Reforms proclaimed late last year require Local Governments to appoint Committee Presiding Members and Deputy Presiding Members by absolute majority Council decision by no later than 1 July 2025. This applies to all current Committees established under section 5.8 of the Local Government Act 1995 (LG Act), including Audit Committees. Refer: LG Act Transitional provisions, Schedule 9.3, cl 67.
The amended section 5.12 and 5.13 provisions mean that any new Committees, and Committees that are re-established following the 2025 Local Government Elections, will no longer elect their Presiding Member / Deputy Presiding Member. Instead, the Council is required to appoint, by absolute majority, the Presiding Member / Deputy Presiding Member for each committee, which may occur at the time Council appoints the Committee Membership.
Please contact the WALGA Governance Team for any further advice or support – [email protected] or 08 9213 2514.
