Local Government Legislation Amendment (Stronger Communities) Bill 2026

What the bill says it does

The main purposes of this Act are— (a) to amend the Local Government Act 2020— (i) to enhance the integrity and governance standards of Councils; and (ii) to enable the prescription of a Fair Jobs Code; and (iii) to make provision for the appointment of a Local Government Fair Jobs Code Regulator; and (iv) to make related and consequential amendments to enable the monitoring, assessment and review of a Chief Executive Officer's compliance with the Fair Jobs Code by the Local Government Fair Jobs Code Regulator; and (v) to make other miscellaneous amendments to that Act; and (b) to amend the City of Melbourne Act 2001 to increase the permitted ratio between the lowest and highest differential rates if the Melbourne City Council uses the net annual value system of valuation.

Quoted from: Purpose clause of the bill as introduced. Not written or edited by FOCUp.

Official sources

• Parliament of Victoria: this bill
• Amended print – Bill (DOCX)
• Amended print – Bill (PDF)
• Amended print – Explanatory Memorandum (DOCX)
• Amended print – Explanatory Memorandum (PDF)
• Introduction print – Explanatory Memorandum (DOCX)
• Introduction print – Explanatory Memorandum (PDF)
• Introduction print – Bill (DOCX)
• Introduction print – Bill (PDF)
• As passed print – Bill (DOCX)
• As passed print – Bill (PDF)

Timeline

1. First reading passed — Legislative Assembly

   17 June 2026

2. First reading: Statements of compatibility tabled — Legislative Assembly

   18 June 2026 · Source

3. Second reading moved — Legislative Assembly

   18 June 2026 · Source

4. Second reading: Debate resumed — Legislative Assembly

   25 Aug 2026

5. Second reading: Amendments circulated — Legislative Assembly

   25 Aug 2026 · Source

6. Second reading: Government business program — Legislative Assembly

   25 Aug 2026

7. Second reading: Amendments agreed to under the GBP — Legislative Assembly

   27 Aug 2026

8. Second reading passed — Legislative Assembly

   27 Aug 2026

9. Third reading moved — Legislative Assembly

   27 Aug 2026

10. Third reading passed — Legislative Assembly

    27 Aug 2026

11. Message received from Assembly — Legislative Council

    27 Aug 2026

12. First reading passed — Legislative Council

    27 Aug 2026

13. First reading: Statements of Compatibility tabled — Legislative Council

    27 Aug 2026 · Source

14. Second reading moved — Legislative Council

    27 Aug 2026 · Source

15. Second reading: Debate resumed — Legislative Council

    8 Sept 2026

16. Second reading: Australian Greens Party amendments circulated — Legislative Council

    10 Sept 2026 · Source

17. Second reading: Government amendments circulated — Legislative Council

    10 Sept 2026 · Source

18. Second reading passed — Legislative Council

    10 Sept 2026

19. Second reading: Instruction to Committee of the whole — Legislative Council

    10 Sept 2026

20. Committee of the whole: Date committed — Legislative Council

    10 Sept 2026

21. Committee of the whole completed - Bill amended — Legislative Council

    10 Sept 2026 · Source

22. Third reading moved — Legislative Council

    10 Sept 2026

23. Third reading passed — Legislative Council

    10 Sept 2026

24. Dealing with Council amendments

    10 Sept 2026

25. Dealing with Council amendments

    23 Sept 2026

26. Royal Assent given

    29 Sept 2026

27. Second reading: Opposition amendments circulated — Legislative Council

    Date not published · Source

28. Second reading: Debate resumed — Legislative Council

    Date not published

29. Status changed from Amended to Passed

    Noticed by FOCUp 23 Sept 2026 · Source

    Passed both Houses

30. Act number 42/2026

    Date not published

31. Status changed from Passed to Assented

    Noticed by FOCUp 28 Sept 2026 · Source

    Passed and Assented to

Election commitments on the same subject

Matched by shared budget line and wording. A match does not mean this bill delivers the commitment.

• Cap election campaign spending and donations to local government campaigns · Victorian Greens · 12 Aug 2026
• Fund local government properly and abolish rate capping · Victorian Greens · 12 Aug 2026