Code of Conduct

As the capital city local government authority for Western Australia, the City of Perth is responsible for providing effective and high-quality government for residents, ratepayers and visitors, as mandated in the Local Government Act 1995 and City of Perth Act 2016.

Code of Conduct for Council Members, Committee Members and Candidates

The Council’s adopted Code of Conduct for Council Members, Committee Members and Candidates incorporates and builds upon the model code of conduct for council members, committee members and candidates prescribed by the Local Government (Model Code of Conduct) Regulations 2021, and is based on the principles of:

• accountability;
• personal integrity; and
• relationships with others.

It outlines the expected behaviours and relevant legal responsibilities for each council member, committee member and candidate, and facilitates the delivery of good governance by supporting:

• Decision making processes that are responsible, inclusive, participatory and representative and deliver outcomes which are in the best interests of community and our stakeholders
• Developing and strengthening public trust in the integrity of the City and local government.
• Strong, effective relationships between Councillors, committee members, candidates, the CEO, and employees of the City based on clear roles and responsibilities and shared principles.

The Code gives general guidance and does not describe every requirement of legislation, policies, and procedures, or all rights and obligations that would ordinarily apply under law. It is to be read in conjunction with the Local Government Act 1995 and its subsidiary regulations, and the City of Perth Act 2016.

Making a complaint - breaches of the Code

The Code of Conduct for Council Members, Committee Members, and Candidates contains certain provisions that must be strictly adhered to.

Failure to act in accordance with any of the behavioural requirements or rules or conduct may constitute a breach and be dealt with in accordance with the Local Government Act 1995.

If you suspect that a council member, committee member, or candidate has breached any of behavioural requirements or rules of conduct, you are encouraged to submit a formal complaint via the processes outlined below.

Please be aware that it is an offence under Section 8A.36 of the Local Government Act 1995 to disclose information that a complaint has been made, or to disclose information about any detail of the complaint.

Further information about making a general, behavioural, conduct or specified breach complaint (including the relevant form) is available below.

Behavioural breach complaints

Alleged breaches of the behavioural requirements of the Code are dealt with by the local government. The local government can only deal with an alleged breach if a formal complaint is made:

• using the complaint form linked below;
• to the person authorised to receive these complaints; and
• within one month of the alleged breach occurring.

Complaints of this nature are to be dealt with in accordance with the Local Government Act 1995, Local Government (Model Code of Conduct) Regulations 2021 (the “Model Code Regulations”), the Code and any relevant policies and procedures adopted by Council.

Making a behavioural breach complaint

• through the Office of the Inspector – Breach complaint form 
• through the City of Perth – Breach complaint form 

Conduct breach complaints

Failure to act in accordance with the rules of conduct or City of Perth Standing Orders Local Law 2009 may constitute a conduct breach under the Local Government Act 1995.

If you or any other person has reason to believe a conduct breach has occurred, the matter may be referred to the Local Government Inspector.

Making a conduct complaint

• through the Office of the Inspector – Breach complaint form

Specified breach complaints

A council member who commits a specified offence commits a specified breach.

A specified offence is:

• an offence under a provision listed in Schedule 8A.1 of the Act.
• an offence under a written law, other than a local law, that is prescribed by regulations as a specified offence.

A list of all specified offences is available on the Inspector’s website.

If you or any other person has reason to believe a specified breach has occurred, the matter may be referred to the Local Government Inspector.

Making a specified breach complaint

• through the Office of the Inspector – Breach complaint form

General complaints

General complaints can be made to the Inspector if a person believes that a local government or relevant person has contravened, or is contravening, a provision of the Act or its associated regulations.

General complaints cannot be made about matters which, if found to have occurred, would constitute a behavioural breach, a conduct breach or a specified breach.

Making a general complaint

• through the Office of the Inspector – complaint form

For more information on making a complaint please contact:

Code of Conduct Complaints Officer
City of Perth
GPO Box C120
Perth WA 6839

Email: [email protected]

Register of Complaints

A Register of Complaints records all complaints that result in a finding that:

• A conduct breach has occurred under section 5.110(2) of the Local Government Act 1995; or
• A behavioural breach has occurred under the City of Perth Code of Conduct for Council Members, Committee Members and Candidates.