Autonomy versus Oversight in Local Government Reform: The Implications of 'Home Rule' for Australian Local Government

This paper examines Australian local government in terms of local council autonomy as set against the oversight exercised by state governments. In particular, we investigate 'home rule' in the United States and its potential relevance to the Australian milieu. We argue that prima facie the operation of home rule is problematic due to its litigious nature, and that while the implementation of home rule might be possible in an Australian local government jurisdiction, it is improbable. However, consideration of home rule as a principle by which state-local government relationships might be organised sheds light on the limits to the autonomy and independence of Australian local governments.