Our fact sheets on key issues facing the local government sector will help if you are thinking about making a complaint about your council.
These fact sheets explain what powers we have under the Local Government Act and what we can investigate. They also explain some of the laws councils and councillors must follow.
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Fact sheets
The Local Government Act 2020 gives us a range of powers to take complaints and conduct investigations into council matters.
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Local Government Inspectorate powers
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LGI powers and responsibilities(opens in a new window)PDF 341.17 KBSometimes, we get complaints and we do not have the power to investigate it. We regularly refer complaints to – and receive referrals from – other integrity agencies.
This flowchart explains what Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC), Victorian Ombudsman and the Inspectorate do and how to complain directly to each agency.
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Local council complaints: If something is not right, who do I complain to?
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Local council complaints: who do I complain to?(opens in a new window)PDF 110.39 KBThis fact sheet tells you what a public interest disclosure is, how to make one when you submit a complaint to us and how they are assessed.
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Fact sheet: Public interest disclosures(opens in a new window)PDF 539.13 KBThis fact sheet considers the standing down of a councillor by the Minister for Local Government or the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
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Fact sheet: Standing down a councillor(opens in a new window)PDF 600.15 KBThis fact sheet tells you what you need to do if we ask to interview you as a witness because you hold information relevant to a matter we are investigating.
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Interviews: Information for witnesses
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Interviews: Information for witnesses(opens in a new window)PDF 1.75 MBUnder Victorian law, all election candidates must provide a list of their campaign donations on a form provided when they nominate. Candidates must also acknowledge on the form if they didn’t receive any donations or in-kind support.
All candidates in Victorian local government elections must submit a return within 40 days of election day.
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Campaign Donation Returns(opens in a new window)PDF 349.92 KBCouncillors and other relevant people in local government must, by law, declare their personal interests. A summary of these interests must be available on each council’s website.
Declaring personal interests is done so the public can see the shareholdings, trusts, business associations or other private interests of the people making decisions at councils. It is one way to ensure councillors and other key people are transparently acting in an impartial manner for the benefit of the community and not for personal gain.
The Local Government Inspectorate can prosecute those who do not declare their personal interests.
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Fact sheet - Personal Interest Returns(opens in a new window)PDF 380.51 KB
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