Working Strategically

The Australian Local Government Association is the national representation of Australia’s 537 local government councils and works collectively to support and advocate local needs.¹

The Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) is Western Australia’s lead government organisation responsible for local government, sport and recreation, culture and the arts, Aboriginal culture, multicultural interests and racing, gaming and liquor.²

The Parliamentary Education Office provides a suite of resources about Australia’s parliamentary democracy.³ 

The Parliament of Western Australia provides current information relating to parliament, including streaming of meetings, debates, bills and how to have your say.⁴

WALGA is a not-for-profit organisation that represents and supports the Western Australian local government sector.⁵

The Western Australian Electoral Commission is responsible for overseeing state elections and referenda, local government elections and other statutory and non-statutory elections.⁶

• The Australian system of government is underpinned by three levels of government, each with respective roles and responsibilities. ⁷

Parliamentary Education Office⁸

Whilst each level of government is responsible for providing different services to Australians, sometimes these services overlap.⁹

Parliamentary Education Office¹⁰

• In Australia, at a federal level, there are different ways citizens can have their say about matters that affect them, including:

elections and voting;

getting involved in parliament; and

petitions.¹¹

• As per the federal government, the Western Australian government is a parliamentary democracy consisting of three branches – legislative, executive and judiciary.¹²

© Parliament of Western Australia¹³

• The Parliament of Western Australia consists of the Legislative Council (Upper House – red seats), Legislative Assembly (Lower house – blue seats) and three Parliamentary Departments.¹⁴

© Parliament of Western Australia¹⁵

The Parliament of Western Australia provides details of current Members of Parliament, including their respective responsibilities and how to contact them. See also the Members of Parliament fact sheet for general  information about who is eligible to be a Member of Parliament, how Members are elected, where they sit and what they do.

There are many ways Western Australians can get involved in parliamentary decision-making, including¹⁶: 

Contacting a member of parliament

Creating or signing petitions

Making submissions

Voting in an election

For more information about the Parliament of Western Australia see¹⁷:

Fact sheets – includes information about the role of parliament, parliament of Western Australia, elections, parties, lobbyists and the media, and citizenship and education. 

Educators and students – includes workbooks, videos and frequently asked questions. 

Learn how parliament works – includes the powers and role of the Western Australian parliament, difference between parliament and government and links to publications about parliament.

• Local government responsibility lies within the jurisdiction of each state and territory and as such the services that each council provides may differ¹⁸.

Snapshot of Local Government¹⁹

WALGA provides an overview about local government, including a directory of  Western Australia’s local councils.²⁰ 

The DLGSC provides local government information, including news, community resources and guidance for the local government sector.²¹

My council provides information about your council (see MyCouncil), how to resolve a concern and specific local laws.²²

See local government elections for more information about an introduction to local government and the role of a council member.²³

Guides and resources about becoming a council member are also available²⁴: 

Nominating to be a council member which includes completing the Local Government Candidate Induction

Election campaigning

Conduct of local government elections

Stand for Council

Australian Local Government Association. “About ALGA.” Accessed September 19, 2024. https://alga.com.au/about-alga/.

Australian Local Government Association. “Facts and Figures.” Accessed 19 September 2024. https://alga.com.au/facts-and-figures/.

Department of Local Government. “About Us.” Sport and Cultural Industries, accessed September 19, 2024. https://www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/department/about-us.

Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries. “Local Government.”  Accessed 19 September 2024. https://www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/local-government.

Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries. “Local Government Elections.” Accessed 19 September 2024. https://www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/local-government/local-governments/council-elections.

Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries. “My Council.” Accessed 19 September 2024, https://www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/local-government.

Parliamentary Education Office. “Having Your Say.” Accessed 12 September 2024. https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/having-your-say.

Parliamentary Education Office. “Home.” Accessed August 29, 2024. https://peo.gov.au/.

Parliamentary Education Office. “Three Levels of Government: Governing Australia.” Accessed August 29, 2024. https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/how-parliament-works/three-levels-of-government/three-levels-of-government-governing-australia.

Parliamentary Education Office. “Three Levels of Government in Australia,” Accessed August 29, 2024. https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/how-parliament-works/three-levels-of-government/three-levels-of-government-governing-australia.

Parliamentary Education Office. “The Responsibilities of the Three Levels of Government.” Accessed 12 September 2024. https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/how-parliament-works/three-levels-of-government/the-responsibilities-of-the-three-levels-of-government.

Parliament of Western Australia. “About Parliament.” Accessed 12 September 2024, https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/WebCMS/webcms.nsf/content/about-parliament.

Parliament of Western Australia. “Get Involved.” Accessed 19 September 2024. https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/memblist.nsf/Getinvolved.

Parliament of Western Australia. “Home.” Accessed 12 September 2024. https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/WebCMS/WebCMS.nsf/index.

Parliament of Western Australia. “Three Branches of Government,” Accessed 19 September 2024. https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/WebCMS/webcms.nsf/resources/file-05-three-branches-of-government/$file/Fact%20Sheet%205.pdf.

Parliament of Western Australia. “Visit and Learn.”  Accessed 19 September 2024. https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/WebCMS/webcms.nsf/content/visit-and-learn.

WALGA. “Who We Are.” Accessed September 19, 2024. https://walga.asn.au/who-we-are.

WALGA. “Your Local Government.” Accessed 19 September 2024. https://walga.asn.au/your-local-government.

Western Australian Electoral Commission. “About Us.” Accessed 19 September 2024. https://www.elections.wa.gov.au/about-us. 

Western Australian Electoral Commission. “Home.” Accessed September 19, 2024. https://www.elections.wa.gov.au/.