On the latest episode of the Local Government News Roundup:
- This year’s Kings Birthday Honourees from local government across Australia
- A local council dispute headed for court in Gippsland
- CEO appointments and contract extensions
- Emotional testimony from the former Parramatta CEO at ICAC
- A council’s zero tolerance stand on tree vandalism
- Gold Coast Council waters down its rates rise
- A win in court for Sunshine Coast Council
- and a late twist in the LA mayoral election
plus much more local government news from around Australia and beyond.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, with support from Symphony 3, and Rath Engineering Development.
Listen to this episode now:
Transcript for Episode #592
The 2026 King’s Birthday Honours list includes several notable individuals recognised for their outstanding service to local government administration, governance, and municipal communities across Australia.
The prominent recipients honoured for their contributions to the local government sector include: Public Service Medal (PSM) The Public Service Medal recognises outstanding public service, with specific acknowledgments this year for driving local government administrative excellence and planning reform. • Ms. Kiersten Emma Fishburn (NSW): Awarded for outstanding public service to local government administration and planning reform in New South Wales -former CEO Liverpool City Council, and current secretary of the department of planning, housing and infrastructure. • Ms. Veronica Anne Lee (NSW): Awarded for outstanding public service to New South Wales and local government in Sydney, including as former general manager of Mosman Council. • Ms. Dalassa Yorkston (QLD): Awarded for outstanding public service to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and local government in Queensland. Serving as chief of Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council (NPARC)
Andrew Brien (WA) – For outstanding public service in reform across local government and community engagement and collaboration – a 22 year veteran of local government, including as CEO of the city of Kalgoorlie Boulder.
Mrs Dannielle (Danni) Hill (WA) – more than three decades of dedicated service to the Carnarvon community and local government – Danni has served at the Shire of Carnarvon since November 1994. Member of the Order of Australia (AM) • Mr. Mark Irwin (WA): Awarded for significant service to local government, surf lifesaving, and the community (including as Mayor of the City of Stirling).
• Mr. Damon Thomas (TAS): Awarded for significant service to local government (including his tenure as Lord Mayor of Hobart), the law, and the community of Tasmania. Robert Gillam (WA): for significant service to primary industry, to local government, and to the community of Port Denison.
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
John Bird, WA – For service to local government, and to the community of Collie
Tony Brown – WA – For service to local government administration. Mr Brown is currently serving as the state’s inaugural local government inspector. • Mrs. Janet Drummond (TAS): Awarded for service to local government and the community – formerly of Break O’Day Council
David Funnell, Camden NSW – for service to local government and community, as former deputy mayor and councillor with 50 years of service.
William Lowis, QLD – local government and community service to Burdekin Shire
• Mr. Robin McKendrick (TAS): Awarded for service to local government and the community of Launceston over 37 years.
Allan Mitchell, service to local government in Anula NT • His Honour Judge Scott Nash (NSW): Awarded for service to local government and the legal profession (notably serving as a former Mayor of Randwick).
The late Brian O’Connor, Maryborough VIC – service to local government and community – he was the first elected mayor of Central Goldfields Council
John Sipek, for service to local government in Moonee Valley and the local community –
Victorian Report
A dispute between South Gippsland Shire Council and the Korumburra Senior Citizens Centre is headed to the Supreme Court of Victoria after court-directed mediation failed to produce a resolution, according to the South Gippsland Sentinel Times.
The case centres on a trust deed the Seniors group argues makes councillors trustees of the centre.
A four-day Supreme Court hearing is scheduled for early December.
The Seniors group says there is nothing preventing the parties from continuing to negotiate before then, and has called on councillors to meet directly in the interests of ratepayers.
City of Monash has reappointed Dr Andi Diamond as Chief Executive Officer through to July 2030.
Dr Diamond first took the top role in 2012, having previously served as Director of Community Services from 2000 to 2008, giving her more than two decades of continuous service to the council.
Mayor Stuart James cited consistently strong resident satisfaction results and the stability of the organisation’s culture as central to the council’s decision.
Latrobe City Council’s Mayor says regional community safety has been overlooked in the Victorian State Budget.
Councillor Sharon Gibson says extra funding for the Community Connectors program has again gone mainly to Melbourne, despite rising youth disengagement and complex social issues in regional areas.
The Council has endorsed a CBD Safety Outreach Program plan and will push for election funding to deliver it locally.
Mayor Gibson is urging the Government to commit to fairer funding and meaningful engagement with regional communities.
Wodonga Council is facing a wave of ratepayer backlash after moving to disband its newly formed Sustainability Advisory Council before its first meeting.
The decision, reported last week by The Border Mail, scraps a planned climate strategy and rejects low-cost expertise from over twenty community applicants.
While council cites resource allocation and plans to embed sustainability across all teams internally, critics warn the region risks falling behind ahead of incoming mandatory reporting standards.
Local community members are urging residents to submit feedback on the draft budget before the close of submissions today.
Hume City Council has expressed deep sadness at the death of a long serving staff member.
Bilingual community engagement officer Muna Yazdin has died after being struck in a pedestrian and car accident in Westmeadows last week.
The council says Muna worked for the organisation for more than 20 years and was widely respected for strengthening connections with multicultural communities, including facilitating Assyrian bilingual Storytime.
A condolence motion will be moved at Tuesday night’s council meeting.
NSW Report
The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption has heard that former City of Parramatta CEO Gail Connolly sent an anonymous email to journalists and councillors alleging fraud and corruption at the council she ran — admitting she feared termination if the email was traced back to her.
The inquiry is also examining allegations she spied on staff and a councillor, subverted recruitment processes, and misused council information and public funds.
Ms Connolly broke down during her evidence on Friday. She will return to the stand next Thursday for a further two days of examination. More further details on last week’s developments, there are links to reports from ABC News and the Sydney Morning Herald in the transcript.
Tweed Shire Council has launched a zero-tolerance crackdown following a spike in deliberate vegetation vandalism on public land.
Authorities are appealing for public assistance after several mature Norfolk pines and iconic Pandanus trees were destroyed or poisoned at Cabarita Beach, alongside historic gum trees at a local cemetery.
Council officials warn that remediation and tree removal costs will impact local ratepayers, and they are urging anyone with relevant camera footage to step forward.
Strathfield Council is seeking a jail term for Sydney homeowner Sarah Malass unless she demolishes what it says is an unlawfully built mansion in the city’s inner west.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the council has launched contempt proceedings in the NSW Land and Environment Court, arguing Malass continues to live in the property despite previous orders to vacate and remove the illegal works.
It’s also asking for permission to carry out the demolition itself and recover the costs.
Malass has pleaded not guilty, and maintained silence at a hearing on Thursday. Justice Nicola Pain described the parties’ arguments as unusual and reserved her decision.
Dubbo Regional Council has launched a formal investigation into a spike in local water bills following widespread community concern over summer charges.
The Daily Liberal reported the review is auditing a sample of twenty-five water meters where household accounts surged by more than fifty per cent compared to the previous year.
Infrastructure directors report that initial meter testing shows equipment is operating within standard specifications, meaning the probe will now expand to examine billing cycles and consumption anomalies.
The New South Wales Government has committed one hundred and ninety million dollars to widen Sydney’s heavily congested Windsor Road.
While the funding brings long-awaited infrastructure relief to the city’s north-west, Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne has welcomed the budget allocation but called for absolute urgency from the state.
Mayor Byrne told the Daily Telegraph that local commuters have already seen trip times increase significantly and that the state and federal governments must now proceed with immediate construction.
Queensland Report
Gold Coast City Council has walked back a proposed 5.7 per cent rate rise, with councillors settling on a 4.7 per cent general rate increase at a special budget meeting last week.
The reduction saves ratepayers at least 13 million dollars and keeps the increase in line with Brisbane’s March CPI figure — consistent with Mayor Tom Tate’s decade-long approach to rate setting.
The backflip also includes a return to the existing 10 per cent early payment discount, after a proposed flat rate system was abandoned over concerns about the financial impact on local businesses. Gold Coast Bulletin
The Queensland Industrial Relations Commission has ruled in favour of Sunshine Coast Council in a dispute over on-call allowances, according to the Courier Mail.
The Queensland Services Union had argued that an environmental health officer rostered on-call across eight calendar days was entitled to eight allowance payments, rather than seven.
However, the commission determined that because on-call arrangements rarely align perfectly with calendar days, no additional allowances were required.
Scenic Rim Regional Councillor Amanda Hay has commenced legal action under Queensland’s Defamation Act against the administrators of a local Facebook page.
As reported by the Beaudesert Times, Concerns Notices have been served following a series of online posts spanning fourteen months.
Councillor Hay is seeking a public apology, the removal of the material, and financial damages for emotional distress and legal fees, opting to fund the action privately rather than utilising council-approved legal assistance.
Redland City Council is investigating the deliberate destruction of a historically significant Norfolk Island pine at Point Lookout. The mature tree, once used for maritime navigation, died after being ringbarked in early May.
It comes as Council successfully prosecutes a separate case of vegetation vandalism on Minjerribah, resulting in twelve and a half thousand dollars in fines and rehabilitation costs.
Acting Mayor Julie Talty warned that a recent spate of coastal tree damage is carrying significant environmental and financial consequences for the city.
Brisbane City Council has launched its biggest ever pothole repair blitz after recent heavy rain, filling more than 1,800 potholes in just five days.
Redland Bayside News reported on how crews worked around the clock from May 19 to 23, using about 100 tonnes of asphalt, with a record 565 potholes fixed in a single day.
The council says Bayside suburbs accounted for 246 repairs, and residents are urged to keep reporting road damage.
Tasmania
Launceston City Council Chief Executive Sam Johnson has commenced a three-week public leadership program at the Harvard Kennedy School in Boston.
The twenty-seven-thousand-dollar, ratepayer-funded study trip was approved during a closed council session as part of a performance review recommendation.
According to The Mercury, the trip comes just weeks before councillors are scheduled to debate a proposed four-point-nine per cent rate rise for the upcoming financial year.
Hobart’s hospitality sector is pushing back against the city council’s new “Live and Local” pilot program, according to Pulse Tasmania.
The initiative aims to revive the night-time economy by transforming under-used buildings into pop-up live music spaces.
However, industry leaders argue the council failed to consult them and should focus on supporting existing venues struggling with red tape.
South Australia
Councillor Ian Burfitt has resigned from the Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council after 12 years as an elected member.
Burfitt formally tendered his resignation to Mayor Allan Aughey OAM last week.
A long-time advocate for the region, Mr Burfitt also previously served as Chief Executive Officer of the former District Council of Clare from 1986 to 1994, before amalgamation.
The Mayor, councillors and staff have thanked him for his service and wished him well for the future.
A flagship residential development in Adelaide’s north has been put on hold due to a critical lack of water and sewage infrastructure.
According to a report by The Advertiser, more than 600 homes in Two Wells face years of construction delays.
The Local Government Association has cited historical underinvestment by the state government and SA Water as a key barrier to growth, prompting Adelaide Plains Council to advocate for synchronised infrastructure planning.
A massive, seven-room cannabis operation has been uncovered in Port Gawler, thanks to the sharp eyes of local government employees.
Two council inspectors responding to a stray dog report tracked the animal to a property, where they discovered a clandestine hydroponic setup containing 223 plants.
The find has led to the successful prosecution of a forty-three-year-old man in the District Court.
Western Australia
In a landmark decision for Western Australian local government, the State Administrative Tribunal has upheld the Town of Bassendean’s refusal to allow the removal of a regulated tree on private property.
According to the town, it is the first reported tribunal decision of its kind in the state.
Mayor Kath Hamilton stated the ruling strongly supports local planning policies aimed at safeguarding urban canopy and balancing growth with environmental protection.
The Shire of York has a new permanent leader.
Council has officially appointed Alina Behan as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Shire President Chris Gibbs said Ms Behan brings extensive organisational knowledge and a strong understanding of local priorities to the role.
Alina, who has already been working closely with the Shire, says she is excited to collaborate with residents and staff to keep delivering positive outcomes for the historic community.
Global Report
USA:
Los Angeles mayoral race update: A new ballot count has shaken up the standings.
USA Today reported that City Councilmember Nithya Raman has moved into second place, edging ahead of former reality TV star Spencer Pratt as the field heads toward a likely runoff.
Raman now has just over 27 percent of the vote, with Pratt close behind a little less than 27 percent.
Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass continues to lead comfortably with about 35 percent. Election officials say counting is still underway as more ballots are processed.
Philadelphia City Council has advanced a revised 7.1-billion-dollar preliminary budget, knocking back the majority of Mayor Cherelle Parker’s proposed tax increases.
As reported by WHYY, councillors rejected a controversial one-dollar per-ride rideshare levy intended to address the school district’s structural deficit, opting instead for a one-off funding allocation.
Council leadership cited national cost-of-living pressures as the driving factor behind the decision to block the new fees.
NZ:
An innovative trial by Auckland Council is seeing a direct drop in animal euthanasia rates by introducing buy-now-pay-later options for impounded pets.
According to a report by Radio New Zealand, the council has introduced an Afterpay trial at several animal shelters to help owners manage release and registration fees.
Nearly twenty per cent of payments are now made through the service, allowing more unclaimed dogs to return home.
The council plans to expand the initiative to build on the success of the trial.
CANADA:
Ontario’s “strong-mayor” powers are being used far more to reshape city halls than to speed up housing, according to reporting cited by the Toronto Star.
The report says just two per cent of more than 4,200 decisions since 2023 were directly tied to housing, while staffing moves—hiring, firing and restructuring—dominated.
There were at least nine documented cases of strong mayors terminating chief administrative officials, or other top officials.
While the province introduced the powers with the priority of delivering 1.5M homes by 2031, the actual use of the powers has been focussed elsewhere. Read more analysis on this issue at HR Reporter dot com.
UK:
Over a thousand local government craftworkers in the UK are set to strike later this month following a dispute over pay and working conditions.
According to Unite the Union, housing maintenance and repair staff across six councils—including Bristol, Southwark, and Leeds—will walk out on June 17, 18, 23, and 24.
The union rejected a 3.2 per cent pay offer, citing concerns over proposed changes to national agreements, including apprentice structures and job evaluation processes. Local government employers have so far declined further negotiations.
Kensington and Chelsea Council has seized more than 2,500 rental e-bikes in a crackdown on illegal parking, saying some caused “immediate danger” or major obstruction.
The west London borough began enforcement in January 2025 and has charged operators over £210,000 in fees. BBC News reported that Lime and Forest account for most of the bikes taken.
The chair of the UK Local Government Association, Louise Gittins, has announced she is stepping down.
In a message to colleagues, Councillor Gittins said she is leaving the national role to focus on her local responsibilities, including her position as chair of the newly formed Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority.
The Local Government Chronicle reports that association is expected to elect a new chair at its general assembly on the seventh of July.
Glasgow City Council has intercepted nearly 6,000 counterfeit “squishy” toys from a warehouse, citing severe health hazards for children.
BBC news reported that trading standards officers seized the unbranded dumpling-shaped items, warning they contain restricted chemicals like formaldehyde and solvents.
The council estimates the preventative action has saved more than 400,000 pounds in potential health, regulatory, and consumer costs.