South Australia

South Australia

South Australia

• 984,377 sq km (385,000 sq miles)• 1,500,000 population• 1,100,000 live in Adelaide • Summer mean maximum of 28°C• Winter mean maximum 16°C• Adelaide avge rainfall 529 mm (21 inches)• Exports: Wine; Wheat; Motor Vehicles;

Metals/Machinery; Wool; Fish; Meat

History of Government

• British Free Colony• First LG in Aust. –

Adelaide, 1840• Federal Constitution

divides State/Fed roles• No mention of Local

Government• State provides LG

legal framework

Local Government in SA

Structure:

• 68 Councils + OACDT + 5 Aboriginal Communities

• 68 = 15% area 97% of population of SA

• 50 Country & 18 Metro Adelaide

Local Government in SA

Democratically elected body:

• 3 year terms;

• full adult franchise;

• secret postal ballot;

• proportional representation count

• avge turnout about 40%.

Local Government in SA

• Council Members only exercise power as a group

• Meetings open to public

• No overt party politics

• CEOs manage staff (~ 8000 in SA)

Local Government in SA

Smallest: 1,160 Pop; A$1.2m

Largest: 150,000 Pop; A$100 m

Local Government in SA

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

Australia Germany Canada UK US Finland

% of public sector workforce in Local Government in various countries

Local Government in SA

Local Government Expenditure

Local Government in SA

Revenue Sources

Key Current Issues

• Infrastructure Management(A$8.8 Bn of infrastructure – A$100m p.a.

underfunding of maintenance/replacement)

• Intergovernment Relationships(partnerships, strategic planning, funding)

• Community expectations/consultation(rising standards, expectations vs resources)

• More info: www.lga.sa.gov.au