❓ A WA parliamentary question sought data on complaints received by the Department of Local Government regarding local governments in 2017/18, including breakdowns by seriousness, type, and local government area. The answer provides figures for total complaints, serious breaches, financial interest allegations, and local government operations, but notes the department doesn't track misconduct or fraud allegations.
AnsweredQoN 3404Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to complaints about local governments, which were received in the 2017/18 financial year by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and ask: (a) how many complaints have been received in total; (b) how many complaints were categorised as serious; (c) how many complaints relate to: (i) financial interest allegations; (ii) misconduct; (iii) fraud allegations; and (iv) local government operations; and (d) please provide a breakdown of the responses to (a) to (c) by local government?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 August 2018
Responded by
Minister for Local Government
Response time
1 days
These answers refer to the number of cases logged in the Department’s case management system. This includes cases commenced where no complaint was received (eg referrals from the Corruption and Crime Commission), but excludes complaints received which were not compliant with the relevant requirements of the Local Government Act 1995 (the Act) or which raised allegations already captured in existing cases. Complaints received on behalf of the Local Government Standards Panel are also excluded
(a) 137
(b) 70 cases related to potential Serious Breaches (under section 5.105(3) of the Act).
(c)(i) 82 cases related to alleged failure to comply with financial interest requirements (under sections 5.65, 5.67, 5.69, 5.70, 5.71, 5.75, 5.76, 5.78, 5.82, or 5.89).
(ii) The Department does not collect data on misconduct allegations as it does not have jurisdiction to deal with misconduct matters.
(iii) The Department does not collect data on fraud allegations as it does not have jurisdiction to deal with fraud matters.
(iv) 46 cases related to matters regarding local government operations.
(d) [see tabled paper no.]
(a) 137
(b) 70 cases related to potential Serious Breaches (under section 5.105(3) of the Act).
(c)(i) 82 cases related to alleged failure to comply with financial interest requirements (under sections 5.65, 5.67, 5.69, 5.70, 5.71, 5.75, 5.76, 5.78, 5.82, or 5.89).
(ii) The Department does not collect data on misconduct allegations as it does not have jurisdiction to deal with misconduct matters.
(iii) The Department does not collect data on fraud allegations as it does not have jurisdiction to deal with fraud matters.
(iv) 46 cases related to matters regarding local government operations.
(d) [see tabled paper no.]
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