NPHP home < Work Program < LRN home < Legislators' Toolkit <

Legislation Reference Network

The Role of Local Government in Public Health Regulation

Endorsed AHMAC March 2002

The report on The Role of Local Government in Public Health Regulation provides a general overview of the role of local government in public health from a legislative perspective. It is essentially a mapping exercise that aims to examine the relevant legislation which sets out the role of local government in relation to public health throughout Australia.

The Report highlights the substantial variations across Australia between jurisdictions in the activities undertaken by local government in relation to public health regulation and comments on the significant variation that occurs between regions and between local government in metropolitan, rural and remote settings. It notes that these variations reflect the historical foundations of local and state governments, and have often developed in response to local concerns, conditions and challenges.

The Report does not purport to be an exhaustive analysis of local government and therefore focuses primarily on those public health regulatory functions that are defined by local government and public health legislation. Many of these functions are primarily related to health protection although some functions have a health promotion focus.

Download as PDF

The Role of Local Government in Public Health Regulation [PDF, 467kb]

top of page