Update June 2026
LG Professionals WA has long had a strong, strategic, commitment to maintaining and improving integrity within the local government sector. To this end, establishing a consultative mechanism to share and review information which promotes policy coherence aimed at ethics and integrity advancement and misconduct prevention has been an important goal.
The formation of the Local Government Integrity Working Group (LGIWG) was aimed at improving integrity within the sector and brings together representatives from the Public Sector Commission, WA Local Government Association, Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety, LG Inspector's Office, Office of the Auditor General, Corruption and Crime Commission, and Local Government Professionals WA.
The LGIWG is focused on integrity matters and aims to provide quarterly updates to members on the progress of its initiatives.
The LGIWG would be pleased to hear from members on any matters of concern, or ideas and initiatives to help strengthen integrity within the sector.
Local government management of gifts and benefits
The OAG recently released its report on Local-Government-Management-of-Gifts-and-Benefits.
The LGIWG was recently presented with an overview of the findings from the OAG examining whether six local government entities assessed were effectively managing gifts and benefits registers. It also assessed if the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety is providing effective guidance to the sector.
It was pleasing to see that from the OAG's perspective it found evidence of good practice and diligence in the reporting and disclosure of gifts and benefits.
It is considered that good practice within the sector, given the impending introduction of the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee structure, would be to review the recommendations against your local government's practices, identifying opportunities for improvement. The OAG Audit Committee Better Practice Guide is a useful self-assessment resource to help local governments evaluate how they may perform against audit expectations and present findings to their audit committees.
The LGIWG is currently looking at conducting a webinar to present the OAG findings and highlight good practices by those local governments participating in the assessment; together with the LGIRS.
Public Sector Commission - Managing the risks of gifts, benefits and hospitality
The OAG audit highlights the importance for local governments to have appropriate processes, procedures and structures in place to manage the risks associated with acceptance of gifts.
The PSC has a range of tools and training programs that relate to the management of gifts including a guide providing a good practice approach to managing the risks of gifts, benefits and hospitality. It covers:
- understanding the risk environment
- using ethical codes and policies to set expectations
- educating, communicating and reinforcing expectations
- recording, reviewing and monitoring practice
- providing gifts, benefits and hospitality
Managing the risks of gifts, benefits and hospitality
Integrity frameworks and local government application
The Public Sector Commission released a range of integrity framework resources for all public authorities in 2021. These comprehensive resources, including a template and guide, help authorities develop integrity frameworks, or evaluate and strengthen an existing framework here.
Whilst local governments are not compelled to develop their own integrity framework the Commission recommends all public authorities give consideration to developing and implementing one. Frameworks help to identify and coordinate an authority's approach to promoting integrity and preventing misconduct, assisting oversight and informing stakeholders about the authority's approach to integrity.
The PSC worked with the City of Joondalup to develop and Integrity Framework in 2022 to be used as a reference for others to utilise in the development of their own. It is pleasing to see that a growing number of local governments have adopted integrity frameworks including, but not limited to City of Wanneroo; Shire of Augusta Margaret River; City of Stirling; Shire of East Pilbara; Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale; City of Kwinana; City of South Perth; City of Joondalup.
These are excellent reference documents for local governments giving consideration to development of their own integrity frameworks.
Code of conduct for council members, committee members and candidates
The revised Code of Conduct requirements and in particular the need to have sound procedures in place (Clause 15(2) of the Model Code) to manage behavioural breach complaints, was highlighted by a recent article by McLeods on Managing Behavioural Complaints.
The LGIWG recognises the importance of local governments having established procedures to ensure transparency and accountability in approach, and is inviting members to submit any procedures your local government has adopted for managing beahvioural breach complaints, in order that these can be shared across the sector, to ensure that there can be confidence in the complaints process and they are not undertaken in an ad hoc manner.
Please submit any documents you may have that you are open to having shared to [email protected]
We will provide links to these models amongst members in the next LGIWG update.
Psychosocial safety and wellbeing
There is growing concern with regard to disruption in local governments linked to psychosocial safety concerns, whether this be a risk to the CEO and administration; Elected Members; or both.
It is a key responsibility of the CEO to ensure appropriate frameworks are in place to support the safety and wellbeing of both employees and Elected Members. It is also recognised that the legislative framework and guidance materials available to the sector need review and LG Professionals WA has two advocacy positions related to:
However, there are growing calls for CEOs to provide psychosocial safety and wellbeing frameworks for their Elected Members recognising that they have an obligation under the WHS Act as an 'other'. Section 29 of the Act refers to 'Duties of other persons at the workplace' and outlines their obligations.
A reference example of a formal Elected Member Psychosocial Safety and Wellbeing Framework is that recently adopted by Glen Innes Severn Council here.
The Glen Innes Severn Council framework is aimed at supporting and strengthening the health, safety, and wellbeing of Elected Members by setting out practical guidance for recognising, assessing, and responding to psychosocial risks associated with their role. It also seeks to raise broader community awareness of the importance of respectful and safe engagement with elected representatives.
The LGIWG is currently examining whether a framework similar to the Glen Innes Severn Council model would be beneficial to the sector.
If members have similar frameworks in place at their local government and are open to sharing them please submit any documents to [email protected].
We will provide links to these models to members in the next LGIWG update.
Integrity Events and Training
There are some excellent opportunities for members to participate in events or training in the near future and the LGIWG will highlight these events in each of its updates. In this update we are pleased to inform members of the following events/training:
- Corruption and Crime Commission - Local Government Integrity Event: The LGIWG is pleased to support the Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) in its development of an integrity in local government event: Awareness to action: strengthening integrity in local government. This session will bring together sector leaders to explore current corruption and serious misconduct risks facing local government. This session will feature an address by Commissioner Michael Corboy SC, along with presentations and recent case studies from CCC investigations. This event will be held from 9am - 1pm on Wednesday 22 July at the State Library Theatre, Perth with livestreaming available for regional attendees. Complimentary in-person and livestreaming tickets are available for integrity leaders and governance and risk practitioners.
- WA Local Government Association: WALGA will hold training on Ethical Behaviours and Decision-Making in Local Government - 18 August 2026. This course is designed to explore the key components of how ethical behaviours are reflected in decision-making and how this relates to the legislative and policy framework here.
Member's feedback
LG Professionals WA and the LGIWG would be pleased to hear from members on any ideas and initiatives to help strengthen integrity within the sector.
LGIWG members
- Jamie Parry (Chair, LG Professionals WA)
- David Bentley (Board member, LG Professionals WA)
- Stacey Hutt (Chief Executive Officer, LG Professionals WA)
- Nick Sloan (Chief Executive Officer, WALGA)
- Kirsty Martin (Executive Manager Member Services, WALGA)
- Tony Brown (Local Government Inspector)
- James McGovern (General Manager Governance & Compliance, LG Inspectorate Office)
- Laura Hunter (Executive Director, Support & Compliance, LGIRS)
- Ethan Redshaw (Executive Director, Legislation & Projects, LGIRS)
- Melissa Watson (Manager Integrity Promotion and Review, PSC)
- Darian Ferguson (Executive Director Integrity and Risk, PSC)
- Tracey Polmear (Director Assessment and Strategy Development, CCC)
- Erica Giles (Manager Overisght, CCC)
- Jordan Langford Smith (A/Assistant Auditor General, Performance Audit, OAG)