Tony Brown was appointed as Western Australia’s first Local Government Inspector in August 2025.
Tony Brown brings a wealth of experience to the independent position with a career to date including over 40 years working in, and supporting, the local government sector. His experience includes senior roles at multiple regional and metropolitan local governments and the WA Local Government Association, where he was most recently employed as Executive Director of Member Services prior to being appointed to the Inspector role.
Tony is dedicated to strengthening the capabilities and long-term resilience of local governments, enabling them to continue delivering meaningful outcomes for their communities.
Tony Brown’s five-year term began on 20 October 2025, and the Local Government Inspector commenced formal operations on 1 January 2026.
Role of the Inspector
The role of Local Government Inspector was established as part of reforms included in the Local Government Amendment Act 2024, which commenced on 1 January 2026.
The Inspector is an independent statutory officer appointed by the Governor of Western Australia to provide oversight and improve the accountability, decision-making and transparency of the state’s local government sector.
The Inspector is focused on ensuring local government and its office holders comply with laws, regulations and codes of conduct. The Inspector is backed by comprehensive investigation and prosecution powers.
Powers and functions of the Inspector
The powers of the Inspector are wide ranging and enable performance of the Inspector’s functions.
The Inspector:
- initiates early intervention to resolve issues before escalation
- receives breach complaints about council members, committee members and candidates for election
- oversees general complaints about non-compliance with the Local Government Act 1995
- has the powers of a standing inquiry to investigate and intervene in any local government where potential issues are identified
- appoints monitors to assist local governments with any conduct and compliance issues and conflict resolution
- has the authority to assess, triage, refer, investigate, or close complaints
- has the power to order a local government to address non-compliance
- recommends the dismissal of a council or council member.
Inspectorate officers
The Local Government Inspector and inspectorate officers play a proactive role in identifying and responding to emerging sector risks, resolving complaints early, and supporting continuous improvement through education and engagement. These functions are central to building public confidence in integrity and capability of local governments across the state.
The inspectorate officers, led by the Inspector, comprise of skilled investigators, compliance specialists, complaints handlers and other support staff.
Accountability
The Inspector is accountable to the Minister, the Crime and Corruption Commission, the Public Sector Commission, the Auditor General, the Ombudsman and ultimately, the Parliament as a public officer.
The Minister may give directions to the Inspector in relation to their functions either generally, or in relation to a particular matter.
To safeguard the Inspector’s independence, a direction cannot be in relation to a particular person, or complaint.
The text of a direction to the Inspector must be laid before each House of Parliament and included in the Inspector’s annual report.
The Inspector must also prepare an annual report on their activities which will be tabled in Parliament.
Further contact information
Office Hours: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday to Friday
Web: www.lginspector.wa.gov.au
Email: contact@lginspector.wa.gov.au
To allow for an informed response, it is preferred that complex enquiries are made by email in the first instance.
Phone:
For Inspector enquiries relating to new complaints or existing matters only: +61 8 9222 3333
Or contact the Local Government Advisory Hotline, for local governments only: 1300 762 511
Mail:
Local Government Inspector
Locked Bag 14
CLOISTERS SQUARE PERTH WA 6850
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