Governance resources

The resources listed below apply to the Local Government Act 2020. Following implementation of the Act, work is underway to migrate the relevant implementation resources from our Engage Victoria website. This transition will include a review of what ongoing resources are required, including those currently listed as draft.

Model Governance Rules and Public Transparency Policy

In 2023, IBAC released the Operation Sandon Special Report into allegations of corrupt conduct involving councillors and property developers at Casey City Council. The report contained 18 recommendations directed to the Minister for Local Government to ensure that the public can have confidence in council decisions. Seven of these recommendations have been fully acquitted through recent reforms to the Local Government Act 2020 and the Local Government (Governance and Integrity) Regulations 2020.

Local Government Victoria has commenced work to address the recommendations that Local Government Victoria develop and introduce:

Model Governance Rules to promote best practice council meeting procedures, and
A Model Transparency Policy to promote council openness and transparency.

A Local Government Steering Committee made up of representatives nominated from peak bodies and council representative groups has been convened to guide this work.

These include:

Rural Councils Victoria
Peri-Urban Councils Victoria
Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA)
Australian Local Government Women’s Association (Vic)
The Local Government Inspectorate
Regional Cities Victoria
Outer Melbourne Councils (formerly Interface Councils)
Melbourne 9
Municipal Association of Victoria
Local Government Professionals (LGPro)

Technical Working Groups comprising specialist advisers within local government have been established to support the Steering Committee and contribute to the development and drafting of the of the Model Governance Rules and Model Transparency Policy.

The Technical Working Groups will provide sector specific expertise and advice on a range of existing policies, good practice and guidance to meet legislative and regulatory requirements.

Membership includes:

Model Governance Rules Technical Working Group

Michael Tonta, Greater Dandenong City Council
David Thompson, Melbourne City Council
Rhys Thomas, Stonnington City Council
Tenille Craig, Frankston City Council
Kelly Shacklock, Kingston City Council
Pamela Vercoe, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
Fiona Hando, Wyndham City Council
Emily Ryan, Greater Geelong City Council
Alba Elling, Latrobe City Council
Kerry Lynch, Strathbogie Shire Council
Janelle Skipworth, East Gippsland Shire Council
Jessica Clarke-Hong, Macedon Ranges Shire Council

Model Public Transparency Policy Technical Working Group

Anthony Duffin, Swan Hill Rural City Council
Cameron Montgomery, Ballarat City Council
Carole Fleeman, Frankston City Council
Chris Bradbury, Hume City Council
Daan Van Orsouw, Nillumbik Shire Council
Denise Lovett, Wellington Shire Council
Jess Orr, Casey City Council
Joanne McKay, Glen Eira City Council
Kirstin Ritchie, Boroondara City Council
Michelle Tipton, Bayside City Council

All councils will have the opportunity to contribute to this work through consultation being carried out throughout 2025.

Further information on opportunities on how to get involved in this work will be communicated throughout 2025.

Model Councillor Code of Conduct

From 26 October 2024, the Local Government Act 2020 requires all councillors to observe the Model Councillor Code of Conduct (Model Code of Conduct). The Model Code of Conduct is prescribed in Schedule 1 to the Local Government (Governance and Integrity) Regulations 2020.

Model Councillor Code of Conduct [PDF]

Model Councillor Code of Conduct [Word]

The Model Code of Conduct replaced the previous statutory requirements for Councils to develop their own Councillor Code of Conduct and the previous Standards of Conduct.

The Model Code of Conduct sets out individual standards of conduct expected to be observed by councillors when performing their roles as councillors. The purpose of the Model Code of Conduct is to set clear standards that will improve on councillor conduct and behaviour.

Guidance has been developed to support councillors in performing their role in a manner consistent with the Model Code of Conduct.

Guidance on the Model Councillor Code of Conduct [PDF]

Guidance on the Model Councillor Code of Conduct [Word]

This Guidance will be regularly reviewed to reflect any Internal Arbitration Process decisions that may provide further clarification about the operation of the Model Code of Conduct.

Councillor Mandatory Training

From 26 October 2024, the Local Government Act 2020 and the Local Government (Governance and Integrity) Regulations 2020 will require all mayors, deputy mayors and councillors to complete mandatory training within certain timeframes.

The mandatory training includes:

Mayoral training – Mayors, Deputy Mayors and Acting Mayors (if appointed for one month or more) must complete the Mayoral training within one month of being elected to the role.
Induction training – New councillors must complete mandatory Councillor induction training within four months of taking the oath or affirmation of office.
Professional development training – All councillors must complete ongoing professional development training each year of their term, starting in the year following their election.

This Guidance has been developed to support councils to understand the legislative requirements for mandatory training and assist them to develop, deliver and report on the training.

Guidance on the mandatory training for Mayors, Deputy Mayors and Councillors [PDF]

Guidance on the mandatory training for Mayors, Deputy Mayors and Councillors [Word]

A “Confidence Self-Assessment Tool for Mandatory Training” has been developed to assist councils.

Confidence self-assessment tool for mandatory training [Excel]

Ministerial Good Practice Guideline - Virtual Meetings

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for, and usefulness of, a more flexible and modern approach to conducting certain required local government meetings.

The Ministerial Good Practice Guideline 1 (MGPG-1): Virtual Meetings was developed to support councils to implement virtual meetings as a temporary measure.

These temporary measures ceased on 1 September 2022.

Permanent provisions

From 2 September 2022 onwards, councils are permanently enabled to conduct virtual meetings in accordance with their Governance Rules.

The Ministerial Good Practice Guideline (MGPG-3) Virtual Meetings is now in place to support councils to implement virtual meetings on a permanent basis.

Local Government Victoria has worked with the sector to develop Model Governance Rules (Virtual Meetings) that may assist councils in the development of Governance Rules to meet the requirements for virtual meetings.

CEO Employment and Remuneration Policy

As part of Stage 4 of implementation, Section 45 of the Local Government Act 2020 outlines the requirement for councils to develop and adopt a CEO Employment and Remuneration Policy. The first CEO Employment and Remuneration Policy must be adopted by 31 December 2021.

Below are examples of current CEO Employment and Remuneration Policies as well as some reference material. Please note that these documents are presented as a guide only. They may be useful for councils when developing their own policy but are not considered mandatory.

Please refer to the Local Government Act 2020 for specific details about what is required.

Example CEO Employment and Remuneration policies:

Glen Eira

Mitchell Shire

Resources from:

Victorian Public Sector Commission (Assessing a CEO's Performance)

Local Government Inspectorate (Managing Employment Cycle - CEO)

VPS Executive Employment Handbook

Code of Conduct for Council Staff

As part of Stage 4 of implementation, Section 49 of the Local Government Act 2020 outlines the requirement for councils to develop and implement a Code of Conduct for Council Staff. The first Code of Conduct for Council Staff must be developed and implemented by 31 December 2021. Until this has occurred, the Code of Conduct for Council staff implemented under section 95AA of the Local Government Act 1989 applies. Please ensure that all new Codes of Conduct for Council Staff refer to the Local Government Act 2020.

Below are examples of current Code of Conduct for Council Staff documents. Please note that these are presented as guides only and may be useful for councils when developing their own policy.

Please refer to the Local Government Act 2020 for specific details about what is required.

Example Code of Conduct for Council Staff policies

Bendigo City Council

Campaspe Shire Council

Complaints Handling

The Local Government Act 2020 requires councils to develop a complaints policy that outlines the process for complaint handling. The Act defines a complaint and stipulates the need for the complaints process to remain independent.

Local Government Victoria have worked closely with the Victorian Ombudsman who have developed a Good Practice Guide which provides advice on implementing the new legislative requirements to complaint handling.

Councils must have their complaints policies by 31 December 2021

Conflict of Interest

Conflicts of Interest and Personal Interests Returns is covered in Section 126 – 136 of the Local Government Act 2020 . It’s important to understand that the provisions relating to conflicts of interest are related to other sections of the Act including:

Section 60 (Governance Rules);
Sections 132 -136 (Personal Interest Returns) and
Sections 137-138 (Gifts)

Please see our Conflict of Interests Guide and Conflict of Interest Manual

Freedom of information and section 125 of the Local Government Act 2020

The Local Government Legislative Amendment (Rating and Other Matters) Act 2022 made amendments to section 125 of the LG Act 2020 to ensure that councils process FOI requests for categories of confidential information in accordance with the applicable exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act 1982. This upholds the principles of transparency and accountability that underpin both Acts and reduces complexity for councils.

The Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (OVIC) has developed this Practice Note relating to section 125 of the Local Government Act 2020: FOI and section 125 of the Local Government Act 2020.

Local Laws

Victorian councils have the broad power to make local laws ‘for or with respect to any act, matter or thing in respect of which the council has a function or power under this or any other Act’ (Local Government Act 2020, section 71(1)).

Councils utilise local laws to respond to issues and community needs within a local context. They typically deal with, but are not limited to, protection of local amenity as well as regulating activities on council controlled land and roads.

To learn more about important changes to the local law framework in the 2020 Act, please refer to the dedicated local laws page.

Planning and Reporting

Effective planning and reporting by councils is essential for ensuring transparency and accountability to the community and other levels of government.

The resources on the Planning and Reporting page support Victorian councils to meet their legislative obligations to plan and report on their performance over the short, medium and long term.