Make a complaint - Local Government Inspectorate

What we do

We can only investigate certain types of concerns about councillors, council staff or elections. This is set out in the Local Government Act 2020.

We can look into	We can't look into
Council matters such as: Misuse of position by a councillor - that is, a person who is, or has been a Councillor: making improper use of information acquired as a result of the position held or holds; or disclosing information that is confidential information; or directing or improperly influencing, or seeking to direct or improperly influence, a member of Council staff; or exercising or performing, or purporting to exercise or perform, a power, duty or function that the person is not authorised to exercise or perform; or using public funds or resources in a matter that is improper or unauthorised; or participating in a decision on a matter in which the person has a conflict of interest (Part 6, Division 1, sec 123, Local Government Act 2020.) Conflict of interest by a councillor, senior council employee or person providing advice to council - that is, if an impartial, fair-minded person would consider that the person's private interests could result in that person acting in a manner that is contrary to their public duty (ss 127-131) Disclosure of confidential information - that is, a person who is, or has been, a Councillor or a member of Council staff must not intentionally or recklessly disclose information that the person knows, or should reasonably know, is confidential information (for further information, please see ss 125) Council election offences - all election offences including nomination of someone not qualified to be a council election candidate (refer to ss 286-305) and authorisation of materials.	Other council matters such as: ✗ planning and building permits ✗ council services ✗ performance of council staff, unless related to offences under the act ✗ council decisions (unless there is a conflict of interest) ✗ council fines ✗ rates charges ✗ councillor code of conduct (such as profanity in meetings) ✗ holding closed meetings. Disputes between individuals Private organisations: ✗ building and construction companies ✗ banking, credit, insurance or superannuation ✗ electricity water or gas ✗ rental agreements Members of Parliament Victoria Police Victorian government bodies Universities and TAFEs Australian government bodies: ✗ Centrelink ✗ Australian Taxation Office ✗ Services Australia ✗ Australia Post Prisons Decisions made by courts and tribunals

We can look into

We can't look into

Council matters such as:

Misuse of position by a councillor - that is, a person who is, or has been a Councillor:
- making improper use of information acquired as a result of the position held or holds; or
- disclosing information that is confidential information; or
- directing or improperly influencing, or seeking to direct or improperly influence, a member of Council staff; or
- exercising or performing, or purporting to exercise or perform, a power, duty or function that the person is not authorised to exercise or perform; or
- using public funds or resources in a matter that is improper or unauthorised; or
- participating in a decision on a matter in which the person has a conflict of interest
  (Part 6, Division 1, sec 123, Local Government Act 2020.)
Conflict of interest by a councillor, senior council employee or person providing advice to council - that is, if an impartial, fair-minded person would consider that the person's private interests could result in that person acting in a manner that is contrary to their public duty (ss 127-131)
Disclosure of confidential information - that is, a person who is, or has been, a Councillor or a member of Council staff must not intentionally or recklessly disclose information that the person knows, or should reasonably know, is confidential information (for further information, please see ss 125)
Council election offences - all election offences including nomination of someone not qualified to be a council election candidate (refer to ss 286-305) and authorisation of materials.

Other council matters such as:

✗ planning and building permits

✗ council services

✗ performance of council staff, unless related to offences under the act

✗ council decisions (unless there is a conflict of interest)

✗ council fines

✗ rates charges

✗ councillor code of conduct (such as profanity in meetings)

✗ holding closed meetings.

Disputes between individuals

Private organisations:

✗ building and construction companies

✗ banking, credit, insurance or superannuation

✗ electricity water or gas

✗ rental agreements

Members of Parliament

Victoria Police

Victorian government bodies

Universities and TAFEs

Australian government bodies:

✗ Centrelink

✗ Australian Taxation Office

✗ Services Australia

✗ Australia Post

Prisons

Decisions made by courts and tribunals

Before you submit a complaint, please check that it is a matter that we can help with. If it is a matter that we cannot investigate, as listed above, please refer to this list of other agencies or authorities that can help you.

We are a small team with limited resources and the most efficient way to lodge a complaint is via the webform below. If you have any queries, you can contact us on 1800 469 359.

Make a complaint

Sometimes you will not be able to get through to the phone to speak to us on the phone, because we are taking other calls or talking to someone else.

If this happens, you can request a callback from us via the form below.

Request a callback

Our complaints process

When the Inspectorate receives a complaint, the first step is to consider the complaint based on the information provided. We aim to acknowledge complaints within ten (10) business days, depending on available resources and current workload.

If we have enough information, we will begin assessing the complaint. An assessment is not an investigation.

If our assessment shows that we can investigate the complaint, the investigation may not start immediately as all complaints are triaged on a priority basis, considering current workloads and resources available. The Inspectorate cannot provide specific time frames for completion of investigations, as some can take significant time to complete and often this depends on the nature and complexity of the complaint.

Other factors such as the availability of evidence and information required contribute to the time required to complete investigations.

Once the investigation is complete, you will be notified of the outcome unless you have selected to make an anonymous complaint. We are unable to provide outcomes or further information to anonymous complainants.

Complaints about the Inspectorate

If you have a complaint about a staff member from our team, please contact the Chief Municipal Inspector.

If the complaint relates to an administrative decision or function of the Inspectorate, and you have been unable to resolve this using the process above, you can lodge a formal complaint with Ombudsman Victoria.