About Us
The Commission's statutory powers come under section 95 of the Local Government Act 1993.
Our role is to recommend to the Minister for Local Government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, The Honourable Desley Boyle, the distribution of the Commonwealth’s Financial Assistance Grant to local governing bodies in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government (Financial Assistance) Act 1995 (C'wlth) and the National Principles prescribed under the Act by the Commonwealth Minister.
Our statutory powers also extend to holding inquiries and making investigations in connection with the finances of local governing bodies.
It is the Commission’s responsibility to ensure the distribution the Financial Assistance Grant is based on horizontal fiscal equalisation or relative need. The differences in each council's expenses for performance of functions and the capacity to raise revenue are taken into account to establish the average level of performance in revenue capacity and expenditure need. The grant allocation to the local governing body should therefore assist them to function by reasonable effort to an average standard for the State.
Under the Local Government (Financial Assistance) Act 1995 (C'wlth) only local councils and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Councils are eligible for funding.
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