WA local government reform is before Parliament, with a bill that would move council elections to a single four-year cycle from October 2031. The Local Government Amendment and Repeal Bill 2026 was introduced on 14 October 2026 and has not yet passed.
What the WA local government reform would change
Minister Hannah Beazley described the bill as the biggest set of changes to the sector in more than 25 years. Most changes are to the Local Government Act 1995, and the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1960 would be repealed. She pointed to changes already in effect, including a new Local Government Inspector office and preferential voting.
- Four-year “all up” elections. Elections are currently held every two years, with half of positions contested each time. Under the bill, all positions would be contested at once from October 2031.
- Filling vacancies. Extraordinary vacancies would be filled by the next-in-line candidate from the last election, for up to three years after that election.
- Boundary changes. The so-called Dadour poll provision would be removed for boundary changes linked to voluntary amalgamations.
- Accessible voting. Technology-assisted voting would be introduced for people with disability.
- Privacy. Protections would extend to electors, candidates, council members and employees. The 17 September statement said this includes using a PO box instead of a home address on printed election material.
- Running the polls. The same statement said the WA Electoral Commission would run all local government elections under the WA local government reform.
Why the government wants fewer elections
The government says the aim is to reduce voter fatigue and lift participation. In a 17 September statement it said turnout was 29.6 per cent in 2025, down from 31.2 per cent in 2023.
What it means for voters
If the bill passes as introduced, voters would elect their whole council once every four years instead of electing half of it every two years. Under the WA local government reform, the first all-up election would be held in October 2031. Supporters, including the government, say fewer polls would ease voter fatigue, while the bill also changes how casual vacancies are filled between elections.
What happens next
The WA local government reform bill must pass Parliament before any change takes effect. The 14 October statement does not cover candidate eligibility or councillor numbers, so check the WA Government statement for updates.
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General information only, not legal advice. Check the official source before acting.
Source: WA Government. Licence: CC BY 4.0.
