Rate NSW Office of Local Government
The NSW Office of Local Government is generally from where policy and procedure is dissimenated to NSW Local Councils.
It prefers the pubic to take up any complaint issues directly with a respective Council, advertising on its Site that its investigation roles are limited.
Primarily the NSW Office of Local Government is concerned with providing a framework to enable Councils to operate to a high standard, it is extremely reluctant to be involved in any Council business, and has also shown reluctance to recommend the NSW Minister for Local Government initiate formal inquiries including placing a Council into administration.
As such, the public may form the view that the NSW Office of Local Government does not fulfill any function of benefit to the public.
This section of the site offers the public the opportunity to raise any concerns, in particular to openly discuss experiences in relation to the GIPA process, as well as the outcome or Determination of the request lodged with this department.
This is the first time the public will have access to a platform that gives them a voice.
All feedback is welcome, whether positive or negative. To Rate the NSW Office of Local Government, please complete the form immediately below.
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14.08.2024
Webb, T
Okay, we all know our government departments are a total joke, but this latest one takes the cake!
Today I received a letter from the Office of Local Government "BS" Department.
Finally, someone with the honesty to come clean and admit to what we already knew.
Thank you Mr Whitworth
(Perhaps that should be Witworth...........)
Read the media release and find the associated links here.
Not sure there's a rating low enough for this one.
14.10.2021
NSW Freedom of Information to NSW Office of Local Government
Requested confirmation of whether or not a Council Official in the performance of his / her duties, including as a Right to Information Officer, is under obligation to the Code of Conduct under the Local Government Act 1993
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10.10.2021
Webb, T
I have been lodging complaints and extremely detailed evidence-based reports with the OLG for a number of years about a particular NSW Local Council.
At no time whatsoever has this office conducted a single enquiry with the agency concerned. Yes, it’s always the same agency.
I know this because I made specific enquiries with the OLG asking for copies of records regarding the reports and complaints, to be told words to the effect “there are no records, no notes, no files pertaining to your reports, and if there were any they would not be provided to you anyway.” So much for the complaints and reporting policy.
When I asked for a formal investigation under the Local Government Act 1993 the OLG stated it did not have the powers to initiate an investigation and I should petition the NSW Minister for Local Government.
The NSW Minister for Local Government replied in like fashion, also stating there were no powers to initiate an investigation. (Obviously some other Minister recently investigated Central Coast Council……..???)
At one stage I accurately documented over 1,200 separate breaches of numerous pieces of legislation, siting detailed file numbers, persons involved, persons with knowledge of the breaches, and absolutely nothing was done, apparently not even a post-it note of information indicating any staff member had read a single word.
In November 2015 a Code of Conduct report authored by me, was forwarded from an agency to the OLG for consideration. The bundle of documents had been collated by a senior executive of the agency. In the documentation was a copy of a false and misleading letter, a letter which stated that apprehended violence orders had been issued against my husband and I, that police had been called to our neighbourhood due to our behaviour, that we had personally attacked council staff, and that we presented a serious risk to public safety.
The author of the false and misleading letter was the person who had collated the information for the OLG. His covering letter to the OLG stated he’d included “additional information” for the OLG’s information.
Despite the OLG being informed the letter was false, no action was taken against the senior executive.
Not surprisingly, no action was taken about the Code of Conduct Report either.
Such is the degree of scrutiny and / or accountability I have come to expect from the NSW Office of Local Government.
Disgracefully lazy and completely ineffectual is a gross understatement, with the taking of no action whatsoever about a NSW Local Council deliberately and continually acting with professional misconduct, if not unlawful conduct, giving the green light as a result. I remain oblivious to what exactly is its function and purpose, disregarding the meaningless dribble on its website.
At no time whatsoever has this office conducted a single enquiry with the agency concerned. Yes, it’s always the same agency.
I know this because I made specific enquiries with the OLG asking for copies of records regarding the reports and complaints, to be told words to the effect “there are no records, no notes, no files pertaining to your reports, and if there were any they would not be provided to you anyway.” So much for the complaints and reporting policy.
When I asked for a formal investigation under the Local Government Act 1993 the OLG stated it did not have the powers to initiate an investigation and I should petition the NSW Minister for Local Government.
The NSW Minister for Local Government replied in like fashion, also stating there were no powers to initiate an investigation. (Obviously some other Minister recently investigated Central Coast Council……..???)
At one stage I accurately documented over 1,200 separate breaches of numerous pieces of legislation, siting detailed file numbers, persons involved, persons with knowledge of the breaches, and absolutely nothing was done, apparently not even a post-it note of information indicating any staff member had read a single word.
In November 2015 a Code of Conduct report authored by me, was forwarded from an agency to the OLG for consideration. The bundle of documents had been collated by a senior executive of the agency. In the documentation was a copy of a false and misleading letter, a letter which stated that apprehended violence orders had been issued against my husband and I, that police had been called to our neighbourhood due to our behaviour, that we had personally attacked council staff, and that we presented a serious risk to public safety.
The author of the false and misleading letter was the person who had collated the information for the OLG. His covering letter to the OLG stated he’d included “additional information” for the OLG’s information.
Despite the OLG being informed the letter was false, no action was taken against the senior executive.
Not surprisingly, no action was taken about the Code of Conduct Report either.
Such is the degree of scrutiny and / or accountability I have come to expect from the NSW Office of Local Government.
Disgracefully lazy and completely ineffectual is a gross understatement, with the taking of no action whatsoever about a NSW Local Council deliberately and continually acting with professional misconduct, if not unlawful conduct, giving the green light as a result. I remain oblivious to what exactly is its function and purpose, disregarding the meaningless dribble on its website.