Changes to reduce red tape

Amendments will be made to simplify the local government compliance audit return process which the State Government says will reduce unnecessary regulation and red tape.

Local Government Minister John Castrilli announced the legislative changes that will decrease the size of the return by about 20 per cent by removing questions on areas of compliance that are already audited by the Department of Local Government or external auditors.

Mr Castrilli said minimising the administrative burden of the compliance audit process would enable local governments to allocate greater time and resources to other activities to benefit communities.

‘‘Reducing the local government compliance audit return process is one of a number of initiatives I plan to introduce to help the local government sector operate moreefficiently and effectively,’’ he said in a statement.

‘‘Other measures include capacity building projects to assist local governments undertake business planning, strategic planning and asset management.’’

The need to review the local government compliance audit return process has been identified in a number of reports including the Red Tape Reduction Group Report released in February 2010.