Council member, committee member or candidate complaints

The Local Government Act 1995 (the Act) empowers the Local Government Inspector to receive and assess complaints in the categories depicted below. Where further review and investigation are required, the Inspector can intervene to ensure that local governments are providing good governance to their communities.

There are currently 2 main levels of complaints:

• Breach Complaints
  • Behavioural breaches
  • Conduct breaches (previously referred to as minor breaches)
  • Specified breaches (previously referred to as serious breaches)
• General Complaints

The Act requires that alleged behavioural breaches are to be dealt with by the Local Government, unless specified.

Concerns regarding rates charges, planning permits, waste collection, etc do not fall within the authority of the Inspector. These types of complaints can be sent directly to the City of Fremantle or the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety (DLGIRS).

Behavioural breach complaint

Behavioural breaches are those connected to a local government’s adopted code of conduct for Council Members, Committee Members, and Candidates, and are focused on:

• personal integrity and use of social media
• relationships with others
• behaviour at council or committee meetings

Behavioural breaches are predominantly dealt with by the local government concerned. The Inspector will generally refer a behavioural breach complaint to the relevant local government for consideration and action as required.

Listed below are some useful resources to refer to when submitting a behavioural breach complaint:

• Council Members, Committee Members and Candidates Code of Conduct
• Code of Conduct Division 3 complaint form
• Complaints Register

Conduct breach complaint

Conduct breaches (formerly referred to as minor breaches) contravene the Local Government (Model Code of Conduct) Regulations 2021 and include:

• misuse of a local government resource
• securing personal advantage or disadvantaging others
• prohibition against involvement in administration
• relationships with local government employees
• disclosure of information/interests.

See the Local Government Inspectors Making a Complaint page for more information.

Specified breach complaint

Specified breaches (formerly known as serious breaches) are specified offences listed in Schedule 8A.1 in the Local Government Act 1995 (the Act) or prescribed in the Local Government (Local Government Inspector) Regulations 2025.

Specified offences include:

• failure to vote at a meeting

• failure to disclose an electoral gift

• improper use of information

• disclosure of information about a complaint

• provision of false or misleading information about a complaint

• hindering or obstructing the Inspector, a monitor or an investigator

See the Local Government Inspectors Making a Complaint page for more information.

General complaint

The City of Fremantle value your feedback about our operations and services. Whether you have a request for action, a compliment or a complaint, we would like to hear from you. Please contact us here: City of Fremantle Staff | Other Complaint

The Local Government Inspector can also receive general complaints related to breaches or non-compliance that are not related to a behavioural, conduct or specified breach.

General complaints can be made against:

• council members

• committee members

• employees

• candidates for election as a council member

• local governments

• people or organisations with a financial or other association

They must relate to matters that occurred within five years of the complaint being made.

The Inspector can refer a general complaint to the relevant local government or another public officer or body if it is more appropriate for them to deal with the complaint.

See the Local Government Inspectors Making a Complaint page for more information.

Contact

Elected Member, Committee Member, and Candidate complaints:

Contact       Melody Foster, Manager Governance
Phone          9432 9711
Email           melodyc@fremantle.wa.gov.au
Post           City of Fremantle, PO Box 807, Fremantle WA 6959
Visit           Walyalup Civic Centre, 151 High St, Fremantle

Other complaints:

Contact       Complaints officer
Phone          9432 9999
Email           info@fremantle.wa.gov.au
Online         Create Customer Request
Post            City of Fremantle, PO Box 807, Fremantle WA 6959
Visit            Walyalup Civic Centre, 151 High St, Fremantle

The Local Government Inspectors complaint information and forms can be found here: Local Government Inspector