The Tasmanian Government has finalised a major overhaul of the state’s local government sector, confirming a significant reduction in the number of elected representatives and a restructure of councillor allowances.
Minister for Local Government, Kerry Vincent, released the government’s final position today, following a consultation period that drew less than 50 submissions from the community and the sector.
Under the new model, Tasmania will see a statewide reduction of 50 councillor positions. The reform mandates a streamlined structure for the state’s 29 councils:
- Large Urban Councils: The five largest urban councils will be capped at nine elected members.
- Regional and Rural Councils: All other councils will be reduced to seven elected members.
Minister Vincent stated that the changes are designed to reflect the “increasingly complex and valuable service” councillors provide. While the number of representatives is decreasing, allowances will be adjusted to better reflect contemporary workloads. The Minister emphasised that these adjustments would result in “no net additional cost” to ratepayers.
“We are striking the right balance between improving consistency in councillor numbers and recognising the modern demands of the role,” Minister Vincent said. “These reforms will help attract and retain diverse, talented candidates for the 2026 elections and beyond.”
To ensure the system remains current, the government will legislate mandatory reviews every four years. The changes will be implemented through amendments to the Local Government Act 1993 and are expected to be in place well ahead of the October 2026 local government elections.