Local government in Queensland

This article is about local government in Queensland. For a list of local government areas, see Local government areas of Queensland.

Types of LGAs in Queensland since 2014:
Red=Aboriginal Shires
Green=Cities
Yellow=Regions
Orange=Shires
Purple=Town Map of local government areas in Queensland, 2008–2013

Local government in Queensland, Australia, includes the institutions and processes by which towns and districts can manage their own affairs to the extent permitted by the Local Government Act 1993–2007. Queensland is divided into 78 local government areas, which may be called Cities, Towns, Shires, or Regions.[1] Each area has a council that is responsible for providing a range of public services and utilities and derives its income from both rates and charges on resident ratepayers and grants and subsidies from the state and Commonwealth governments.[2]

As bodies which obtain their legitimacy from an Act of the Queensland Parliament, local councils are subordinate rather than sovereign entities[3] and can be created, amalgamated, abolished, or dismissed by the state at will. In modern practice, however, decisions on such matters are made in response to recommendations by independent Reform Commissions, such as the Electoral and Administrative Reform Commission (1990–1993) and the Local Government Reform Commission (2007). Recent reforms, which took effect on 15 March 2008, resulted in over 70% of Queensland's local government areas being amalgamated into larger entities and generated a considerable degree of controversy, even attracting national interest in the context of a federal election campaign.[4]

As a result of Queensland and New South Wales local government amalgamations, Australia's three largest-by-population local government areas are all in Queensland:

Rank  | Local government area  | Population
(2018)[5] | Population (2021)

|
|
|

1 | City of Brisbane | 1,231,605[5] | 1,242,825[6]
2  | City of Gold Coast | 606,774[5] | 625,087[7]
3  | City of Moreton Bay | 459,585[5] | 476,340[8]

## History and development

[edit]

### Early history

[edit]

The first example of local government in the Queensland area came before the separation of Queensland from New South Wales. The Municipalities Act 1858[9] allowed for the creation of a municipality upon the petition of not less than 50 householders within a defined area. If no counter-petition with more signatures was received, the Governor was able to declare a municipality in the region.[10] Two types of municipalities were possible under the Act: boroughs, which had a minimum population of 1,000, a maximum area of 9 sq mi (23.3 km2) and no two parts being more than 6 miles (9.66 km) apart; and municipal districts, with a minimum population of 500 and a maximum area of 50 sq mi (129.5 km2). Once a municipality had been proclaimed, ratepayers could elect a council to represent them.[11]

Municipalities created in Queensland, 1858–77

The first to be declared was Brisbane, with a population of 5,000 and an area of 14.25 square kilometres (5.5 sq mi). Its first attempt in January 1859 was unsuccessful due to a counter-petition, but its second attempt with 420 signatories was gazetted on 25 May 1859 and proclaimed by the Governor of New South Wales on 7 September 1859.[12] On 16 November, a petition containing 91 signatures was received seeking to have Ipswich, which had 3,000 people, granted municipal town status. On 29 November, the letters patent authorised by Queen Victoria, which were to make Queensland a separate colony, were published in New South Wales, and the petition was forwarded to the new Queensland governor, Sir George Ferguson Bowen. On 10 December 1859, the same day that the letters patent were published in Queensland, the petition was regazetted. On 3 March 1860, the Town of Ipswich was proclaimed.[13][14]

Following this, eight other councils obtained municipality status under the Act: Toowoomba (19 November 1860), Rockhampton (13 December 1860), Maryborough (23 March 1861), Warwick (25 May 1861), Drayton (1862), Gladstone (20 February 1863), Bowen (7 August 1863) and Dalby (21 August 1863).

By 1879, almost all of Queensland was under some form of local administration, either as a municipality under the Local Government Act 1878 or as a division under the Divisional Boards Act 1879.

### Municipal Institutions Act

[edit]

In September 1864, the first comprehensive Queensland local government legislation, the Municipal Institutions Act 1864, was enacted, repealing the previous Act.[15] The Act allowed municipalities to charge rates, borrow money, enact bylaws, control or regulate public infrastructure and utilities, and provide public amenities such as gardens and hospitals.[16][17]

The system for creating new municipalities was redesigned. Firstly, a signed petition had to be presented to the Governor from a minimum of 100 householders to create a new district or divide an existing one, or a minimum of 50 householders to extend an existing district to cover a neighbouring rural area. Once this had been done, the Governor could proclaim the change, and residents could then elect a council to represent them. Any man over the age of 21 who was a tenant, occupier, landlord, or proprietor within the municipality could vote, and they were entitled to between one and three votes depending on the level of rates they paid. Only qualified voters could stand for council elections, conducted annually, with one-third of the councillors retiring at each election. Once the council was elected, they selected a mayor from among their number. For the first time, municipalities could be divided into wards upon their own request—from two wards for a population under 1,000 to four wards for a population over 5,000.[18]

During the 14 years that the Act was in force, the Drayton municipality was abolished in 1875, and nine new municipalities were created: Townsville (15 February 1866), Gayndah (28 November 1866), Clermont (21 January 1867), Roma (21 May 1867), Allora (21 July 1869), Mackay (22 September 1869), Copperfield (10 May 1872), Cooktown (3 April 1876) and Charters Towers (21 June 1877).[18]

### The dual system

[edit]

Map of local government divisions in Queensland, 1902

The Queensland Government passed the Local Government Act 1878 in August of that year. According to the Act, the function of municipal councils was to maintain "the good rule and government of the municipality" and to provide public services and amenities. Examples of such anticipated by the Act included parks and reserves, libraries, cemeteries, water and sanitation services, roads, bridges, wharves, street lighting, public health, fire prevention, the regulation of building construction, and the regulation and issuing of a range of licences for uses of land.[19] It made provision for the creation of additional municipalities to be known as Cities, Boroughs, or Shires, either upon or without petition.[17] Any man or woman over the age of 21 who was liable to be rated on any property in the district was eligible to vote in elections, which were to be held every February. In most other respects, the Local Government Act followed on from the 1864 Act.[20]

The Act was modelled on the Victorian Local Government Act 1874, but the legislation soon proved unsuitable to Queensland's requirements given its large, sparsely populated areas. The Government's response was the Divisional Boards Act 1879, which intended to extend local government to those areas of Queensland which could not be included in municipalities. The Act divided all lands in the Colony not already included into municipalities into 74 divisions, each governed by a Board of between 3 and 9 members. Elections were to be conducted by postal ballot.[20]

## Twentieth century

[edit]

With the passing of the Local Authorities Act 1902, which repealed both previous acts and extended councils' authority over the areas they controlled, the municipalities became Towns (unless they had City status), and the divisions became Shires on 31 March 1903. In 1915–1917 and again in 1949, significant changes were made to local government in south-eastern Queensland and far northern Queensland.

The Local Authorities Act Amendment Bill was passed in late 1920. It introduced adult franchise into local government elections, bringing them into line with the state and federal parliament (previously, the voters were restricted to ratepayers). From July 1921, local councils were elected every three years instead of annually. Mayors and shire chairmen were elected directly by the electorate and did not represent any ward within the local government area; previously, the council members elected the mayor/chairman from among themselves. Minimum standards of competency were required for town/shire clerks.[21]

By the time the Local Government Act 1936 came into effect, although the different categories of local government areas still existed, they were essentially a naming convention and had no practical meaning under the Act. A City had to be proclaimed by the Governor following certain criteria being met.

In 1925, a number of local governments in Brisbane were amalgamated into the City of Brisbane, covering what was then the entire metropolitan area. Its council, Brisbane City Council, effectively became a "super-council" with some powers normally reserved for the state. It has its own Act of Parliament, the City of Brisbane Act 1924, and, as at 2021, a population of 1,242,825.[6] Due to population growth and suburban spread, however, almost half of metropolitan Brisbane's population actually lives in neighbouring areas such as Ipswich, Logan, Moreton Bay, and Redland, which are all managed under the Local Government Act.

In 1989, the Electoral and Administrative Review Commission was set up to investigate and report on a range of reforms to Queensland public administration, and one area of its purview was the Local Government Act 1936 and local council boundaries. As a result of its recommendations, the Goss Labor government then in charge amalgamated several councils, and a new Local Government Act 1993 was introduced.

### Indigenous councils

[edit]

In the mid-1980s, with the passage of the Community Services (Torres Strait) Act 1984 and Community Services (Aborigines) Act 1984, many former Aboriginal reserves (created under the Aboriginals Protection and Restriction of the Sale of Opium Act 1897 and its successors) and missions (particularly in the Cape York region) and several Torres Strait islands were granted by way of a Deed of Grant in Trust to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities. Formally recognised management bodies known as Indigenous community councils (or DOGIT councils) were set up to administer the land covered in the deed on behalf of the community. These bodies had quite different responsibilities to traditional local governments due to the nature of land ownership involved and the different relationships of the council to the community. In 2005–2007, as part of the Queensland Government's response to the Cape York Justice Study undertaken by Justice Fitzgerald QC in November 2001,[22] these bodies became "Aboriginal Shire Councils" and "Island Councils" and obtained additional powers associated with local governments. A considerable number of them were amalgamated in 2008 into either the Torres Strait Island Region or the Northern Peninsula Area Region, which are Local Government Act bodies with special features, with lower-order community councils once again managing individual deeds and grants.

## Twenty-first century

[edit]

### 2008 local government amalgamations

[edit]

The Local Government Reform Commission was an independent, purpose-specific authority established by the Beattie Labor Queensland Government on 1 May 2007 to recommend the most appropriate future structure and boundaries for local government in Queensland. This was in part due to the number of financially weak councils with small populations in rural areas, dating from an earlier time when industry and population had justified their creation.

Every local government was reviewed, except Brisbane City Council, already having the largest population of any local government area in Australia.

#### Background

[edit]

With concern about the sustainability of Queensland local governments, the Local Government Association of Queensland instigated reform of local government. Of the 156 councils, 118 agreed to investigate their long-term future through the Size, Shape, and Sustainability (SSS) program; however, it failed to deliver timely, meaningful reform. The Commission reported back on 27 July 2007, recommending massive amalgamations all over the state into "regions" administered by regional councils and centred on major towns or centres, based on a range of criteria such as economy of scale, the community of interest, and financial sustainability. Some changes happened in much larger areas as well – the Sunshine Coast was to come under one local authority instead of three, as was the Moreton Bay region to the north of Brisbane; Beaudesert was split into urban/planned urban and rural sections, with the former going to Logan, and the twin cities of Townsville and Thuringowa in North Queensland were merged.

The Minister for Local Government wrote to all Mayors in March 2007, requesting they assess the progress of the SSS program, what they believed the SSS reform agenda could achieve, and in what time frame. The responses to the Minister showed that significant reform was not going to be achieved by the SSS program before the next local government elections, due in March 2008.

The Queensland Treasury Corporation prepared financial sustainability reviews for 105 councils. The reviews found that some 40% were regarded as being in financially "weak", "very weak", or "distressed" conditions. Other studies by a number of independent bodies – such as the Queensland Auditor-General of Queensland, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and McGrath Nichol – found similar financial problems with the local government sector.

To effect significant reform, the independent Local Government Reform Commission was established to recommend the most appropriate boundaries and structure for Queensland's local governments.

The amalgamation program was not without considerable controversy in many of the affected areas and even a threat of Federal intervention from the Howard government, who funded plebiscites on the change in December 2007 in many affected areas, which recorded a strong "No" vote in most cases but with fairly low turnout by Australian referendum standards.

On 10 August 2007, the Commission's amalgamation recommendations were passed into law as the Local Government (Reform Implementation) Act 2007, with only a few name changes as alterations. "Local Transition Committees" (LTCs) were created for each new area, made up of councillors and staff from the original areas, and on 15 March 2008, the old entities formally ceased to exist, and elections were held to fill the new councils.

#### Commission members

[edit]

The Commission was a panel of seven:

* Bob Longland (Chair) – a former Electoral Commissioner for Queensland.
* Di McCauley – former Queensland Local Government and Planning Minister from 1996 to 1998.
* Tom Pyne – former President of the Local Government Association of Queensland and former Mayor of Cairns.
* Sir Leo Hielscher – Chair of Queensland Treasury Corporation.
* Terry Mackenroth – former Deputy Premier and Treasurer and a Member of Queensland Parliament from 1977 to 2005.
* Bob Quinn – former Leader of the Queensland Liberal Party.
* Kevin Yearbury – former Electoral Commissioner and Director-General of the Local Government and Planning Department.

#### Report and recommendations

[edit]

On 27 July 2007, the Commission handed down recommendations that included the names, classes, boundaries, and electoral arrangements for Queensland's new local government areas. The Commission recommended Queensland's 156 councils be reduced to 72, 32 Aboriginal and island councils will be reduced to 14, and as a result, 724 fewer elected council representatives.[23]

The recommendations divided Queensland's mayors and sparked angry campaigns and protests against the reforms.[24] Some affected councils proposed to hold referendums on amalgamations[25] with threats of dismissal if they went ahead.[26]

Then Premier Peter Beattie vowed to implement the proposed boundary changes "lock, stock, and barrel" although, at the time, he said he'd be open to consensus suggestions from the Councils to be amalgamated as to the names of the new Councils and the electoral divisions within the Local Government Areas.

The Opposition leader, Jeff Seeney, pledged to de-amalgamate councils with community support by way of a poll if they came to office.[27]

#### Outcomes

[edit]

The Parliament of Queensland passed the Local Government (Reform Implementation) Act 2007 on 10 August 2007, following which Local Transition Committees were established to guide the reforms and appoint interim CEOs (Chief Executive Officers) to manage changes from October through to February 2008.

In September 2007, Premier Beattie resigned from the Queensland Parliament, and, under the new Premier, Anna Bligh, on 15 March 2008, local government elections were held successfully,[28] and on this date, the Local Government Reform Commission's recommended local government areas came into being across the whole of Queensland.

### De-amalgamation

[edit]

Main article: 2013 Queensland local elections

Despite the creation of the new local government authorities in 2008, many citizens continued to object to the council amalgamations. During the 2012 Queensland state election campaign, the Liberal National Party promised to reconsider the amalgamations. Having won government on 24 March 2012, they invited former shires wishing to de-amalgamate to make submissions which:

* demonstrated that it was financially viable to de-amalgamate
* accepted that the re-established shire would bear the full costs of de-amalgamation
* was supported by the signatures of at least 20% of the voters in the former shires.

Viable proposals would then be put to a referendum of citizens in the former shire for a majority vote on de-amalgamation.[29] Submissions were received from 19 communities,[30] but only four submissions were found to be viable proposals: Douglas,[31] Livingstone,[32] Mareeba,[33] and Noosa.[34]

On 9 March 2013, citizens of the former shires of Douglas, Livingstone, Mareeba and Noosa voted in de-amalgamation referendums. In all four cases, a majority voted in favour of de-amalgamation.[35] As a result, the Queensland Government enacted the Local Government (De-amalgamation Implementation) Regulation 2013 on 11 April 2013 to implement the de-amalgamations, which will separate:

* the Shire of Douglas from the Cairns Region
* the Shire of Livingstone from the Rockhampton Region
* the Shire of Mareeba from the Tablelands Region
* the Shire of Noosa from the Sunshine Coast Region

based on the boundaries of the four former shires at the time of amalgamation in 2008. Elections for the four affected shires were held on 9 November 2013, and the changes officially took effect from 1 January 2014, and[36][37]

## Political composition

[edit]

See also: List of local government political parties in Australia § Queensland

This section is an excerpt from 2024 Queensland local elections § Council control.[edit]

LGA  | Elected mayor | Council control

|
|

Mayor  | Party  | 2020 result | 2024 result
Aurukun |  | Barbara Bandicootcha  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Balonne |  | Samantha O'Toole  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Banana |  | Neville Ferrier  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Barcaldine |  | Rob Chandler  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Barcoo |  | Sally O'Neil  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Blackall-Tambo |  | Andrew Martin  | Independent LNP |  | Independent |  | Independent
Boulia |  | Eric (Rick) Britton  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Brisbane |  | Adrian Schrinner | Liberal National |  | Liberal National |  | Liberal National
Bulloo |  | John (Tractor) Ferguson  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Bundaberg |  | Helen Blackburn  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Burdekin |  | Pierina Dalle Cort  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Burke |  | Ernie Camp  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Cairns |  | Amy Eden | Team Eden |  | Cairns Unity |  | No overall control
Carpentaria |  | Jack Bawden  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Cassowary Coast |  | Teresa Millwood  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Central Highlands |  | Janice Moriarty  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Charters Towers |  | Liz Schmidt  | Independent LNP |  | Independent |  | Independent
Cherbourg |  | Bruce Simpson  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Cloncurry |  | Greg Campbell  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Cook |  | Robyn Holmes  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Croydon |  | Trevor Pickering  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Diamantina |  | Francis Murray  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Doomadgee |  | Fredrick O'Keefe  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Douglas |  | Lisa Scomazzon  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Etheridge |  | Barry Hughes  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Flinders |  | Kate Peddle  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Fraser Coast |  | George Seymour | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Gladstone |  | Matt Burnett  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Gold Coast |  | Tom Tate | Independent LNP |  | Independent LNP |  | Independent LNP
Goondiwindi |  | Laurence Springborg | Independent LNP |  | Independent |  | Independent
Gympie |  | Glen Hartwig  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Hinchinbrook |  | Ramon Jayo  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Hope Vale |  | Bruce Gibson  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Ipswich |  | Teresa Harding | Independent LNP |  | No overall control |  | No overall control
Isaac |  | Kelly Vea Vea  | Independent Labor |  | Independent |  | Independent
Kowanyama |  | Territa Dick  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Livingstone |  | Adam Belot  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Lockhart River |  | Wayne Butcher  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Lockyer Valley |  | Tanya Milligan  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Logan |  | Jon Raven | Independent Labor |  | Independent |  | Independent
Longreach |  | Tony Rayner  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Mackay |  | Greg Williamson | Team Greg Williamson |  | Greg Williamson Alliance |  | No overall control
Mapoon |  | Ronaldo Guivarro  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Maranoa |  | Wendy Taylor  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Mareeba |  | Angela Toppin  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
McKinlay |  | Janene Fegan  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Moreton Bay |  | Peter Flannery | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Mornington |  | Richard Sewter  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Mount Isa |  | Peta MacRae  | Team MacRae |  |  |  |
Murweh |  | Shaun Radnedge  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Napranum |  | Roy Chevathen  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Noosa |  | Frank Wilkie  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
North Burnett |  | Les Hotz  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Northern Peninsula |  | Robert Poipoi  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Palm Island |  | Alf Lacey  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Paroo |  | Suzette Beresford  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Pormpuraaw |  | Ralph Kendall  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Quilpie |  | Benjamin Hall  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Redland |  | Jos Mitchell  | Leading Change |  | Independent |  | Independent
Richmond |  | John Wharton  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Rockhampton |  | Tony Williams  | Independent Labor |  | Independent |  | Independent
Scenic Rim |  | Tom Sharp  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Somerset |  | Jason Wendt  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
South Burnett |  | Kathy Duff  | Independent LNP |  | Independent |  | Independent
Southern Downs |  | Melissa Hamilton  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Sunshine Coast |  | Rosanna Natoli | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Tablelands |  | Rod Marti  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Toowoomba |  | Geoff McDonald  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Torres |  | Elsie Seriat  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Torres Strait Islands |  | Phillemon Mosby  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Townsville |  | Troy Thompson | Independent |  | Team Jenny Hill |  | No overall control
Western Downs |  | Andrew Smith  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Whistunday |  | Ry Collins  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Winton |  | Cathy White  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Woorabinda |  | Terence Munns  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Wujal Wujal |  | Alister Gibson  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent
Yarrabah |  | Daryl Sexton  | Independent |  | Independent |  | Independent

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Local Government Act 1993 Archived 10 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine, s.34. (Reprint 11E, as in force at 22 November 2007.)
2. ^ Department of Local Government, Sport and Recreation (Queensland) (26 July 2007). "Rates and valuations". Archived from the original on 19 March 2008. Retrieved 5 April 2008.
3. ^ Harris, C.P. (1985). Occasional Paper No. 35: Local Government in Queensland. Canberra: Australian National University. p. 2\. ISBN 0-86784-567-8.
4. ^ Van Vonderen, Jessica (10 August 2007). "Week in parliament". Stateline (ABC). Archived from the original on 11 May 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2008.
5. ^ a b c d "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017-18: Population Estimates by Local Government Area (ASGS 2018), 2017 to 2018". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.
6. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Brisbane (LGA)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
7. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Gold Coast (LGA)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
8. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Moreton Bay (LGA)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
9. ^ 22 Vic No. 13 (Imp), assented 27 October 1858
10. ^ Larcombe, F.A. (Frederick) (1973). The Origin of Local Government in New South Wales 1831–58. Sydney University Press. pp. 269–270, 273. ISBN 0-424-06610-6.
11. ^ Harris, C.P. (1978). Local government and regionalism in Queensland. Australian National University. p. 13\. ISBN 0-7081-1355-9.
12. ^ Larcombe (1973), pp270, 274.
13. ^ National Archives of Australia (2005). "Letters Patent erecting Colony of Queensland 6 June 1859 (UK)". Archived from the original on 22 July 2008. Retrieved 14 March 2008.
14. ^ Ipswich City Council (17 October 2007). "Council History". Archived from the original on 10 April 2008. Retrieved 14 March 2008.
15. ^ 28 Vic No. 21 (Imp). Section 1 repealed the previous Act.
16. ^ Queensland State Archives (2006). "Agency Details – Brisbane Municipal Council". Archived from the original on 8 September 2007. Retrieved 5 April 2008.
17. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics, Queensland Office (1977). "(1301.3) Queensland Year Book". Yearbook Queensland: 89–90\. ISSN 0085-5359.
18. ^ a b Harris (1978), pp14-15.
19. ^ Queensland State Archives (2006). "Agency Details – Townsville Municipal Council". Archived from the original on 9 June 2009. Retrieved 7 April 2008.
20. ^ a b Harris (1978), p.17-18.
21. ^ "QUEENSLAND PARLIAMENT". The Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton, Qld. 31 December 1920. p. 6\. Archived from the original on 31 March 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2015 - via National Library of Australia.
22. ^ McDougall, Scott (January 2006). Palm Island: Future Directions – Resource Officer Report (PDF). Brisbane, Queensland: Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy. p. 27\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 July 2007.
23. ^ "Amalgamations to cut half Qld's local councils". ABC News. 27 July 2007. Archived from the original on 12 June 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2007.
24. ^ "Thousands protest Qld council mergers". Brisbane Times. Australian Associated Press. 3 August 2007. Archived from the original on 30 October 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2007.
25. ^ Pace, Daniel (30 July 2007). "Rebellious Qld councils face sack". brisbanetimes.com.au. Archived from the original on 15 May 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2007.
26. ^ "Sack threats force council referendum abandonment". ABC News. 30 July 2007. Archived from the original on 9 December 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2007.
27. ^ Australian Associated Press (28 July 2007). "Beattie to brave local councils backlash". brisbanetimes.com.au. Retrieved 5 August 2007.
28. ^ Electoral Results, Maps, and Other Information from Electoral Commission of Queensland website Archived 26 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine retrieved 17 April 2008
29. ^ "De-amalgamation fact sheet" (PDF). Queensland Government. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
30. ^ "Strong interest in De-amalgamation". Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
31. ^ "A Proposal to the Minister for Local Government Hourable David Crisafulli M.P. in support of de-amalgamation of the former Douglas Shire from Cairns Regional Council" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
32. ^ "Capricorn Coast Regional Council & Rockhampton Regional Council: a Partnership Approach for Sound Regional Governance: Unity and strength with community of interest representation: De-amalgamation Submission to the Queensland Boundary Commissioner August 2012" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
33. ^ "Proposal to de-amalgamate Mareeba from the combined Tablelands Regional Council" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
34. ^ "Proposal regarding the de-amalgamation of Noosa" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
35. ^ "Queensland local councils vote to go it alone in de-amalgamation vote". Courier-Mail. 10 March 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
36. ^ "De-amalgamation". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 26 August 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
37. ^ "Local Government (De-amalgamation Implementation) Regulation 2013" (PDF). Local Government Act 2009. Queensland Government. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 May 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2013.

## External links

[edit]

* Local Government Queensland
* Local Government directory
* Local Government Act 1993 (AustLII)
* Local Government Act 2009: Local Government (De-amalgamation Implementation) Regulation 2013, current as at 12 April 2013
* "Table 1: Population growth and turnover in Local Government Areas (LGAs), 2006 to 2011". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 25 November 2009. Retrieved 10 August 2015. – Spreadsheet of population data for local government areas in the 2006 and 2011 Australian census

* v
* t
* e

Local government areas of Queensland

South East|

* Brisbane
* Gold Coast
* Ipswich
* Lockyer Valley
* Logan
* Moreton Bay
* Noosa
* Redland
* Scenic Rim
* Somerset
* Sunshine Coast

Wide Bay–Burnett|

* Bundaberg
* Cherbourg
* Fraser Coast
* Gympie
* North Burnett
* South Burnett

Darling Downs|

* Goondiwindi
* Southern Downs
* Toowoomba
* Western Downs

Central|

* Banana
* Central Highlands
* Gladstone
* Isaac
* Livingstone
* Mackay
* Rockhampton
* Whitsunday
* Woorabinda

North|

* Burdekin
* Charters Towers
* Hinchinbrook
* Palm Island
* Townsville

Far North|

* Aurukun
* Cairns
* Cassowary Coast
* Cook
* Douglas
* Hope Vale
* Kowanyama
* Lockhart River
* Mapoon
* Mareeba
* Napranum
* Northern Peninsula Area
* Pormpuraaw
* Tablelands
* Torres
* Torres Strait Island
* Weipa
* Wujal Wujal
* Yarrabah

North West|

* Burke
* Carpentaria
* Cloncurry
* Croydon
* Doomadgee
* Etheridge
* Flinders
* Mckinlay
* Mornington
* Mount Isa
* Richmond

Central West|

* Barcaldine
* Barcoo
* Blackall-Tambo
* Boulia
* Diamantina
* Longreach
* Winton

South West|

* Balonne
* Bulloo
* Maranoa
* Murweh
* Paroo
* Quilpie

* v
* t
* e

Former local government areas of Queensland

Cities|

* Bundaberg
* Cairns
* Caloundra
* Charters Towers
* Gladstone
* Gympie
* Hervey Bay
* Mackay
* Maryborough
* Redcliffe
* Rockhampton
* South Brisbane
* Thuringowa
* Toowoomba
* Warwick

Towns|

* Allora
* Beaudesert
* Blackall
* Brisbane
* Bowen
* Bundaberg
* Charleville
* Clermont
* Cooktown
* Coolangatta
* Croydon
* Dalby
* Gayndah
* Goondiwindi
* Hamilton
* Hughenden
* Ithaca
* Laidley
* Mount Morgan
* Newtown
* Normanton
* North Rockhampton
* Roma
* Sandgate
* South Coast
* Southport
* Thursday Island
* Toowong
* Warwick
* Windsor
* Wynnum

Boroughs/Municipalities|

* Allora
* Blackall
* Bowen
* Brisbane
* Bundaberg
* Cairns
* Charleville
* Charters Towers
* Clermont
* Cooktown
* Croydon
* Dalby
* Gayndah
* Gladstone
* Goondiwindi
* Gympie
* Herberton
* Hughenden
* Ipswich
* Mackay
* Maryborough
* Mount Morgan
* Normanton
* North Rockhampton
* Rockhampton
* Roma
* Sandgate
* South Brisbane
* St George
* Toowoomba
* Townsville
* Warwick

Shires|

* Adavale
* Albert
* Allora
* Antigua
* Aramac
* Atherton
* Auburn
* Ayr
* Balmoral
* Barcaldine
* Barclay/Barkly Tableland
* Barolin
* Barron
* Bauhinia
* Beaudesert
* Beenleigh
* Belmont
* Belyando
* Bendemere
* Biggenden
* Blackall
* Boonah
* Booringa
* Bowen
* Brassall
* Broadsound
* Bundamba/Bundanba
* Bungil
* Burnett
* Burrum
* Caboolture
* Cairns
* Calliope
* Calliungal
* Cambooya
* Cardwell
* Chillagoe
* Chinchilla
* Cleveland
* Clifton
* Cooloola
* Coomera
* Coorparoo
* Crows Nest
* Daintree
* Dalrymple
* Degilbo
* Drayton
* Duaringa
* Eacham
* Eidsvold
* Einasleigh
* Emerald
* Enoggera
* Esk
* Fitzroy
* Gatton
* Gayndah
* Glengallan
* Gogango
* Gooburrum
* Goolman
* Gowrie
* Granville
* Hann
* Herberton
* Hervey Bay
* Highfields
* Howard
* Hughenden
* Ilfracombe
* Indooroopilly
* Inglewood
* Ipswich
* Isis
* Isisford
* Ithaca
* Jericho
* Johnstone
* Jondaryan
* Kargoolnah
* Kedron
* Kilcoy
* Kilkivan
* Kingaroy
* Kolan
* Laidley
* Landsborough
* Longreach
* Lowood
* Mackinlay
* Maroochy
* Middle Ridge
* Millmerran
* Mirani
* Miriam Vale
* Moggill
* Monto
* Moreton
* Mount Morgan
* Mulgrave
* Mundubbera
* Murgon
* Murilla
* Mutdapilly
* Nanango
* Nebo
* Nerang
* Normanby
* Peak Downs
* Perry
* Pialba
* Pine / Pine Rivers
* Pioneer
* Pittsworth
* Proserpine
* Purga
* Queenton
* Ravenswood
* Rawbelle
* Rosalie
* Rosenthal
* Rosewood
* Sarina
* Sherwood
* Southport
* Stanthorpe
* Stephens
* Tabragalba
* Tambo
* Tamborine/Tambourine
* Tara
* Tarampa
* Taringa
* Taroom
* Theodore
* Tiaro
* Tinana
* Tinaroo
* Tingalpa
* Toombul
* Toowong
* Waggamba
* Walloon
* Walsh
* Wambo
* Wangaratta
* Warroo
* Warwick
* Waterford
* Whitsunday
* Widgee
* Wienholt
* Windsor
* Wondai
* Woocoo
* Woongarra
* Woothakata
* Wyangarie
* Yeerongpilly

Divisions|

* Adavale
* Antigua
* Aramac
* Ayr
* Ballandean
* Balmoral
* Balonne
* Banana
* Barambah
* Barcaldine
* Barcoo
* Barolin
* Barron
* Bauhinia
* Beenleigh
* Belmont
* Belyando
* Booringa
* Booroodabin
* Boulia
* Brassall
* Broadsound
* Bulimba
* Bulloo
* Bundaberg
* Bundanba
* Bungil
* Burke
* Burrum
* Caboolture
* Cairns
* Calliope
* Cardwell
* Carpentaria
* Cleveland
* Clifton
* Cloncurry
* Coomera
* Croydon
* Daintree
* Dalrymple
* Diamantina
* Doonmunya
* Douglas
* Duaringa
* Durundur
* Eidsvold
* Einasleigh
* Emerald
* Enoggera
* Esk
* Fitzroy
* Glastonbury
* Glengallan
* Gogango
* Gooburrum
* Goolman
* Gowrie
* Granville
* Gregory
* Gympie
* Hamilton
* Hann
* Herberton
* Highfields
* Hinchinbrook
* Howard
* Hughenden
* Ilfracombe
* Indooroopilly
* Inglewood
* Isis
* Ithaca
* Johnstone
* Jondaryan
* Kargoolnah
* Kedron
* Kianawah
* Kilkivan
* Kolan
* Laidley
* Longreach
* Mackinlay
* Maroochy
* Miriam Vale
* Murilla
* Murweh
* Mutdapilly
* Nanango
* Nebo
* Nerang
* Nogoa
* Normanby
* Nundah
* Paroo
* Peak Downs
* Perry
* Pine
* Pioneer
* Purga
* Ravenswood
* Rawbelle
* Redcliffe
* Rosalie
* Rosenthal
* Rosewood
* Sherwood
* Southport
* Stanthorpe
* Stephens
* Tabragalba
* Tambo
* Tambourine
* Tarampa
* Taringa
* Taroom
* Thuringowa
* Tiaro
* Tinana
* Tinaroo
* Tingalpa
* Toombul
* Toowong
* Torres
* Ula Ula
* Waggamba
* Walloon
* Wallumbilla
* Walsh
* Wambo
* Wangaratta
* Warroo
* Waterford
* Widgee
* Winton
* Wooloongabba
* Woongarra
* Woothakata
* Wynnum
* Yeerongpilly

Lists|

* List of former local government areas of Queensland
* List of divisional boards in Queensland

* v
* t
* e

Lists of mayors in Queensland

South East|

* Brisbane
* Gold Coast
* Ipswich
* Lockyer Valley
* Logan
* Moreton Bay
* Noosa
* Redland
* Scenic Rim
* Somerset
* Sunshine Coast

Wide Bay–Burnett|

* Bundaberg
* Cherbourg
* Fraser Coast
* Gympie
* North Burnett
* South Burnett

Darling Downs|

* Goondiwindi
* Southern Downs
* Toowoomba
* Western Downs

Central|

* Banana
* Central Highlands
* Gladstone
* Isaac
* Livingstone
* Mackay
* Rockhampton
* Whitsunday
* Woorabinda

North|

* Burdekin
* Charters Towers
* Hinchinbrook
* Palm Island
* Townsville

Far North|

* Aurukun
* Cairns
* Cassowary Coast
* Cook
* Douglas
* Hope Vale
* Kowanyama
* Lockhart River
* Mapoon
* Mareeba
* Napranum
* Northern Peninsula Area
* Pormpuraaw
* Tablelands
* Torres
* Torres Strait Island
* Weipa
* Wujal Wujal
* Yarrabah

North West|

* Burke
* Carpentaria
* Cloncurry
* Croydon
* Doomadgee
* Etheridge
* Flinders
* Mckinlay
* Mornington
* Mount Isa
* Richmond

Central West|

* Barcaldine
* Barcoo
* Blackall-Tambo
* Boulia
* Diamantina
* Longreach
* Winton

South West|

* Balonne
* Bulloo
* Maranoa
* Murweh
* Paroo
* Quilpie

* v
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* e

Queensland

General|

* Economy
* Energy
* Geography
* Geology
* History
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Politics and Government|

* Politics
* Government
* Parliament
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* Local Government
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* Premier
* Flag

| Courts|

* Supreme Court
* District Court
* Magistrates Court

|

Services|

* Fire and Emergency Services
* Police
* Ambulance Service
* Electoral Commission

Regions|

* Regions of Queensland
* South East
* Darling Downs
* Wide Bay–Burnett
* South West
* Central West
* Central
* North
* Gulf Country
* Far North

Cities and towns|

* Brisbane
* Bundaberg
* Cairns
* Caboolture
* Gladstone
* Gold Coast
* Gympie
* Hervey Bay
* Mackay
* Maryborough
* Mount Isa
* Rockhampton
* Sunshine Coast
* Toowoomba
* Townsville
* Logan

People|

* Queenslanders
* Brisbanites
* Members of Parliament
* Premiers

* Portal
* WikiProject
* Category

* v
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* e

Local government in Australia

* New South Wales (list)
* Northern Territory (list)
* Queensland (list)
* South Australia (list)
* Tasmania (list)
* Victoria (list)
* Western Australia (list)

* v
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* e

Politics of Australia

Commonwealth|

* Monarch
* Governor-General
* Prime Minister
* Cabinet (Shadow Cabinet)
* Federal Executive Council
* Ministry
* Foreign relations
* Parliament
* House of Representatives
* Senate
* Opposition Leader
* High Court
* Lower Courts
* Constitution
* Statute of Westminster
* Australia Act
* Electoral system
* Elections
* By-elections
* Referendums
* Timeline

State/territory
governments|

* Governors and Administrators
* Premiers and Chief Ministers
* Parliaments and Assemblies
* State and Territory Shadow Cabinet
* NSW
* Vic
* Qld
* WA
* SA
* Tas
* ACT
* NT

Local
government|

* New South Wales (list)
* Northern Territory (list)
* Queensland (list)
* South Australia (list)
* Tasmania (list)
* Victoria (list)
* Western Australia (list)

Political
parties|

* Centre Alliance
* Country Liberal
* Greens
* Katter
* Labor
* Lambie
* Liberal
* Liberal National
* National
* One Nation
* UAP
* Other parties
* Historical

Political
terminology|

* Battlers
* Bjelkemander
* Branch stacking
* Casual vacancy
* Caucus revolt
* Chardonnay socialist
* Contempt of parliament
* Despatch box
* Donkey vote
* Dorothy Dixer
* Double dissolution
* Faceless men
* Forgotten People
* Group voting ticket
* Hardworking families
* How-to-vote card
* Independent politicians
* Kirribilli agreement
* Langer vote
* Leadership spill
* Liberal–National Coalition
* Mortgage belt
* Nationalism
* Parliamentary secretary
* Playmander
* Pub test
* Quiet Australians
* Responsible government
* Stolen Generations
* Teal independents
* Working family
* Worm

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