FACTBase Bulletin 6 - 'Successful' Local and Metropolitan Government Models Elsewhere: Potential Lessons for Perth?

This paper explores the political governance arrangements in five city-regions in three countries, and attempts to draw lessons for effective local government restructuring in Perth.

Key Findings

• Perth’s governance is characterised by many small to medium-sized local councils (defined by population), which are uneven in terms of size and economic base. There is also a lack of metropolitan-wide governance structures.
• Five case studies were selected and analysed to form a suggestion for Perth’s future direction in local government reform. These were: London, Vancouver, Montreal, Auckland, and Brisbane.
• Formulated from the case studies and the context Perth’s local government, four models for local government reform were produced: 1. Unitary Council 2. Nominated Metropolitan Government 3. Elected Metropolitan Council 4. Voluntary Metropolitan Representation. These all had their own strengths and weaknesses.
• Issues of importance for local government reform in Perth includes democracy and community representation, the decision-making process, perceived contributions to global competitiveness, and economies of scale.
• In order to create a successful local government reform, the recognition of the particular institutional, political, legal, socio-economic and historical context is critical.