Council Elections

Published on 31 August 2014

Australia is a representative democracy, which means we elect representatives to make decisions on our behalf. In Australia, voters elect representatives at regular intervals to each of the three levels of government; Federal Government, State Government and local councils. Each level has different responsibilities.

It is the right and responsibility of everyone on the electoral roll to vote. This ensures that everyone's preference is accounted for and that our elected representatives genuinely are those preferred by the majority of the electorate.

The councillors you elect make decisions on a range of local issues. Their responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• maternal and child health care centres;
• child care;
• meals on wheels and home help;
• sporting facilities and recreation reserves;
• libraries and community centres;
• animal registrations;
• town planning and building regulations; and
• local roads and footpaths.