2.1.1 Local Government Act

2.1.1.1  The Local Government Act should be the major defining legislation for Local Government powers and functions.  To the extent that it is possible, Local Government powers should not be located in other Acts.

2.1.1.2  The term of office of a Local Government Council, prescribed in the Local Government Act, to remain a fixed term of four (4) years.

2.1.1.3  The legal status of Local Government in Queensland should be that of a body corporate to provide the necessary protection to councillors and officers in the performance of their roles and responsibilities and secure the status of local governments in dealing with other spheres of government and the private sector.

2.1.2 Legislation/Compliance

2.1.2.1  Legislation affecting Local Government in Queensland should be framed recognising the variety of capacity, size, resources, skills and physical location of Local Governments and should not be seen as 'one size fits all model'. 

2.1.2.2  Additional compliance placed on Local Government by the State should take into consideration risk management and materiality, and the value of transparency to the community and should not be based on simply aligning Local Government with State Government. 

2.1.2.3  The State Government should with the spirit and intent of Chapter 7 Part 3 of the Constitution of Queensland Act 2001 namely "arrange for a summary of the Bill to be given to a body representing local governments in the State a reasonable time before the Bill is introduced in the Legislative Assembly".