{"id":"BILL-TAS-local-government-amendment-targeted-reform-bill-2026-10-of-2026","name":"Local Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Bill 2026","slug":"local-government-amendment-targeted-reform-bill-2026","collection":"bill","jurisdiction":"tas","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":"2026-01-01","administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":446193,"registerId":"BILL-TAS-local-government-amendment-targeted-reform-bill-2026-10-of-2026:current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-01-01","status":"in_force","reasons":null,"registeredAt":"2026-05-08T16:48:31.827Z"},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0001","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 1","content":"# Local Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Bill 2026\n\n[Bill 10]-VII\nTASMANIA\n__________\nLOCAL GOVERNMENT AMENDMENT\n(TARGETED REFORM) BILL 2026\n__________\nCONTENTS\nPART 1 – PRELIMINARY\n1. Short title\n2. Commencement\nPART 2 – LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1993 AMENDED\n3. Principal Act\n4. Section 3 amended (Interpretation)\n5. Section 16 amended (Municipal areas)\n6. Section 17 amended (Electoral districts)\n7. Section 18 amended (Establishment of councils)\n8. Section 20 substituted\n19A. Role of council\n20. Local government charter\n9. Section 25 amended (Constitution of council)\n10. Section 27A amended (Order relating to Mayor’s functions)\n11. Section 28AA amended (Order relating to functions of\ncouncillors)\n12. Sections 28AB and 28AC inserted\n28AB. Mandatory core learning and development activities\nfor councillors\n28AC. Policy for continuing professional development\n13. Part 3, Division 3AAA inserted\n\n2\nDivision 3AAA – Councillor allowances and numbers\n28JAA. Allowances\n28JAB. Review of councillor allowances and numbers\n28JAC. Requests for reduction of councillor numbers\n28JAD. Order to amend Schedule 3\n14. Section 28ZA amended (Initial assessment of code of conduct\ncomplaint)\n15. Section 28ZBA inserted\n28ZBA. Referral of code of conduct complaint on initial\nassessment to Director\n16. Sections 28ZHA and 28ZHB inserted\n28ZHA. Referral of code of conduct complaint to Director\n28ZHB. Referral of code of conduct complaint to other\npersons or authorities\n17. Section 28ZK amended (Notification of determination of code of\nconduct complaint)\n18. Part 3, Division 3B inserted\nDivision 3B – Serious councillor misconduct\nSubdivision 1 – Preliminary\n28ZQ. Interpretation\n28ZR. Serious councillor misconduct\n28ZS. Ministerial guidelines in relation to serious\ncouncillor misconduct\nSubdivision 2 – Assessment of serious councillor misconduct\n28ZT. Assessment of serious councillor misconduct\n28ZU. Determination of Director following investigation of\ncouncillor conduct\n28ZV. Referral of complaints back to initial assessor or\ninvestigating Panel\nSubdivision 3 – Tribunal\n28ZW. Application to the Tasmanian Civil and\nAdministrative Tribunal\n28ZX. Orders of the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative\nTribunal\n19. Section 45 amended (Election of councillors)\n20. Section 62 amended (Functions and powers of general manager)\n21. Section 62A amended (Order relating to general manager’s\nfunctions generally)\n22. Section 62B amended (Order relating to general manager’s\nfunction to liaise with mayor)\n\n3\n23. Section 66 amended (Strategic plan)\n24. Section 70DA inserted\n70DA. Community engagement strategy\n25. Section 70E amended (Review of plans, strategies and policies)\n26. Section 70F amended (Orders determining minimum contents of\nplans, &c., and classes of assets)\n27. Sections 84A and 84B inserted\n84A. Council performance reporting\n84B. Internal audit\n28. Section 122A inserted\n122A. Order specifying information in rates notices\n29. Section 214E amended (Result of review)\n30. Section 214L amended (Recommendation for issuing\nperformance improvement direction)\n31. Section 214O amended (Consequences of failing to comply with\nperformance improvement direction)\n32. Part 12C inserted\nPART 12C – Temporary Advisors\n214P. Recommendation to appoint temporary advisor\n214Q. Appointment of temporary advisor\n214R. Functions and powers of temporary advisors\n214S. Report by temporary advisor\n214T. Cost of temporary advisor\n33. Section 291 substituted\n291. Assistance to electors\n34. Section 296 substituted\nDivision 7 – Alternative voting\n296. Interpretation of Division\n297. Tasmanian Electoral Commission may approve\nalternative voting procedures\n298. Entitlement to vote by alternative voting procedures\n298A. Counting of votes cast by alternative voting\nprocedures\n298B. Application of Act to votes cast under alternative\nvoting procedures\n298C. Confidentiality of votes cast under alternative voting\nprocedures\n298D. Publication of alternative voting procedures\n\n4\n298E. Independent auditing of alternative voting\nprocedures\n298F. Independent monitoring of alternative voting\nprocedures\n35. Section 338AA amended (Director may require information,\n&c., for purposes of investigation)\n36. Section 338A amended (Disclosure of information)\n37. Section 338B inserted\n338B. Disclosure of information for code of conduct\ncomplaints\n38. Section 339 amended (Improper use of information)\n39. Section 339EA amended (Investigations of complaints and other\nmatters)\n40. Section 340A repealed\n41. Section 341 amended (Immunity from liability)\n42. Section 349D inserted\n349D. Transitional provisions consequent on Local\nGovernment Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act\n2026\n43. Schedule 3 substituted\nSCHEDULE 3 – MUNICIPAL AREAS, COUNCILS\nAND ELECTORAL DISTRICTS\n44. Schedule 4 inserted\nSCHEDULE 4 – METHODOLOGY FOR\nDETERMINING COUNCILLOR NUMBERS\nAND ALLOWANCES\n45. Schedule 8B inserted\nSCHEDULE 8B – SAVINGS AND TRANSITIONAL\nPROVISIONS CONSEQUENT ON LOCAL\nGOVERNMENT AMENDMENT (TARGETED\nREFORM) ACT 2026\nPART 3 – TASMANIAN CIVIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL\nACT 2020 AMENDED\n46. Principal Act\n47. Schedule 2 amended (General Division)\n\n5\nPART 4 – LOCAL GOVERNMENT (GENERAL) REGULATIONS 2025\nAMENDED\n48. Principal Regulations\n49. Regulation 49 amended (Allowances for elected members)\n50. Schedule 4 substituted\nSCHEDULE 4 – ALLOWANCES FOR ELECTED\nMEMBERS\nPART 5 – LOCAL GOVERNMENT (MEETING PROCEDURES)\nREGULATIONS 2025 AMENDED\n51. Principal Regulations\n52. Regulation 3 amended (Interpretation)\n53. Regulation 31 amended (Voting procedure)\n54. Regulation 45 substituted\n45. Requirement to attend meetings in person\n45A. Participation in meetings by audio or audio visual\nlink\n45B. Meeting conducted by audio link or audio visual link\nin exceptional circumstances\n45C. Limit on attendance by audio link or audio visual\nlink\nPART 6 – REPEAL OF ACT\n55. Repeal of Act\n\n6\n\n[Bill 10] 7\nLOCAL GOVERNMENT AMENDMENT\n(TARGETED REFORM) BILL 2026\nThis Public Bill originated in the House of Assembly, and, having this day passed, is\nnow ready for presentation to the Legislative Council for its concurrence.\nLAURA ROSS, Clerk of the House\n16 April 2026\n(Brought in by the Minister for Justice, Corrections and\nRehabilitation, the Honourable Guy Barnett)\nA BILL FOR\nAn Act to amend the Local Government Act 1993, the\nTasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2020, the\nLocal Government (General) Regulations 2025 and the\nLocal Government (Meeting Procedures) Regulations 2025\nBe it enacted by Her Excellency the Governor of Tasmania, by\nand with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and\nHouse of Assembly, in Parliament assembled, as follows:\nPART 1 – PRELIMINARY\n1. Short title\nThis Act may be cited as the Local Government\nAmendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026.\n2. Commencement\nThe provisions of this Act commence on a day\nor days to be proclaimed.\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 3 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n8\nPART 2 – LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1993\nAMENDED\n3. Principal Act\nIn this Part, the Local Government Act 1993* is\nreferred to as the Principal Act.\n4. Section 3 amended (Interpretation)\nSection 3 of the Principal Act is amended as\nfollows:\n(a) by inserting the following definition after\nthe definition of community:\ncommunity engagement strategy, in\nrelation to a council, means the\ncommunity engagement strategy\nestablished for that council under\nsection 70DA(1);\n(b) by omitting “mayor, deputy mayor and\nalderman” from the definition of\ncouncillor and substituting “mayor and\ndeputy mayor”;\n(c) by omitting the definition of general\nmanager and substituting the following\ndefinition:\ngeneral manager means the person\nappointed under section 61\n_______________________________________________________________\n*No. 95 of 1993\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 5\n9\n(however described) and, in Part\n15, includes a person nominated\nunder section 253A;\n(d) by inserting the following definition after\nthe definition of legal practitioner:\nlocal government charter means a\nlocal government charter issued\nby the Minister, and in force,\nunder section 20;\n(e) by inserting the following definition after\nthe definition of scrutineer:\nserious councillor misconduct – see\nsection 28ZR;\n(f) by inserting the following definition after\nthe definition of Tasmanian Electoral\nCommission:\ntemporary advisor means a person\nappointed to be a temporary\nadvisor to a council under\nsection 214Q;\n5. Section 16 amended (Municipal areas)\nSection 16 of the Principal Act is amended as\nfollows:\n(a) by omitting from subsection (2) “Column\n1” and substituting “column 2”;\n(b) by omitting from subsection (5AA)\n“column 1” and substituting “column 2”;\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 6 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n10\n(c) by omitting from subsection (5B)\n“Column 1” and substituting “column 2”;\n(d) by omitting from subsection (6)\n“column1” and substituting “column 2”.\n6. Section 17 amended (Electoral districts)\nSection 17 of the Principal Act is amended as\nfollows:\n(a) by omitting from subsection (2) “column\n4” and substituting “column 6”;\n(b) by omitting from subsection (3) “column\n4 or 5” and substituting “column 6 or 7”.\n7. Section 18 amended (Establishment of councils)\nSection 18 of the Principal Act is amended as\nfollows:\n(a) by omitting from subsection (2) “column\n2” and substituting “column 3”;\n(b) by omitting from subsection (4) “column\n2” and substituting “column 3”.\n8. Section 20 substituted\nSection 20 of the Principal Act is repealed and\nthe following sections are substituted:\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 8\n11\n19A. Role of council\n(1) The role of a council is to support and\nimprove the wellbeing of the community\nby –\n(a) harnessing and building on the\nunique strengths and capabilities\nof the community; and\n(b) providing infrastructure and\nservices that, to be effective,\nrequire local approaches; and\n(c) representing and advocating for\nthe specific needs and interests of\nthe community in regional, state-\nwide and national decision-\nmaking; and\n(d) promoting the social, economic\nand environmental sustainability\nof the community, including by\nplanning for and adapting to\nclimate change risks in the\nexercise of its functions.\n(2) In performing its role, a council may –\n(a) perform any duties or functions\nor exercise any powers conferred\non a council by or under this Act\nor any other Act; and\n(b) perform any other functions that\nthe council determines are\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 8 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n12\nreasonably necessary to enable\nthe council to perform its role.\n(3) A council may do anything necessary or\nconvenient to perform its role either\nwithin or outside its municipal area.\n(4) A council may transfer to a single\nauthority or a joint authority –\n(a) any of its assets and liabilities on\nany condition it determines; or\n(b) any of its employees.\n(5) A council may –\n(a) acquire, hold, dispose of and\notherwise deal with property; and\n(b) sue and be sued in its corporate\nname.\n20. Local government charter\n(1) The Minister, by order, may issue a local\ngovernment charter.\n(2) A charter issued under subsection (1)\nmust be consistent with this Act and is\nto –\n(a) provide clarity and guidance on\nthe role of councils referred to in\nsection 19A and support councils\nin performing that role; and\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 8\n13\n(b) specify principles and practices to\nguide when and how councils\nmay undertake functions that are\nnot directly related to, or that\nextend beyond, performing that\nrole; and\n(c) specify principles to be followed\nby councils in relation to –\n(i) good governance; and\n(ii) financial management;\nand\n(iii) community engagement;\nand\n(iv) collaboration and\ncoordination with other\ncouncils on matters of\nshared interest or regional\nissues; and\n(d) specify principles and processes\nby which the Tasmanian\nGovernment will support councils\nto perform their role, including in\nconnection with consultation and\nengagement between the\nTasmanian Government and local\ngovernment; and\n(e) contain such other matters as may\nbe prescribed.\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 8 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n14\n(3) A council is to have regard to any charter\nissued by the Minister under this section\nwhen performing its functions and\nexercising its powers.\n(4) The Minister is to ensure that any charter\nissued under this section is reviewed at\nleast once in each 5-year period.\n(5) The Minister may amend, revoke, or\nrevoke and substitute an order under this\nsection.\n(6) Before making, amending or revoking\nand substituting an order, the Minister\nmust consult with –\n(a) councils; and\n(b) the Local Government\nAssociation of Tasmania; and\n(c) the public –\nas to the matters that the Minister is\nconsidering including in the order, the\namended order or the substitute order.\n(7) Section 47(3), (3A), (4), (5), (6) and (7)\nof the Acts Interpretation Act 1931\napplies to an order under this section as if\nthe order were regulations within the\nmeaning of that Act.\n(8) An order under this section is\nsubordinate legislation for the purposes\nof the Subordinate Legislation Act 1992.\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 9\n15\n(9) An order under this section may be\ncombined with an order under one or\nmore of the following sections:\n(a) section 27A;\n(b) section 28AA;\n(c) section 62A;\n(d) section 62B.\n9. Section 25 amended (Constitution of council)\nSection 25 of the Principal Act is amended as\nfollows:\n(a) by omitting subsection (2);\n(b) by omitting from subsection (3) “column\n3” and substituting “column 5”;\n(c) by omitting subsection (4).\n10. Section 27A amended (Order relating to Mayor’s\nfunctions)\nSection 27A(4) of the Principal Act is amended\nby inserting before paragraph (a) the following\nparagraph:\n(aa) section 20;\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 11 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n16\n11. Section 28AA amended (Order relating to functions\nof councillors)\nSection 28AA(4) of the Principal Act is\namended by inserting before paragraph (a) the\nfollowing paragraph:\n(aa) section 20;\n12. Sections 28AB and 28AC inserted\nAfter section 28AA of the Principal Act, the\nfollowing sections are inserted in Division 3:\n28AB. Mandatory core learning and development\nactivities for councillors\n(1) In this section –\nimmediately preceding term of office,\nin relation to a councillor, means\nthe last term of office held by the\ncouncillor that ended before the\ncommencement of the\ncouncillor’s current term of\noffice.\n(2) The Director may approve one or more\ncourses of mandatory core learning and\ndevelopment activities for councillors.\n(3) Without limiting subsection (2), the\nDirector may approve different courses,\nor different requirements, for –\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 12\n17\n(a) councillors who have not served\nas a councillor in the immediately\npreceding term of office; and\n(b) councillors who have served as a\ncouncillor in the immediately\npreceding term of office.\n(4) A course approved under this section is\nto consist of learning and development\nactivities relating to the roles and\nresponsibilities of councils and\ncouncillors.\n(5) The Director is to, within 28 days of\napproving a course under subsection\n(2) –\n(a) ensure that notice of the approval\nis issued to each council; and\n(b) cause a copy of the course of\nmandatory core learning and\ndevelopment activities to be\npublished on a website\nmaintained by or on behalf of the\nDepartment.\n(6) The regulations may prescribe\nrequirements for the learning and\ndevelopment activities required under\nthis section.\n(7) A councillor must, within 12 months\nafter the councillor’s election, complete\nany course of mandatory core learning\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 12 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n18\nand development activities applicable to\nthe councillor under this section.\n(8) The Director may extend the period\nreferred to in subsection (7) if satisfied\nthat it would be appropriate in the\ncircumstances.\n(9) The Director may only approve a course\nunder this section if the Director has\nconsulted with the Local Government\nAssociation of Tasmania as to the\nsuitability of the course for councillors.\n28AC. Policy for continuing professional\ndevelopment\n(1) A council must adopt a policy in relation\nto the continuing professional\ndevelopment of councillors (a\ncontinuing professional development\npolicy) within 6 months after an ordinary\nelection.\n(2) A continuing professional development\npolicy for a council is to –\n(a) be prepared by the general\nmanager for the council; and\n(b) relate to matters relevant to\ncouncillors’ roles and\nresponsibilities under this or any\nother Act; and","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0002","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 2","content":"Local Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 13\n19\n(c) have regard to the professional\ndevelopment needs of\ncouncillors; and\n(d) include an estimate of the\nexpenditure to be spent in a\nfinancial year by the council in\nimplementing the policy.\n13. Part 3, Division 3AAA inserted\nAfter section 28J of the Principal Act, the\nfollowing Division is inserted in Part 3:\nDivision 3AAA – Councillor allowances and numbers\n28JAA. Allowances\n(1) A councillor is entitled to the allowance\nprescribed for the councillor’s allowance\nband.\n(2) The allowance band for a councillor is\nthe allowance band allocated to the\ncouncil as specified in Schedule 3, as\ndetermined in accordance with Schedule\n4.\n(3) A mayor and deputy mayor are entitled\nto any prescribed allowances in addition\nto any allowances referred to in\nsubsection (1).\n(4) Allowances are to be paid in arrears.\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 13 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n20\n(5) A councillor, mayor or deputy mayor\nmay, by written notice to the general\nmanager of the council, elect not to\nreceive all or part of an allowance.\n(6) A councillor who is suspended under this\nAct is not entitled to any allowance\nduring the period of suspension.\n(7) A person who is prohibited from\nperforming the functions or exercising\nthe powers of a councillor under\nsection 339C is not entitled to any\nallowance during the period of the\nprohibition.\n28JAB. Review of councillor allowances and\nnumbers\n(1) The Minister must undertake a review of\ncouncillor numbers and councillor\nallowances for all councils within the\nperiod commencing 12 months before,\nand ending 6 months before, the date of\nan ordinary election.\n(2) In conducting a review under this\nsection, the Minister must, in accordance\nwith Schedule 4, determine –\n(a) the aggregate score for each\ncouncil; and\n(b) the councillor number category\nfor each council; and\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 13\n21\n(c) the allowance band for each\ncouncil.\n(3) The Minister may recommend that the\nGovernor amend Schedule 3 by order\nunder section 28JAD to reflect –\n(a) the councillor number category\nand councillor numbers; and\n(b) the allowance band –\ndetermined in accordance with Schedule\n4.\n28JAC. Requests for reduction of councillor\nnumbers\n(1) A council that is in councillor number\ncategory 3 in column 4 of Schedule 3\nmay apply to the Minister for approval to\nreduce the number of councillors to be\nelected for the council to 5.\n(2) An application under subsection (1)\nmust –\n(a) be in writing, and\n(b) include evidence that the council\nhas resolved, by absolute\nmajority at an ordinary meeting\nof the council, to apply to reduce\nthe number of councillors; and\n(c) be made no later than 6 months\nbefore the day on which notice of\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 13 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n22\nthe next ordinary election is\ngiven.\n(3) If the Minister approves an application\nunder subsection (1), the Minister is to\nrecommend to the Governor that\nSchedule 3 be amended accordingly\nunder section 28JAD.\n(4) A council for which an order is made\nunder section 28JAD has 5 councillors\nfrom the next ordinary election following\nthe making of the order and continues to\nhave 5 councillors unless –\n(a) the council’s councillor number\ncategory is no longer category 3\nas a result of a review under\nsection 28JAB; or\n(b) the council applies to increase the\nnumber of councillors to 7.\n(5) An application under subsection (4)(b)\nmust –\n(a) be in writing; and\n(b) be made at least 8 years after the\norder under subsection (3) was\nmade; and\n(c) be made no later than 12 months\nbefore the day on which notice of\nthe next ordinary election is\ngiven; and\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 13\n23\n(d) include evidence that the council\nhas resolved, by absolute\nmajority at an ordinary meeting\nof the council, to apply to\nincrease the number of\ncouncillors.\n28JAD. Order to amend Schedule 3\n(1) The Governor, by order and on the\nrecommendation of the Minister, may\namend Schedule 3 by omitting, inserting\nor substituting one or more numbers\nspecified in column 4, column 5 or\ncolumn 8 of that Schedule.\n(2) A recommendation under subsection (1)\nmay be made as a result of –\n(a) a review under section 28JAB; or\n(b) an approval under section 28JAC.\n(3) An order under subsection (1) may\ncontain provisions of a savings or\ntransitional nature.\n(4) An order made under subsection (1) has\neffect despite any provision of this Act.\n(5) An amendment to Schedule 3 applies in\nrelation to the next ordinary election of\nthe relevant council following the\nmaking of the order and has effect from\nthe issue of the certificates of election for\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 14 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n24\nthat election, unless otherwise provided\nin the order.\n14. Section 28ZA amended (Initial assessment of code\nof conduct complaint)\nSection 28ZA of the Principal Act is amended as\nfollows:\n(a) by omitting from subsection (1)(f)\n“Panel.” and substituting “Panel;”;\n(b) by inserting the following paragraphs\nafter paragraph (f) in subsection (1):\n(g) refer the whole complaint to the\nDirector under section 28ZBA;\n(h) refer part of the complaint to the\nDirector under section 28ZBA.\n(c) by omitting from subsection (3)(b)(iii)\n“Officer.” and substituting “Officer;\nand”;\n(d) by inserting the following paragraph after\nparagraph (b) in subsection (3):\n(c) if the initial assessor has referred\nthe whole or part of the complaint\nto the Director, is to –\n(i) notify the councillor\nagainst whom the\ncomplaint is made, in\nwriting, of the result of\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 15\n25\nthe initial assessment and\nthe reasons for it; and\n(ii) provide a copy of the\ncomplaint to that\ncouncillor; and\n(iii) provide the Director with\na copy of the initial\nassessment of the\ncomplaint and all\ndocumentation and other\nevidence on which the\ninitial assessment was\nbased.\n15. Section 28ZBA inserted\nAfter section 28ZB of the Principal Act, the\nfollowing section is inserted in Subdivision 3:\n28ZBA. Referral of code of conduct complaint on\ninitial assessment to Director\nThe initial assessor for a code of conduct\ncomplaint, on an initial assessment, may\nrefer a code of conduct complaint, or part\nof it, to the Director if the initial assessor\nreasonably considers that the complaint\nincludes conduct that is capable of\namounting to serious councillor\nmisconduct.\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 16 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n26\n16. Sections 28ZHA and 28ZHB inserted\nAfter section 28ZH of the Principal Act, the\nfollowing sections are inserted in Subdivision 3:\n28ZHA. Referral of code of conduct complaint to\nDirector\nThe investigating Panel for a code of\nconduct complaint may, at any time,\nrefer a code of conduct complaint, or part\nof it, to the Director if the investigating\nPanel reasonably considers that the\ncomplaint includes conduct that is\ncapable of amounting to serious\ncouncillor misconduct.\n28ZHB. Referral of code of conduct complaint to\nother persons or authorities\n(1) The investigating Panel for a code of\nconduct complaint may, at any time\nduring the investigation of the complaint,\nrefer the complaint, or part of the\ncomplaint, to a person or other authority\nthat the investigating Panel considers\nappropriate if the investigating Panel\nreasonably considers that –\n(a) the complaint discloses that an\noffence may have been\ncommitted; or\n(b) the complaint would be more\nappropriately dealt with by that\nperson or authority.\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 17\n27\n(2) A person or other authority to whom a\ncode of conduct complaint is referred\nunder subsection (1) –\n(a) may accept or refuse the referral;\nand\n(b) must notify the investigating\nPanel for the code of conduct\ncomplaint of that acceptance or\nrefusal within 28 days after\nreceiving the referral.\n(3) If the person or other authority to whom\nthe code of conduct complaint is referred\ndoes not notify the investigating Panel as\nrequired by subsection (2)(b), the person\nor authority is taken to have accepted the\nreferral.\n(4) If the person or other authority accepts\nthe referral, the complaint, or the part of\nthe complaint referred, ceases to be a\ncode of conduct complaint.\n(5) If the person or other authority refuses\nthe referral, the investigating Panel for\nthe code of conduct complaint may\ncontinue its investigation of the\ncomplaint or part of the complaint.\n17. Section 28ZK amended (Notification of\ndetermination of code of conduct complaint)\nSection 28ZK of the Principal Act is amended as\nfollows:\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 17 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n28\n(a) by omitting subsections (6) and (7);\n(b) by omitting subsection (9);\n(c) by inserting in subsection (10)(a)(ii) “,\nthe Director” after “Officer”;\n(d) by omitting from subsection (10)(b)\n“paragraph (a)(ii); and” and substituting\n“paragraph (a)(ii).”;\n(e) by omitting paragraph (c) from\nsubsection (10);\n(f) by omitting subsection (11) and\nsubstituting the following subsection:\n(11) Subsection (10) does not apply to\nthe disclosure of a document,\nreport or information if at the\ntime of the disclosure –\n(a) the initial assessor has\ndismissed the code of\nconduct complaint to\nwhich the document,\nreport or information\nrelates; or\n(b) the determination report\nrelating to the document,\nreport or information, has\nbeen provided to persons\nas required under\nsubsection (2).\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 18\n29\n18. Part 3, Division 3B inserted\nAfter section 28ZP of the Principal Act, the\nfollowing Division is inserted in Part 3:\nDivision 3B – Serious councillor misconduct\nSubdivision 1 – Preliminary\n28ZQ. Interpretation\nIn this Division –\ncode of conduct referral means the\nreferral of a code of conduct\ncomplaint from –\n(a) an initial assessor to the\nDirector under\nsection 28ZBA; or\n(b) an investigating Panel to\nthe Director under\nsection 28ZHA;\ndecision-maker includes the following\npersons:\n(a) an initial assessor;\n(b) an investigating Panel;\n(c) the Director;\n(d) the Tasmanian Civil and\nAdministrative Tribunal.\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 18 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n30\n28ZR. Serious councillor misconduct\n(1) For the purposes of this Act, serious\ncouncillor misconduct means conduct,\nor an attempt to engage in conduct, by a\ncouncillor that is or involves a serious or\nsignificant contravention of the code of\nconduct.\n(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a\ndecision-maker is to have regard to the\nfollowing when determining whether\nconduct, or an attempt to engage in\nconduct, by a councillor constitutes a\nserious or significant contravention of the\ncode of conduct:\n(a) whether the conduct is unlawful;\n(b) the extent of any actual or\npotential harm or risk, caused as a\nconsequence of the conduct, to an\nindividual, the council or public\nsafety;\n(c) the degree to which the conduct\nimpacts negatively on the ability\nof the relevant council to perform\nits functions under this or any\nother Act;\n(d) whether the conduct involves –\n(i) deliberate and intentional\nmisuse of council\nresources, information, or\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 18\n31\nauthority, for personal\ngain; or\n(ii) undue influence on, or\ndetriment to, the council,\ncommunity or a\ncommunity member;\n(e) the nature and extent of any\nmaterial benefit or detriment\nderived by the councillor or\nothers as a result of the conduct;\n(f) whether the conduct is part of a\nrepeated pattern of contraventions\nor involves collusion with others,\nand the councillor’s role in such\ncollusion;\n(g) such other public interest\nconsiderations that the relevant\ndecision-maker considers\nrelevant.\n28ZS. Ministerial guidelines in relation to serious\ncouncillor misconduct\n(1) The Minister, by order, is to issue\nguidelines consistent with this Act to\nassist decision-makers in determining\nwhether conduct, or an attempt to engage\nin conduct, by a councillor constitutes a\nserious or significant contravention of the\ncode of conduct.\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 18 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n32\n(2) A decision-maker may have regard to\nany guidelines issued by the Minister\nunder this section.\n(3) The Minister, by order, may amend,\nrevoke, or revoke and substitute any\nguidelines made under this section.\n(4) Before making, amending or revoking\nand substituting an order, the Minister\nmust consult with –\n(a) councils; and\n(b) the public –\nas to the matters that the Minister is\nconsidering including in the order, the\namended order or the substitute order.\nSubdivision 2 – Assessment of serious councillor\nmisconduct\n28ZT. Assessment of serious councillor misconduct\n(1) If the Director receives a code of conduct\nreferral from an initial assessor or an\ninvestigating Panel in respect of the\nconduct of a councillor, the Director\nmust carry out an assessment of that\nconduct to determine whether to conduct\nan investigation.\n(2) After carrying out an assessment, the\nDirector may –\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 18\n33\n(a) if the Director determines that the\nconduct of the councillor is\ncapable of amounting to serious\ncouncillor misconduct, determine\nthat the Director will conduct an\ninvestigation into that conduct; or\n(b) if the Director determines that the\nconduct is not capable of\namounting to serious councillor\nmisconduct, refuse to conduct an\ninvestigation into the conduct; or\n(c) refer the complaint to another\nperson or authority if the Director\nconsiders that the complaint\nwould be more appropriately\ndealt with by that other person or\nauthority.\n(3) If the Director makes a determination\nunder subsection (2)(a) –\n(a) the complaint is taken to be a\ncomplaint made to the Director\nunder section 339E and ceases to\nbe a code of conduct complaint;\nand\n(b) the Director is to proceed under\nthat section and section 339EA in\nrelation to the complaint.\n(4) If the Director refuses under subsection\n(2)(b) to commence an investigation into\na councillor’s conduct, the Director must\nrefer the matter back to the initial\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 18 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n34\nassessor or the investigating Panel for the\ncode of conduct complaint.\n(5) If the Director does not make a decision\nunder subsection (2) within 28 days of\nreceiving a code of conduct referral, the\nDirector is to notify the initial assessor or\nthe investigating Panel and the\ncomplainant that the matter is still under\nconsideration.\n28ZU. Determination of Director following\ninvestigation of councillor conduct\n(1) After completing an investigation into a\ncouncillor’s conduct following a code of\nconduct referral, the Director may do any\nof the following:\n(a) make an application to the\nTasmanian Civil and\nAdministrative Tribunal under\nsection 28ZW;\n(b) refer the matter back to the initial\nassessor or the investigating\nPanel that made the initial\nreferral;\n(c) refer the matter to any other\nperson or authority;\n(d) dismiss the complaint.\n(2) A complaint that has been referred back\nto an initial assessor or an investigating\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 18\n35\nPanel under subsection (1)(b) is taken to\nbe a code of conduct complaint and\nceases to be a complaint to the Director\nunder section 339E.\n28ZV. Referral of complaints back to initial\nassessor or investigating Panel\n(1) If a complaint is referred back to an\ninitial assessor or an investigating Panel\nunder section 28ZT or 28ZU –\n(a) the Director must provide reasons\nto the initial assessor or\ninvestigating Panel for the\nreferral; and\n(b) if the complaint is referred back\nto an initial assessor, the initial\nassessor is to proceed under\nsection 28ZA in relation to that\ncomplaint within 14 days after\nthe referral of the matter; and\n(c) if the complaint is referred back\nto an investigating Panel, the\ninvestigating Panel is to proceed\nwith the investigation and\ndetermination of the complaint.\n(2) On doing a further initial assessment\nunder section 28ZA as required by\nsubsection (1)(b) –","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0003","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 3","content":"Local Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 18 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n36\n(a) the initial assessor is to comply\nwith section 28ZA as if doing a\nfirst initial assessment; and\n(b) if the initial assessor determined\non the original initial assessment\nto investigate a part of the code of\nconduct complaint and had\nnotified the councillor against\nwhom the complaint was made of\nthat determination, the initial\nassessor is to notify the councillor\nof the result of the further initial\nassessment in addition to any\nother notice that the initial\nassessor is required to provide\nunder section 28ZA.\n(3) If a complaint is referred back to an\ninvestigating Panel under section 28ZT\nor 28ZU, the investigating Panel is to\nnotify the complainant and the councillor\nagainst whom the complaint is made of\nthe referral back to the Panel as soon as\npracticable.\n(4) On resuming or continuing an\ninvestigation under subsection (1)(c), the\ninvestigating Panel may give any\ndirections it considers necessary for the\nfair and efficient investigation and\ndetermination of the complaint.\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 18\n37\nSubdivision 3 – Tribunal\n28ZW. Application to the Tasmanian Civil and\nAdministrative Tribunal\n(1) If, following an investigation under\nsection 339EA, the Director considers\nthat the conduct of a councillor amounts\nto serious councillor misconduct, the\nDirector may make an application to the\nTasmanian Civil and Administrative\nTribunal for a decision in relation to the\nmatter.\n(2) An application –\n(a) is to be made in writing; and\n(b) is to specify the particulars upon\nwhich the application is based;\nand\n(c) is to specify the orders sought and\nthe grounds for seeking those\norders; and\n(d) is to be lodged with the Registrar,\nwithin the meaning of the\nTasmanian Civil and\nAdministrative Tribunal Act\n2020.\n(3) The Director must, as soon as reasonably\npracticable after making an application\nunder this section in respect of the\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 18 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n38\nconduct of a councillor, give a copy of\nthat application to the councillor.\n(4) Unless otherwise specified in this Act,\nthe provisions of the Tasmanian Civil\nand Administrative Tribunal Act 2020\napply in relation to an application made\nto the Tasmanian Civil and\nAdministrative Tribunal under this\nsection.\n(5) At the hearing of an application under\nthis Subdivision, a party to the\napplication may be represented by an\nAustralian legal practitioner.\n28ZX. Orders of the Tasmanian Civil and\nAdministrative Tribunal\n(1) If, after hearing an application under this\nDivision in respect of a councillor, the\nTasmanian Civil and Administrative\nTribunal determines that a councillor has\nengaged in serious councillor\nmisconduct, the Tribunal may make a\nfinding of serious misconduct against the\ncouncillor and may make any one or\nmore of the following orders:\n(a) cautioning or reprimanding the\ncouncillor;\n(b) requiring the councillor to\napologise to the complainant or\nother person affected by the\ncontravention of the code of\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 18\n39\nconduct, in the manner and form\nspecified by the Tribunal;\n(c) requiring the councillor to\nparticipate in counselling or\nundertake a training course;\n(d) prohibiting the councillor from\nnominating as a candidate at any\nordinary election or by-election\nfor a period not exceeding 7\nyears;\n(e) dismissing the councillor from\noffice;\n(f) suspending the councillor from\noffice for a period of not less than\n3 months but not more than 6\nmonths;\n(g) imposing on the councillor a fine\nnot exceeding an amount\nequivalent to 50 penalty units.\n(2) If the Tasmanian Civil and\nAdministrative Tribunal makes a finding\nof serious misconduct against a\ncouncillor, it may make an order that all\nor any of the costs of proceedings be paid\nby the councillor and in making such\norder must take into account the nature\nand severity of the misconduct.\n(3) If, after hearing an application under this\nDivision in respect of a councillor, the\nTasmanian Civil and Administrative\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 18 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n40\nTribunal determines that the councillor\nhas not engaged in serious councillor\nmisconduct but has contravened the code\nof conduct, the Tribunal may make a\nfinding of misconduct against the\ncouncillor and may make any one or\nmore of the following orders:\n(a) cautioning or reprimanding the\ncouncillor;\n(b) requiring the councillor to\napologise to the complainant or\nother person affected by the\ncontravention of the code of\nconduct, in the manner and form\nspecified by the Tribunal;\n(c) requiring the councillor to attend\ncounselling or a training course;\n(d) suspending the councillor from\noffice for a period not exceeding\n3 months.\n(4) If the Tasmanian Civil and\nAdministrative Tribunal makes a finding\nagainst a councillor under subsection (3),\nthe Tribunal may decline to make an\norder under that subsection if satisfied\nthat it is not reasonable in the\ncircumstances to make such an order.\n(5) A person who, without reasonable\nexcuse, contravenes an order made under\nsubsection (1) or (3) is guilty of an\noffence.\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 19\n41\nPenalty: Fine not exceeding 50 penalty\nunits.\n(6) For the avoidance of doubt, the making\nof an order by the Tasmanian Civil and\nAdministrative Tribunal under this\nsection is within the original jurisdiction\nof the Tribunal.\n19. Section 45 amended (Election of councillors)\nSection 45 of the Principal Act is amended as\nfollows:\n(a) by omitting from subsection (3) “column\n5” and substituting “column 7”;\n(b) by omitting from subsection (4) “column\n5” and substituting “column 7”.\n20. Section 62 amended (Functions and powers of\ngeneral manager)\nSection 62(1) of the Principal Act is amended by\ninserting after paragraph (h) the following\nparagraph:\n(ha) to develop and maintain a workforce\ndevelopment plan that addresses the\nimmediate and long-term human\nresourcing requirements of the council;\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 21 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n42\n21. Section 62A amended (Order relating to general\nmanager’s functions generally)\nSection 62A(4) of the Principal Act is amended\nby inserting before paragraph (a) the following\nparagraph:\n(aa) section 20;\n22. Section 62B amended (Order relating to general\nmanager’s function to liaise with mayor)\nSection 62B(4) of the Principal Act is amended\nby inserting before paragraph (a) the following\nparagraph:\n(aa) section 20;\n23. Section 66 amended (Strategic plan)\nSection 66 of the Principal Act is amended by\nomitting subsection (3) and substituting the\nfollowing subsections:\n(2A) A strategic plan for a municipal area is to\nidentify community wellbeing priorities\nand specify strategies for achieving\noutcomes in relation to those priorities.\n(3) In preparing a proposed strategic plan, a\ncouncil is to –\n(a) consult with the community in its\nmunicipal area and any\nauthorities and bodies it considers\nappropriate; and\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 24\n43\n(b) have regard to the local\ngovernment charter, if any.\n(3A) A council is to undertake any\nconsultation under subsection (3)(a) in\naccordance with the council’s\ncommunity engagement strategy.\n24. Section 70DA inserted\nAfter section 70D of the Principal Act, the\nfollowing section is inserted in Division 2:\n70DA. Community engagement strategy\n(1) A council must establish and implement\na strategy for engagement with the\ncommunity when developing the\ncouncil’s plans, policies and programs\nand for the purpose of determining its\nmajor activities.\n(2) A council is to consult with the\ncommunity and any authorities and\nbodies it considers appropriate when\npreparing a proposed community\nengagement strategy or reviewing an\nestablished community engagement\nstrategy.\n(3) A community engagement strategy is to\ncontain –\n(a) strategies to ensure that the\ncommunity is informed about,\nand has reasonable opportunity to\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 25 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n44\ncontribute to, the decisions,\nactivities and services of the\ncouncil; and\n(b) principles and procedures that the\ncouncil will follow when\nengaging and consulting with the\ncommunity; and\n(c) such other matters as may be\nprescribed.\n25. Section 70E amended (Review of plans, strategies\nand policies)\nSection 70E(1) of the Principal Act is amended\nas follows:\n(a) by omitting from paragraph (f) “policy.”\nand substituting “policy; and”;\n(b) by inserting the following paragraph after\nparagraph (f):\n(g) community engagement strategy.\n26. Section 70F amended (Orders determining\nminimum contents of plans, &c., and classes of\nassets)\nSection 70F of the Principal Act is amended as\nfollows:\n(a) by omitting from subsection (1)(e)\n“policy.” and substituting “policy; or”;\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 27\n45\n(b) by inserting the following paragraphs\nafter paragraph (e) in subsection (1):\n(f) a community engagement\nstrategy; or\n(g) a continuing professional\ndevelopment policy; or\n(h) a workforce development plan.\n(c) by inserting the following subsection\nafter subsection (2):\n(2A) In an order under subsection (1),\nthe Minister may also specify\nrequirements in relation to the\npreparation, development,\nconsultation, review, contents and\npublication of all or any of the\nplans, strategies or policies\nreferred to in that subsection.\n27. Sections 84A and 84B inserted\nAfter section 84 of the Principal Act, the\nfollowing sections are inserted in Division 3:\n84A. Council performance reporting\n(1) The Minister, by order, may specify\nperformance reporting requirements that\nare to apply in relation to councils.\n(2) In an order under subsection (1), the\nMinister may specify –\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 27 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n46\n(a) the frequency and manner of\nperformance reporting by\ncouncils to the Minister; and\n(b) the scope and types of\nperformance indicators and\nmetrics that are to be used; and\n(c) the methodologies and protocols\nfor the measurement, reporting\nand presentation of performance\ndata.\n(3) A council must comply with any\nperformance reporting requirements\nspecified in an order under this section.\n(4) The Minister is to consult with councils\nas to the matters to be included in an\norder under this section.\n84B. Internal audit\n(1) The Minister, by order, may specify\nrequirements that are to apply to councils\nin relation to the conduct of internal\naudits.\n(2) The Minister is to consult with councils\nas to the matters to be included in an\norder under this section.\n(3) A council must conduct any internal\naudits in accordance with the\nrequirements specified in an order under\nthis section.\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 28\n47\n28. Section 122A inserted\nAfter section 122 of the Principal Act, the\nfollowing section is inserted in Division 9:\n122A. Order specifying information in rates notices\n(1) The Minister, by order, may specify the\ninformation that, in addition to the\ninformation required under section\n122(1), is to be included by the general\nmanager in a rates notice.\n(2) The Minister is to consult with councils\nas to the matters to be included in an\norder under this section.\n29. Section 214E amended (Result of review)\nSection 214E(1) of the Principal Act is amended\nby inserting after paragraph (m) the following\nparagraph:\n(ma) adjust or determine, in relation to a\nmunicipal area, the methodology to be\napplied under Schedule 4 for the\npurposes of determining the number of\ncouncillors or allowances;\n30. Section 214L amended (Recommendation for\nissuing performance improvement direction)\nSection 214L of the Principal Act is amended by\nomitting subsection (2) and substituting the\nfollowing subsection:\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 31 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n48\n(2) Without limiting the situations in which\nthe Director may make a\nrecommendation under subsection (1),\nthe Director may make a\nrecommendation under that subsection if,\nin the Director’s opinion, the council or\ncouncillor has failed to comply with a\nstatutory requirement under this or any\nother Act or under subordinate legislation\nmade under this or any other Act.\n31. Section 214O amended (Consequences of failing to\ncomply with performance improvement direction)\nSection 214O(1) of the Principal Act is amended\nby inserting after paragraph (a) the following\nparagraph:\n(ab) appoint a temporary advisor to the\ncouncil under section 214Q for such\nperiod as the Minister determines;\n32. Part 12C inserted\nAfter section 214O of the Principal Act, the\nfollowing Part is inserted:\nPART 12C – TEMPORARY ADVISORS\n214P. Recommendation to appoint temporary\nadvisor\n(1) The Director may recommend to the\nMinister that a temporary advisor be\nappointed to a council to assist in\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 32\n49\naddressing emerging governance or\noperational issues at the council.\n(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the\nDirector may make a recommendation\nunder that subsection if –\n(a) in the Director’s opinion there is\nevidence that suggests emerging\ngovernance or operational\ndeficiencies at the council that, if\nnot addressed, may negatively\naffect the effective delivery of the\ncouncil’s functions and services\nto the community; or\n(b) the council has requested the\nappointment of a temporary\nadvisor.\n(3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(a),\nevidence of emerging governance or\noperational deficiencies may include, but\nis not limited to –\n(a) ongoing or unresolved conflicts\namong councillors or between\ncouncillors and council\nemployees that disrupt effective\ndecision-making; and\n(b) governance practices that risk\nundermining transparency,\naccountability or compliance with\nthe principles of sound and\nprudent management necessary to\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 32 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n50\ndeliver the council’s functions;\nand\n(c) financial management practices\nthat indicate potential risks to the\ncouncil’s financial sustainability;\nand\n(d) credible complaints, reports or\nother information that suggests\nsystemic operational challenges.\n(4) A recommendation under subsection (1)\nmust include –\n(a) the grounds for the\nrecommendation; and\n(b) a summary of the evidence or\nobservations, such as complaints,\nreports, or patterns of conduct, on\nwhich the recommendation is\nbased.\n214Q. Appointment of temporary advisor\n(1) Before appointing a temporary advisor,\nthe Minister must –\n(a) give written notice to the council\nthat the appointment of a\ntemporary advisor is proposed;\nand\n(b) set out in the notice the grounds\nfor the proposed appointment,\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 32\n51\nincluding a summary of the\nmatters relied upon; and\n(c) invite the council to make written\nsubmissions to the Minister in\nrelation to the proposed\nappointment; and\n(d) allow the council a period of not\nless than 14 days after the notice\nis given to make those\nsubmissions.\n(2) The Minister must consider any written\nsubmissions made by the council within\nthe period referred to in subsection (1)(d)\nbefore deciding whether to appoint a\ntemporary advisor.\n(3) The Minister may, after complying with\nsubsections (1) and (2), appoint a\ntemporary advisor to a council on such\nterms and conditions as the Minister\ndetermines.\n214R. Functions and powers of temporary advisors\n(1) A temporary advisor has the following\nfunctions in respect of a council:\n(a) to monitor the council’s\ngovernance processes and\nmatters;\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 32 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n52\n(b) to advise the council about\ngovernance improvements that\nthe council should make;\n(c) to provide general assistance and\nadvice to the council on good\ngovernance practices;\n(d) such functions as are specified in\nthe temporary advisor’s\ninstrument of appointment;\n(e) such other functions as may be\nconferred on the temporary\nadvisor under this Act or any\nother Act.\n(2) A temporary advisor has the power to do\nall things necessary or convenient to be\ndone in connection with, or incidental to,\nthe performance of the functions of a\ntemporary advisor.\n(3) For the purposes of this Act and without\nlimiting subsection (2), a temporary\nadvisor may –\n(a) enter and remain on council\npremises to perform any function\nor exercise any power under this\nAct; and\n(b) attend meetings of a council or\ncouncil committee, including\nmeetings that are closed to the\npublic; and","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0004","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 4","content":"Local Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 32\n53\n(c) require records and documents\nrelating to the council’s\ngovernance processes and matters\nto be provided to the temporary\nadvisor.\n(4) If a temporary advisor is appointed to a\ncouncil, the council, councillors and\nemployees of the council are required to\nco-operate with the temporary advisor\nand to provide any information or\nassistance that the temporary advisor\nreasonably requires to perform or\nexercise the temporary advisor’s\nfunctions or powers.\n(5) A person must not obstruct or hinder a\ntemporary advisor in the exercise of a\npower or the performance of a function\nunder this Act.\nPenalty: Fine not exceeding 50 penalty\nunits.\n214S. Report by temporary advisor\n(1) A temporary advisor is to submit a final\nreport to the Minister by the day\nspecified in the temporary advisor’s\nappointment.\n(2) The final report is to include the\nfollowing:\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 33 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n54\n(a) any findings made by the\ntemporary advisor in respect of\nthe council;\n(b) details of any action that the\ntemporary advisor recommends\nbe taken, and the reasons for that\naction;\n(c) if the temporary advisor does not\nrecommend that any action be\ntaken, the reasons for that\nrecommendation.\n214T. Cost of temporary advisor\nThe Minister may require a council to\npay any costs associated with the\nappointment of, and the performance of\nfunctions by, a temporary advisor under\nthis Part.\n33. Section 291 substituted\nSection 291 of the Principal Act is repealed and\nthe following section is substituted:\n291. Assistance to electors\n(1) The Electoral Commissioner may\napprove any procedures that are\nreasonable and appropriate to assist an\nelector whose sight is so impaired or who\nis so physically incapacitated or illiterate\nthat the elector is unable to vote without\nassistance.\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 34\n55\n(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the\nprocedures may include voting in\naccordance with Division 7.\n34. Section 296 substituted\nSection 296 of the Principal Act is repealed and\nthe following Division is substituted:\nDivision 7 – Alternative voting\n296. Interpretation of Division\nIn this Division –\naccessibility and inclusion\norganisation means –\n(a) an organisation or peak\nbody that focuses on\nadvocacy, support or\nservices for people with\ndiverse needs (whether\narising from disability,\nimpairment or other\ncircumstances); and\n(b) any other group or body\napproved for the purposes\nof this definition;\nalternative voting procedure means a\nvoting procedure approved by the\nTasmanian Electoral Commission\nunder this Division;\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 34 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n56\nremote voting area means –\n(a) the Australian Antarctic\nTerritory, including\nMacquarie Island and the\nTerritory of Heard Island\nand McDonald Islands;\nand\n(b) a ship in transit to or from\na place mentioned in\nparagraph (a) that has\nbeen declared by the\nTasmanian Electoral\nCommission to be an\nAntarctic ship; and\n(c) an area within Tasmania\ndeclared by the\nTasmanian Electoral\nCommission to be a\nremote voting area; and\n(d) an area outside of\nTasmania but within\nAustralia declared by the\nTasmanian Electoral\nCommission to be a\nremote voting area; and\n(e) an area outside of\nAustralia declared by the\nTasmanian Electoral\nCommission to be a\nremote voting area.\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 34\n57\n297. Tasmanian Electoral Commission may\napprove alternative voting procedures\n(1) Subject to this section, the Tasmanian\nElectoral Commission may approve\nalternative voting procedures considered\nnecessary and appropriate in the\ncircumstances, including, but not limited\nto, electronic voting methods such as\nonline voting or voting by telephone, to\nenable –\n(a) electors, or classes of electors, in\na remote voting area, to vote at an\nelection by an alternative method;\nand\n(b) electors, or classes of electors,\nwho the Tasmanian Electoral\nCommission is satisfied do not\nhave a reasonable opportunity to\nvote at an election under any\nother provisions of this Act, to\nvote at an election by an\nalternative method.\n(2) The Tasmanian Electoral Commission\nmay act under subsection (1) –\n(a) on its own motion; or\n(b) on the request of an accessibility\nand inclusion organisation.\n(3) Before acting under subsection (1)(b),\nthe Tasmanian Electoral Commission is\nto, as far as is practicable, consult with\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 34 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n58\nany accessibility and inclusion\norganisation that the Commission\nconsiders necessary and appropriate.\n(4) The Tasmanian Electoral Commission\nmust not approve any proposed\nalternative voting procedure under\nsubsection (1) unless the Commission is\nsatisfied that –\n(a) the approval is warranted, having\nregard to –\n(i) the practicality, security\nand integrity of the\nproposed alternative\nvoting procedure; and\n(ii) the resources required to\nestablish, implement and\nmaintain the proposed\nalternative voting\nprocedure; and\n(iii) the technological\ncapacity, cost-\neffectiveness and\noperational feasibility of\nthe proposed alternative\nvoting procedure; and\n(iv) the risks and mitigations\nassociated with the\nproposed alternative\nvoting procedure; and\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 34\n59\n(b) as far as practicable, the proposed\nalternative voting procedure\nprovides for –\n(i) the authentication and\nverification of the vote of\nan elector; and\n(ii) the preservation of the\nsecrecy of the vote of an\nelector; and\n(iii) the security of data\ntransmission.\n298. Entitlement to vote by alternative voting\nprocedures\nAn elector enabled to vote at an election\nunder alternative voting procedures is\nentitled to vote in accordance with those\nprocedures.\n298A. Counting of votes cast by alternative voting\nprocedures\nA vote cast by an elector in accordance\nwith alternative voting procedures, and\ntransmitted or forwarded to the\nTasmanian Electoral Commission in\naccordance with procedures approved\nunder section 297(1), is taken to be a\npostal vote and is to be counted\naccordingly for the purposes of the\nelection.\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 34 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n60\n298B. Application of Act to votes cast under\nalternative voting procedures\n(1) A vote cast in accordance with\nalternative voting procedures is taken to\ncomply with any requirement under this\nAct relating to –\n(a) the marking or numbering of\nboxes on a ballot paper; and\n(b) the use of envelopes for the return\nof ballot papers; and\n(c) the signing of declarations by\nelectors.\n(2) A vote cast electronically in accordance\nwith alternative voting procedures is\ntaken to be received by the Tasmanian\nElectoral Commission when it is\nsuccessfully recorded in accordance with\nthose procedures.\n298C. Confidentiality of votes cast under\nalternative voting procedures\nA person who becomes aware of how an\nelector voted at an election using\nalternative voting procedures must not\ndisclose that information to any other\nperson, except in accordance with a\nprocedure approved under\nsection 297(1).\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 34\n61\nPenalty: Fine not exceeding 10 penalty\nunits.\n298D. Publication of alternative voting procedures\nThe Tasmanian Electoral Commission is\nto publish on its website a statement\nsetting out –\n(a) the alternative voting procedures\nand the electors or classes of\nelectors to whom they apply; and\n(b) a summary of any consultation\nundertaken by the Tasmanian\nElectoral Commission under\nsection 297(3); and\n(c) information about compliance\nwith this Division; and\n(d) any other information approved\nfor publication relating to access\nby electors to alternative voting\nprocedures.\n298E. Independent auditing of alternative voting\nprocedures\n(1) The Tasmanian Electoral Commission\nmust engage an independent person (the\nindependent auditor) to conduct audits\nof any information technology used\nunder any approved voting procedures to\nrecord, transmit, store or count votes.\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 34 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n62\n(2) Audits under this section are to be\nconducted and the results of those audits\nmust be provided to the Tasmanian\nElectoral Commission –\n(a) at least 7 days before voting\nopens in each ordinary election at\nwhich approved alternative\nvoting methods will be used; and\n(b) within 60 days after the last\ndeclaration of the result of an\nelection at which approved\nalternative voting methods were\nused.\n(3) Without limiting the content of the audit,\nthe independent auditor must determine\nwhether test votes cast in accordance\nwith the alternative voting procedures\nwere accurately reflected in the\ncorresponding test ballot-papers\nproduced under those procedures.\n298F. Independent monitoring of alternative\nvoting procedures\n(1) The Tasmanian Electoral Commission\nmay appoint one or more independent\npersons (an independent monitor) to\nmonitor and observe the alternative\nvoting procedures used at an election,\nincluding the counting of votes cast and\nthe general operation of the alternative\nvoting procedures.\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 35\n63\n(2) An independent monitor must report to\nthe Tasmanian Electoral Commissioner\nand may make recommendations about\nthe alternative voting procedures,\nincluding but not limited to the\neffectiveness, security and accessibility\nof the procedures.\n35. Section 338AA amended (Director may require\ninformation, &c., for purposes of investigation)\nSection 338AA(1) of the Principal Act is\namended by inserting “carrying out an\nassessment under section 28ZT or” after\n“purposes of”.\n36. Section 338A amended (Disclosure of information)\nSection 338A of the Principal Act is amended as\nfollows:\n(a) by inserting the following subsections\nafter subsection (1):\n(1A) Except as required or permitted\nby this Act, another Act or any\nother law, a councillor who\nattends a meeting of a council or\ncouncil committee that is closed\nto the public through the use of\nelectronic means of\ncommunication must take\nreasonable steps to ensure that no\nother person is able to hear or\nview the meeting or otherwise\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 36 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n64\naccess the discussions of the\nmeeting.\nPenalty: Fine not exceeding 50\npenalty units.\n(1B) Subsection (1A) does not apply if\na majority of councillors present\nat the meeting agree that the other\nperson may attend, hear or view\nthe meeting.\n(1C) For the purposes of subsection\n(1A), reasonable steps by a\ncouncillor include, but are not\nlimited to, the councillor –\n(a) attending the meeting –\n(i) from a private and\nsecure location\nwhere other\npersons cannot\noverhear or\nobserve the\nmeeting or\notherwise access\nthe meeting\ndiscussion; and\n(ii) through the use of\nprescribed secure\ncommunication\ntechnology and\nprescribed secure\naudio technology,\nif any; and\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 36\n65\n(iii) in accordance with\nany prescribed\nrequirements or\nprocedures; and\n(b) ensuring that no audio or\naudiovisual recording of\nthe meeting, or any part of\nit, is made and that no\ntranscript of the meeting\nis produced from any such\nrecording.\n(1D) Subsection (1) applies to a person\nwho is permitted to attend, hear\nor view a meeting or part of a\nmeeting of a council or council\ncommittee that is closed to the\npublic as if the person were a\ncouncillor.\n(b) by inserting in subsection (2) “or (1A)”\nafter “subsection (1)”;\n(c) by inserting the following subsection\nafter subsection (4):\n(5) Except as required, or allowed,\nby this Act, another Act or any\nother law, a temporary advisor\nmust not disclose information\nacquired in that capacity on the\ncondition that it be kept\nconfidential.\nPenalty: Fine not exceeding 50\npenalty units.\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 37 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n66\n37. Section 338B inserted\nAfter section 338A of the Principal Act, the\nfollowing section is inserted in Division 3:\n338B. Disclosure of information for code of\nconduct complaints\n(1) Despite any other provision of this Act or\nany other Act, a person who attends a\nmeeting, or part of a meeting, of a\ncouncil or a council committee that is\nclosed to members of the public may\ndisclose information obtained at the\nmeeting or part of the meeting if the\ndisclosure is made for the purpose of –\n(a) making a code of conduct\ncomplaint; or\n(b) assisting in the consideration,\ninvestigation or determination of\na code of conduct complaint.\n(2) A disclosure made in accordance with\nsubsection (1) does not constitute a\nbreach of any obligation of\nconfidentiality arising from the meeting\nor part of the meeting.\n38. Section 339 amended (Improper use of information)\nSection 339(2A) of the Principal Act is amended\nby inserting “or any investigation by the Director\nunder this Act” after “investigation”.\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 39\n67\n39. Section 339EA amended (Investigations of\ncomplaints and other matters)\nSection 339EA(4) of the Principal Act is\namended by inserting “the carrying out of an\nassessment under section 28ZT,” after “from”.\n40. Section 340A repealed\nSection 340A of the Principal Act is repealed.\n41. Section 341 amended (Immunity from liability)\nSection 341 of the Principal Act is amended as\nfollows:\n(a) by inserting the following paragraph after\nparagraph (d) in subsection (1):\n(da) a temporary advisor; or\n(b) by inserting in subsection (3) “a\ntemporary advisor,” after “Panel,”.\n42. Section 349D inserted\nAfter section 349C of the Principal Act, the\nfollowing section is inserted in Division 3:\n349D. Transitional provisions consequent on Local\nGovernment Amendment (Targeted Reform)\nAct 2026\nThe savings and transitional provisions\nset out in Schedule 8B have effect.\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 43 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n68\n43. Schedule 3 substituted\nSchedule 3 to the Principal Act is repealed and\nthe following Schedule is substituted:\nSCHEDULE 3 – MUNICIPAL AREAS, COUNCILS\nAND ELECTORAL DISTRICTS\nSections 16, 17, 18, 25, 28JAA and 45\nCOLUM\nN 1\nCOLUMN 2 COLUMN 3 COLUMN 4 COLUMN 5 COLUMN 6 COLUMN 7 COLUMN 8\nItem Municipal\nareas\nCouncil\nnames\nCouncillor\nnumber\ncategory\nNo. of\nCouncillors\nElectoral\ndistricts\nNo. of\nCouncillors\nfor each\nelectoral\ndistrict\nAllowance\nbands\n1. Break O’Day\nCPR 2470\nBreak O’Day\nCouncil\n2 7 ... ... 2.2\n2. Brighton CPR\n2477\nBrighton\nCouncil\n2 7 ... ... 2.2\n3. Burnie CPR\n2049\nBurnie City\nCouncil\n2 7 ... ... 2.1\n4. Central Coast\nCPR 2614\nCentral Coast\nCouncil\n2 7 ... ... 2.1\n5. Central\nHighlands\nCPR 2463\nCentral\nHighlands\nCouncil\n3 7 ... ... 2.4\n6. Circular Head\nCPR 2465\nCircular Head\nCouncil\n2 7 ... ... 2.2\n7. Clarence CPR\n2976\nClarence City\nCouncil\n1 9 ... ... 1.1\n8. Derwent\nValley CPR\n2481\nDerwent\nValley\nCouncil\n2 7 ... ... 2.2\n9. Devonport\nCPR 3658\nDevonport\nCity Council\n2 7 ... ... 2.1\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 43\n69\n10. Dorset CPR\n2484\nDorset\nCouncil\n2 7 ... ... 2.3\n11. Flinders CPR\n2978\nFlinders\nCouncil\n3 7 ... ... 2.4\n12. George Town\nCPR 10734\nGeorge Town\nCouncil\n2 7 ... ... 2.3\n13. Glamorgan-\nSpring Bay\nCPR 2473\nGlamorgan-\nSpring Bay\nCouncil\n2 7 ... ... 2.3\n14. Glenorchy\nCPR 9815\nGlenorchy\nCity Council\n1 9 ... ... 1.2\n15. Hobart CPR\n9814\nHobart City\nCouncil\n1 9 ... ... 1.1\n16. Huon Valley\nCPR 2469\nHuon Valley\nCouncil\n2 7 ... ... 2.2\n17. Kentish CPR\n2979\nKentish\nCouncil\n2 7 ... ... 2.3\n18. King Island\nCPR 1790\nKing Island\nCouncil\n3 7 ... ... 2.4\n19. Kingborough\nCPR 2478\nKingborough\nCouncil\n1 9 ... ... 1.2\n20. Latrobe CPR\n3657\nLatrobe\nCouncil\n2 7 ... ... 2.2\n21. Launceston\nCPR 10733\nLaunceston\nCity Council\n1 9 ... ... 1.1\n22. Meander\nValley CPR\n2467\nMeander\nValley\nCouncil\n2 7 ... ... 2.2\n23. Northern\nMidlands\nCPR 2482\nNorthern\nMidlands\nCouncil\n2 7 ... ... 2.2\n24. Sorell\nCPR 3510\nSorell\nCouncil\n2 7 ... ... 2.2\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 44 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n70\n25. Southern\nMidlands\nCPR 2486\nSouthern\nMidlands\nCouncil\n2 7 ... ... 2.3\n26. Tasman CPR\n2981\nTasman\nCouncil\n3 7 ... ... 2.4\n27. Waratah-\nWynyard\nCPR 2488\nWaratah-\nWynyard\nCouncil\n2 7 ... ... 2.2\n28. West\nCoast\nCPR 2489\nWest Coast\nCouncil\n3 7 ... ... 2.4\n29. West\nTamar\nCPR 2982\nWest Tamar\nCouncil\n2 7 ... ... 2.1\n44. Schedule 4 inserted\nAfter Schedule 3B to the Principal Act, the\nfollowing Schedule is inserted:\nSCHEDULE 4 – METHODOLOGY FOR\nDETERMINING COUNCILLOR NUMBERS AND\nALLOWANCES\nSections 28JAA and 28JAB\n1. Aggregate score\n(1) For the purposes of sections 28JAA and\n28JAB, each council is to be allocated an\naggregate score in accordance with this\nclause.\n(2) A council’s aggregate score is the sum of\nthe scores applicable to the council under\neach metric specified in Table 1.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0005","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 5","content":"Local Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 44\n71\n(3) The score applicable to a council for a\nmetric is the score specified in column 4\nof Table 1 that corresponds to the\nbenchmark in column 3 of that table\napplicable to the council for the metric\nspecified in column 2 of that table.\nTable 1\nColumn 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4\nItem Metric Benchmark Score\n1. Population size Less than 15,000 1\n15,000–24,999 2\n25,000–34,999 3\n35,000–54,999 4\n55,000 or more 5\n2. Total number of rateable\nproperties\nLess than 10,000 0.5\n10,000–19,999 1\n20,000 or more 1.5\n3. 5-year average value of\napproved development\napplications ($ million)\nLess than 50 1\n50–99 2\n100 or more 3\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 44 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n72\n4. Written down value of\ninfrastructure assets ($\nmillion)\nLess than 150 1\n150–399 2\n400 or more 3\n5. Urbanisation Rural small 1\nRural large 2\nUrban 3\n6. Kilometres of road Less than 100 km 0.5\n100–249 km 1\n250 km or more 1.5\n2. Interpretation of Table 1\n(1) In Table 1 –\npopulation size means the estimated\nresident population of the\nmunicipal area, as most recently\npublished by the Australian\nBureau of Statistics;\ntotal number of rateable properties\nmeans the number of rateable\nproperties in the municipal area;\n5-year average value of approved\ndevelopment applications means\nthe average, over 5 financial\nyears, of the total value of\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 44\n73\ndevelopment applications\napproved by the council;\nwritten down value of infrastructure\nassets means the value, after\ndepreciation, of the council’s\ninfrastructure assets, including\nstormwater assets, roads and\nbridges, and plant and equipment;\nurbanisation means the classification\nof the municipal area under the\nsimplified Australian Local\nGovernment Classification\nsystem;\nkilometres of road means the total\nlength, in kilometres, of roads for\nwhich the council is responsible,\nincluding urban and rural roads.\n(2) The value of a metric for a council is to\nbe determined by reference to the most\nrecent available data published or\notherwise held by the Department.\n(3) The Minister may determine the data to\nbe used for the purposes of Table 1 if the\ndata referred to in subclause (2) is\nunavailable or unreliable.\n3. Councillor number categories\nA council is to be allocated a councillor\nnumber category specified in column 3\nof Table 2 based on its aggregate score\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 44 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n74\nfalling within the range specified in\ncolumn 2 of that table.\nTable 2\nColumn 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4\nItem Aggregate\nscore\nCouncillor\nnumber\ncategory\nCouncillors\nelected\n1 14 –20 1 9\n2 6.5 –13.5 2 7\n3 less than 6.5 3 7\n4. Councillor allowance bands\n(1) A council is allocated to an allowance\nband specified in column 3 of Table 3\nbased on its aggregate score falling\nwithin the range specified in column 2 of\nthat table.\n(2) A councillor’s allowance band is the\nallowance band allocated to the council\nunder subclause (1).\nTable 3\nColumn 1 Column 2 Column 3\nItem Aggregate score Allowance\nband\n1. 16–20 1.1\n2. 14–15.5 1.2\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 45\n75\nColumn 1 Column 2 Column 3\nItem Aggregate score Allowance\nband\n3. 11.5–13.5 2.1\n4. 8.5–11 2.2\n5. 6.5–8 2.3\n6. less than 6.5 2.4\n45. Schedule 8B inserted\nAfter Schedule 8A to the Principal Act, the\nfollowing Schedule is inserted:\nSCHEDULE 8B – SAVINGS AND TRANSITIONAL\nPROVISIONS CONSEQUENT ON LOCAL\nGOVERNMENT AMENDMENT (TARGETED REFORM)\nACT 2026\nSection 349D\n1. Interpretation of Schedule\nIn this Schedule –\namendment Act means the Local\nGovernment Amendment\n(Targeted Reform) Act 2026.\n2. Reference to alderman or aldermen\n(1) In any Act, statutory rule, by-law or other\ninstrument made under an Act, a\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 45 Part 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended\n76\nreference to an alderman or aldermen is\ntaken to be a reference to a councillor or\ncouncillors, as the case requires.\n(2) This clause does not affect the validity of\nany appointment, election, act or decision\nmade before the commencement of this\nclause.\n3. Effect of certain consequential amendments\nThe amendment by the amendment Act\nof a provision of any regulations does not\nprevent that or any other provision of\nthose regulations from being amended or\nrescinded by a subsequent regulation.\n4. Transitional number of councillors\n(1) In this clause –\ncommencement day means the day on\nwhich section 43 of the\namendment Act commences;\nnext ordinary election means the next\nordinary election held after the\ncommencement day.\n(2) Despite the amendments to this Act made\nby the amendment Act, the number of\ncouncillors for a council is, until\nimmediately before the day on which the\ncertificate of election for the next\nordinary election is issued, to be the\nsame as the number of councillors for the\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 2 – Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 45\n77\ncouncil immediately before the\ncommencement day.\n(3) On and from the day on which the\ncertificate of election for the next\nordinary election is issued, the number of\ncouncillors for a council is to be\ndetermined in accordance with this Act\nas amended by the amendment Act.\n(4) This clause does not affect the validity of\nanything done by or in relation to\ncouncillors holding office before the day\non which the certificate of election for\nthe next ordinary election is issued.\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 46 Part 3 – Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2020 Amended\n78\nPART 3 – TASMANIAN CIVIL AND\nADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL ACT 2020 AMENDED\n46. Principal Act\nIn this Part, the Tasmanian Civil and\nAdministrative Tribunal Act 2020* is referred to\nas the Principal Act.\n47. Schedule 2 amended (General Division)\nSchedule 2 to the Principal Act is amended as\nfollows:\n(a) by omitting paragraph (f) from clause 2\nof Part 5 and substituting the following\nparagraph:\n(f) sections 28ZJ, 28ZP, 28ZW and\n28ZX of the Local Government\nAct 1993;\n(b) by inserting in clause 3(m) of Part 8 “,\n28ZW, 28ZX” after “28ZP”.\n_______________________________________________________________\n*No. 24 of 2020\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 4 – Local Government (General) Regulations 2025 Amended s. 48\n79\nPART 4 – LOCAL GOVERNMENT (GENERAL)\nREGULATIONS 2025 AMENDED\n48. Principal Regulations\nIn this Part, the Local Government (General)\nRegulations 2025* are referred to as the\nPrincipal Regulations.\n49. Regulation 49 amended (Allowances for elected\nmembers)\nRegulation 49 of the Principal Regulations is\namended as follows:\n(a) by omitting “2025” from the definition of\ncurrent period in subregulation (1) and\nsubstituting “2026”;\n(b) by omitting subregulation (2) and\nsubstituting the following subregulation:\n(2) For the purposes of section\n28JAA of the Act, the allowance\nfor a councillor, or the additional\nallowance for a mayor or deputy\nmayor, is –\n(a) for the 12-month period\ncommencing on 1\nNovember 2026, the\namount calculated by\nmultiplying the amount\nspecified for the relevant\n_______________________________________________________________\n*S.R. 2025, No. 24\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 50 Part 4 – Local Government (General) Regulations 2025 Amended\n80\nallowance band in\nSchedule 4 by the\ninflationary factor for the\n2026 calendar year and\nrounding the resulting\namount to the nearest\nwhole dollar; and\n(b) for each subsequent\ncurrent period, the amount\ncalculated by multiplying\nthe allowance for the\nprevious period by the\ninflationary factor for the\ncalendar year in which the\ncurrent period commences\nand rounding the resulting\namount to the nearest\nwhole dollar.\n50. Schedule 4 substituted\nSchedule 4 to the Principal Regulations is\nrescinded and the following Schedule is\nsubstituted:\nSCHEDULE 4 – ALLOWANCES FOR ELECTED\nMEMBERS\nRegulation 49\nColumn 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4\nAllowance\nband\nAllowance for\nCouncillors\nAdditional\nallowance for\nDeputy Mayors\nAdditional\nallowance\nfor Mayors\n1.1 52 951 29 932 115 869\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 4 – Local Government (General) Regulations 2025 Amended s. 50\n81\n1.2 42 869 26 071 93 798\n2.1 32 463 22 209 71 038\n2.2 22 064 18 334 48 277\n2.3 18 440 15 449 40 353\n2.4 15 529 13 518 33 981\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 51 Part 5 – Local Government (Meeting Procedures) Regulations 2025\nAmended\n82\nPART 5 – LOCAL GOVERNMENT (MEETING\nPROCEDURES) REGULATIONS 2025 AMENDED\n51. Principal Regulations\nIn this Part, the Local Government (Meeting\nProcedures) Regulations 2025* are referred to as\nthe Principal Regulations.\n52. Regulation 3 amended (Interpretation)\nRegulation 3 of the Principal Regulations is\namended by inserting after the definition of\nassociated reports and documents the following\ndefinitions:\naudio link has the same meaning as in the\nEvidence (Audio and Audio Visual Links)\nAct 1999;\naudio visual link has the same meaning as in\nthe Evidence (Audio and Audio Visual\nLinks) Act 1999;\n53. Regulation 31 amended (Voting procedure)\nRegulation 31(2) of the Principal Regulations is\namended by inserting “that enables each\ncouncillor present at the meeting to vote” after\n“determines”.\n_______________________________________________________________\n*S.R. 2025, No. 25\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 5 – Local Government (Meeting Procedures) Regulations 2025 Amended s. 54\n83\n54. Regulation 45 substituted\nRegulation 45 of the Principal Regulations is\nrescinded and the following regulations are\nsubstituted:\n45. Requirement to attend meetings in person\nSubject to regulations 45A and 45B, a\ncouncillor is required to attend a meeting\nin person.\n45A. Participation in meetings by audio or audio\nvisual link\n(1) If a meeting is to be conducted in person,\na councillor may request the\nauthorisation of the chairperson to attend\nthe meeting, or part of the meeting, by\naudio link or audio visual link.\n(2) A request under subregulation (1) must –\n(a) state the reason for the request;\nand\n(b) specify the date of the meeting to\nwhich the request relates; and\n(c) be submitted to the chairperson\nnot less than 2 hours before the\ncommencement of the meeting to\nwhich the request relates; and\n(d) be in writing.\n(3) A request under subregulation (1) may\nonly be made if the councillor is unable\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 54 Part 5 – Local Government (Meeting Procedures) Regulations 2025\nAmended\n84\nto attend the meeting in person due to\none or more of the following reasons:\n(a) a natural disaster, severe weather\nevent or road closure preventing,\nor likely to prevent, the councillor\nfrom safely attending the meeting\nin person;\n(b) the councillor being outside\nTasmania as a consequence of the\ncouncillor’s ordinary\nemployment;\n(c) the councillor’s in-person\nattendance at the meeting would\nrisk the health or safety of –\n(i) the councillor; or\n(ii) another person attending\nthe meeting;\n(d) the councillor, the councillor’s\nspouse or partner, or a member of\nthe councillor’s family, being\nrequired to travel for medical\ntreatment;\n(e) the councillor being required to\ntravel for compassionate reasons;\n(f) the councillor being required to\nprovide care or support to a\nmember of the councillor’s\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 5 – Local Government (Meeting Procedures) Regulations 2025 Amended s. 54\n85\nfamily or to the councillor’s\nspouse or partner;\n(g) the councillor suffering from an\ninjury.\n(4) Before the meeting to which the request\nrelates, the chairperson is to –\n(a) grant the authorisation if\nreasonably satisfied that the\ncouncillor has provided a reason\nspecified in subregulation (3); or\n(b) refuse to grant the authorisation if\n–\n(i) not reasonably satisfied\nthat a reason specified in\nsubregulation (3) has been\nprovided; or\n(ii) reasonably satisfied that\nthe councillor would be\nunable to comply with\nregulation 45C.\n(5) The chairperson may, during a meeting,\nrevoke with immediate effect an\nauthorisation granted under subregulation\n(4)(a) if the chairperson forms the\nopinion that the councillor is not\nproviding, or is unable to provide, the\ncouncillor’s full attention to the conduct\nof the meeting.\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 54 Part 5 – Local Government (Meeting Procedures) Regulations 2025\nAmended\n86\n(6) A councillor attending a meeting, or part\nof a meeting, by audio link or audio\nvisual link in accordance with this\nregulation is taken to be present at the\nmeeting if the councillor is able to hear\nand be heard by the other persons\nparticipating in the meeting.\n(7) If a councillor attends a meeting, or part\nof a meeting, by audio link or audio\nvisual link that is closed to the public, the\ncouncillor must comply with section\n338A of the Act.\n45B. Meeting conducted by audio link or audio\nvisual link in exceptional circumstances\n(1) The chairperson may, if satisfied that\nexceptional circumstances exist,\ndetermine that a meeting, or part of a\nmeeting, is to be conducted by audio link\nor audio visual link only.\n(2) If a determination is made under\nsubregulation (1), the chairperson may –\n(a) authorise councillors to attend the\nmeeting, or part of the meeting,\nby audio link or audio visual link;\nand\n(b) invite members of the public to\nattend the meeting, or part of the\nmeeting, by audio link or audio\nvisual link.\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\nPart 5 – Local Government (Meeting Procedures) Regulations 2025 Amended s. 54\n87\n(3) If a meeting, or part of a meeting,\nconducted in accordance with\nsubregulation (1) is closed to the public,\nthe chairperson –\n(a) is to exclude members of the\npublic from the meeting; and\n(b) may exclude the general manager\nif the matter to be discussed\nrelates to the contract of\nemployment, or the performance,\nof the general manager; and\n(c) may invite any person to remain\nat the meeting to provide advice\nor information.\n(4) Attendance at a meeting under this\nregulation does not count towards a\ncouncillor’s attendance by audio link or\naudio visual link for the purposes of\nregulation 45C.\n45C. Limit on attendance by audio link or audio\nvisual link\nA councillor must not attend more than\none-third of the scheduled meetings of\nthe council in a calendar year by audio\nlink or audio visual link under regulation\n45A.\n\nLocal Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Act 2026\nAct No. of 2026\ns. 55 Part 6 – Repeal of Act\n88\nPART 6 – REPEAL OF ACT\n55. Repeal of Act\nThis Act is repealed on the first anniversary of\nthe day on which the last uncommenced\nprovision of this Act commenced.\nGovernment Printer, Tasmania","sortOrder":4}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":8,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Bill expands the law beyond narrow procedural adjustments into a broader governance and oversight framework. It adds new state-level tools (a ministerial \"local government charter\", Ministerial orders on reporting and audits, and the power to amend Schedule 3), creates a new enforcement pathway for serious councillor misconduct that can result in dismissal or multi-year bans via TCAT (Division 3B), and establishes temporary advisors with intrusive access and recoverable costs (Part 12C). It also standardises councillor numbers and allowances via a statewide metric methodology (Schedule 4) and authorises alternative voting procedures. Together these changes move the legislation from local procedural reform towards a more interventionist and centrally-directed regulatory regime (see sections 20; Division 3B; Part 12C; Schedule 4)."},"complexity_factors":["Extensive new Division 3B (sections 28ZQ–28ZX) creating a multi-step serious misconduct pathway (initial assessor/Panel → Director assessment/investigation → TCAT), with layered decision points and remedies.","Insertion of Part 12C (sections 214P–214T) establishing temporary advisors with broad powers and duties, including cost-recovery and access to closed meetings.","Schedule 4: a 6-metric aggregate scoring methodology with thresholds and categories determining councillor numbers and allowance bands (detailed data-dependence and ministerial fallback power over data).","Substitution of Schedule 3 listing municipal areas, councillor-number categories and allowance bands (29 items shown), producing many cross-references through the Act.","Multiple new delegated powers to the Minister to make subordinate legislation/orders (local government charter, performance reporting, internal audit, specification of rates notice content, and order to amend Schedule 3).","New mandatory obligations on councils and councillors (training, continuing PD policy, community engagement strategy, workforce plan, internal audit and performance reporting) with compliance timelines.","Amendments that change confidentiality rules (exceptions for code of conduct disclosures, new confidentiality duties for temporary advisors) plus new offences and penalties (multiple sections).","Authorization of alternative electronic voting procedures with detailed audit and monitoring requirements (sections 296–298F) and cross-cutting electoral law changes.","Significant cross-references to existing Acts and regulations including the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act, the Evidence (Audio and Audio Visual Links) Act and multiple subordinate instruments.","Transitional and savings provisions (Schedule 8B) including staged change to councillor numbers and renaming/definition changes (e.g. ‘alderman’ to ‘councillor’), adding implementation complexity."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this Bill does (mechanically)\n\n- Rewrites parts of the Local Government Act 1993 to add new governance, conduct and operational rules for Tasmanian councils. Key insertions include:\n  - A formal statement of the council’s role and a power for the Minister to issue a \"local government charter\" that councils must have regard to when exercising functions (sections 19A and 20).\n  - Mandatory learning and continuing professional development for councillors, and a requirement that each council adopt a continuing professional development policy prepared by its general manager (sections 28AB–28AC).\n  - A new, legislated methodology for deciding how many councillors each council should have and which allowance band applies, with the Minister to review and amend Schedule 3 by order (Schedule 4; sections 28JAA–28JAD). Councils in a particular category can apply to reduce their elected councillor number to five in limited circumstances (section 28JAC).\n  - A strengthened, tiered process for handling serious councillor misconduct: initial assessors and investigating Panels can refer matters to the Director; the Director can assess, investigate and either continue, dismiss or apply to the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (TCAT) for remedies; TCAT may impose orders including reprimand, training, fines, suspension, dismissal or banning a councillor from standing for up to 7 years (Division 3B, sections 28ZQ–28ZX).\n  - New powers to appoint \"temporary advisors\" to councils to address emerging governance or operational problems (recommendation by the Director, appointment by the Minister), including powers to attend closed meetings and require records; the Minister may require councils to pay costs (Part 12C, sections 214P–214T).\n  - New community engagement strategy and workforce development obligations (sections 70DA and 62(1)(ha)); Minister may set minimum contents and processes by order for various plans, policies and reporting (sections 70F, 84A, 84B, 122A).\n  - Authorisation for the Tasmanian Electoral Commission to approve \"alternative voting procedures\" (for example, online or telephone voting) for defined elector groups and remote areas, with independent audit and monitoring requirements (sections 296–298F).\n  - Changes to meeting rules: councillors are generally required to attend in person; limited attendance by audio or audiovisual link is allowed in specified circumstances and is capped at one-third of scheduled meetings per calendar year (regulation 45, regs 45A–45C).\n  - Substitution of Schedule 3 (municipal areas, councillor-number categories and allowance bands) and Schedule 4 (methodology); transitional provisions and savings in Schedule 8B; consequential amendments to TCAT Act and various regulations.\n\nWho decides and who pays\n\n- The Minister: issues the local government charter, makes (by order) performance reporting and internal audit requirements, may amend Schedule 3 on recommendation, appoints temporary advisors on Ministerial decision after consultation and may require councils to meet associated costs (sections 20; 84A–84B; 28JAD; 214Q; 214T).\n- The Director (Director of Local Government / statutory officer): approves mandatory councillor learning programs, receives referrals of code of conduct complaints, carries out assessments and may investigate serious misconduct and refer matters to TCAT (sections 28AB; 28ZBA; 28ZT; 28ZU).\n- Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (TCAT): hears Director applications about serious misconduct and may make orders up to dismissal and disqualification (sections 28ZW–28ZX; amendments to the TCAT Act schedule).\n- Councils and general managers: must adopt continuing professional development policies, community engagement strategies and workforce development plans; must comply with Ministerial reporting and internal audit orders; must provide cooperation and information to temporary advisors; may be required to pay temporary advisor costs (sections 28AC; 70DA; 62(1)(ha); 214R–214T).\n\nWhy the Bill says it matters (stated purpose) and how that lines up with costs and incentives\n\n- Stated purpose-claims in the Bill: to provide clarity on the role of councils (section 19A), to support councillor capability (mandatory training and PD: sections 28AB–28AC), to set consistent rules for councillor numbers and allowances (Schedule 4; sections 28JAA–28JAB), to strengthen the handling of serious conduct issues and provide stronger remedies (Division 3B), to enable accessibility improvements to voting (alternative voting: sections 296–298F), and to allow targeted state support or intervention where governance or operational deficiencies arise (temporary advisors: Part 12C).\n\n- Direct costs and compliance burdens:\n  - Councils must prepare and maintain additional formal documents (community engagement strategy, workforce development plan, continuing PD policy) and implement internal audits and performance reporting if the Minister specifies requirements (sections 70DA; 62(1)(ha); 84A–84B). That imposes staff time, possibly consultancy costs and ongoing compliance expense.\n  - Mandatory councillor training creates a time cost for individual councillors and an administrative cost for councils to support PD (section 28AB).\n  - If temporary advisors are appointed, councils may be required to pay their costs (section 214T).\n\n- Decision-making and discretion:\n  - The Bill allocates significant discretion to central actors: the Minister (charter, reporting/audit orders, Schedule 3 amendments, appointments of temporary advisors) and the Director (to assess and investigate referrals of serious misconduct and to determine whether to pursue TCAT applications). Delegation of these powers concentrates decision rights with state officials rather than elected councils (sections 20; 28ZT; 28ZU; 214Q).\n\n- Incentives and behaviour changes:\n  - Councils are likely to prioritise formal governance processes, training and documentation to avoid direction or intervention. (See PD obligations, internal audit and performance reporting powers, sections 28AC; 84A–84B.)\n  - The new misconduct pathway — including the possibility of TCAT-ordered dismissal or bans — increases the legal risk to councillors and may affect willingness to take controversial positions. (Division 3B, sections 28ZT–28ZX.)\n  - The Schedule 4 scoring method links allowance bands and councillor numbers to objective metrics (population, rateable properties, asset values, development activity, roads, urbanisation). That creates predictable incentives to argue about the underlying data used (Schedule 4, clause 2(3)). The Minister may determine alternative data if Department figures are unavailable (Schedule 4, clause 2(3)).\n\n- Trade-offs and risks:\n  - Central oversight vs local autonomy: giving the Minister power to issue a charter and orders about reporting and audits (section 20; sections 84A–84B) increases consistency but reduces council discretion on matters of governance and operational priority.\n  - Intervention mechanisms (temporary advisors with broad access powers, plus Director-led investigations and TCAT orders) are designed to address systemic governance failure quickly (Part 12C; Division 3B). They also create administrative and reputational costs for councils and individual councillors and introduce risks of contested use of discretion.\n  - Alternative voting (online/telephone) can increase accessibility for specific elector classes or remote areas, but the Bill requires independent audits and monitoring and emphasises security, secrecy and verification before approval — recognising technical and integrity risks (sections 297–298F).\n\nConcentrated benefits and diffuse costs\n\n- Concentrated benefits: some councils may benefit from clearer rules on councillor numbers and from the ability to apply to reduce councillor counts (section 28JAC). Directors and the Minister obtain stronger tools to address governance failures (Part 12C; Division 3B).\n- Diffuse costs: all councils face increased compliance obligations (PD, engagement strategies, workforce planning, reporting and possible internal audit costs). Individual councillors face mandatory training time and new exposure to formal misconduct processes.\n\nImplementation and operational issues to watch\n\n- Data and timing: Schedule 4 relies on \"the most recent available data published or otherwise held by the Department\" and allows the Minister to determine substitute data if unavailable (Schedule 4, clause 2). That creates a point of contention about which data is used to set councillor numbers and allowance bands.\n- Delegated rulemaking: the Minister may make many subordinate rules (orders) that determine operational detail for charter content, reporting metrics, audit requirements and plan contents — implementation will depend heavily on those orders (sections 20(2)(e); 70F(2A); 84A–84B).\n- Oversight friction: Director decisions about whether conduct qualifies as \"serious councillor misconduct\" rely on a partly fact-sensitive and multi-factor test (section 28ZR), and the Director's role is the gateway to tribunal remedies. That concentrates legal and factual assessment power in the Director's office and may lead to litigation about thresholds and procedural fairness.\n\nPractical effect in one sentence\n\nCouncils will be subject to more central direction and oversight (charter, reporting and audit orders), stronger capability and conduct controls (mandatory councillor training, a formal serious-misconduct pathway to TCAT), new operational supports and interventions (temporary advisors), and a legislated, metric-driven way to set councillor numbers and pay — shifting more decisions and costs into statutory processes and into the hands of the Minister and Director (see sections 20; 28AB–28AC; Division 3B; Part 12C; Schedule 4)."},"summary":{"status_summary":"Introduced in the Tasmanian House of Assembly on 16 April 2026 and now ready for consideration by the Legislative Council.","complexity_score":8,"likely_questions":["Will the new formula for councillor numbers and allowances increase or decrease the number of councillors in my council area?","What will the mandatory core learning and development activities for councillors cost my council, and who pays?","How will the new serious councillor misconduct regime affect the ability of councillors to speak out or challenge council decisions?","Can the Minister use the local government charter or performance reporting orders to override council decisions on local issues?","Will the alternative voting procedures (electronic voting) be secure enough to prevent fraud or hacking?","How many councils are likely to need a temporary advisor, and will ratepayers have to cover the cost?"],"complexity_factors":["Introduces a formula-based system for councillor numbers and allowances that requires data collection and periodic ministerial review","Creates a new serious misconduct regime with TASCAT jurisdiction, including fines, dismissal, and bans","Adds multiple new mandatory obligations: core learning, continuing professional development policy, community engagement strategy, performance reporting, internal audit, and additional rates notice information","Empowers the Minister to issue orders (local government charter, performance reporting, internal audit, rates notice content) that impose further requirements without parliamentary scrutiny","Allows alternative voting procedures including electronic voting, requiring independent auditing and monitoring","Restricts council meeting attendance by requiring in-person default with limited exceptions and a one-third cap on remote attendance"],"plain_english_summary":"The bill is a broad overhaul of Tasmanian local government law that tightens state control and accountability: it sets a new council role and minister-issued charter, mandatory councillor training and a formula for councillor numbers/allowances, stronger misconduct powers (investigations and TASCAT sanctions), required engagement, reporting and audit rules, temporary minister-appointed advisors, remote-area electronic voting, and tighter limits on remote meeting attendance. It affects councils, councillors and the Minister’s oversight—shifting discretion to the state and creating new compliance costs and governance risks."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/local-government-amendment-targeted-reform-bill-2026","history":"/api/acts/local-government-amendment-targeted-reform-bill-2026/history","analysis":"/api/acts/local-government-amendment-targeted-reform-bill-2026/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/local-government-amendment-targeted-reform-bill-2026/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/local-government-amendment-targeted-reform-bill-2026/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/local-government-amendment-targeted-reform-bill-2026/documents"}}