There are 137 local government areas (LGAs) in Western Australia,[1] which comprise 27 cities, 102 shires, and 8 towns that manage their own affairs to the extent permitted by the Local Government Act 1995.[2] The Local Government Act 1995 also makes provision for regional local governments (referred to as "regional councils", established by two or more local governments for a particular purpose.[3]
There are three classifications of local government in Western Australia:
- City – predominantly urban, plus seven significant regional centres
- Shire – predominantly rural or outer suburban areas, plus the Shire of Peppermint Grove
- Town – predominantly inner urban, plus the Town of Port Hedland
The Shire of Christmas Island and the Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands are federal external territories and covered by the Indian Ocean Territories Administration of Laws Act, which allows the Western Australian Local Government Act to apply "on-island" as though it were a Commonwealth act. Nonetheless, Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are not parts of Western Australia.
The most recent local government elections were held in 2023.
- ^ "An introduction to local government". Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, Government of Western Australia. 16 June 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ^ "Local Government Act 1995". Retrieved 26 July 2011.
- ^ Refer Part 3 Division 4 of the "Local Government Act 1995". Retrieved 26 July 2011.