identify best practice for the benefit of the whole sector.

Councillor expenses and allowances - online version

Councillor expenses and allowances report
PDF 926.69 KB
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Report summary

Summary: Councillor expenses and allowances report
PDF 734.17 KB
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Protecting integrity: leading the way - Managing the employment cycle of a council CEO

This report includes views from across the sector and recommendations for improvements to legislation, policies or processes that would enhance future management of the CEO employment cycle.

Managing the employment cycle of a council CEO - online version

Managing the employment cycle of a council CEO
PDF 1.41 MB
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Report summary

Summary: Managing the employment cycle of a council CEO - online version

Summary Managing the employment cycle of a CEO
PDF 746.5 KB
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Protecting integrity: Yarriambiack Shire Council investigation

We conducted a comprehensive investigation into specific allegations related to Yarriambiack Shire Council, which focused on the key topics of staff use of plant and equipment, and mismanagement of council assets including the unauthorised use or sale of council equipment, sale of land, rates recovery and corporate credit cards.

Protecting integrity: Yarriambiack Shire Council investigation report - online version

Protecting integrity: Yarriambiack Shire Council investigation report
PDF 6.05 MB
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Protecting integrity: West Wimmera Shire Council examination

In November 2018, we delivered a report to West Wimmera Shire Council detailing an examination into their governance arrangements and operations and the result of an investigation into specific allegations made about council activities. The council responded with a detailed action plan in January 2019, which was published on the council's website.

Protecting integrity: West Wimmera Shire Council examination - online version

West Wimmera Shire Council examination report
PDF 1.13 MB
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2016 Wyndham City Council elections

We receive a larger number of complaints during local government elections, particularly those in municipalities with a high number of candidate nominations. There were 95 candidates running for Wyndham City Council in the October 2016 election. Community members submitted complaints about the eligibility of candidates, during and after the election. We completed an investigated and published the findings in the final report:

Investigation into 2016 Wyndham City Council election
PDF 1.23 MB
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Investigation into 2016 Wyndham City Council election
Word 4.81 MB
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Central Goldfields Shire Council investigation

We completed a comprehensive report on Central Goldfields Shire Council following an investigation. The report highlights poor governance and mismanagement of key areas of responsibility within the organisation.

Central Goldfields Shire Council investigation - August 2017
PDF 2.2 MB
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Central Goldfields Shire Council investigation - August 2017
Word 4.83 MB
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2016 council elections report

Our report on the 2016 council elections report highlights key election issues, challenges and outcomes from an integrity perspective. We conducted:

  • an election period policy review
  • a candidate eligibility audit and
  • completed campaign donation returns project.
2016 council elections
PDF 2.92 MB
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2016 council elections
Word 2.58 MB
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Older reports

Access an archive of our older reports and bulletins on our governance reviews or investigations.

Updated