House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport Chair, Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips, has announced the inquiry into local government funding and fiscal sustainability has concluded today, after hearing from 390 witnesses.

A total of 26 public hearings were held right across the country, including in regional areas, between February 5 and September 17, 2026.

Mrs Phillips said the committee heard from witnesses in Parliament House, as well as at in-person hearings in Melbourne, Sydney, Wodonga, Wagga Wagga, Taree, Townsville, Roma, Brisbane, Launceston, Adelaide, Port Lincoln, Perth and Northam.

The witnesses included representatives from 187 organisations, including 17 government departments and statutory authorities, 98 local councils, and seven union bodies.

The committee also heard from 38 local government alliances and associations, including the Australian Local Government Association and peak bodies from each state and the Northern Territory.

Mrs Phillips said the witnesses reflected the diversity and reach of local government across Australia, from Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean to King Island in Tasmania, and from the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley in the far north-west to the Torres Strait Island Regional Council.

“The committee is incredibly grateful to all the witnesses who appeared at the public hearings,” Mrs Phillips said.

“We have heard from such a wide a variety of organisations and individuals from all of Australia’s states and territories.

“Local government funding and fiscal sustainability impacts all aspects of Australia’s communities, and we have seen that reflected across the breadth of issues raised at public hearings and in submissions.

“The committee’s focus will now shift to delivering the final report,” she said.

Further information on the inquiry, including the terms of reference, is available on the Committee’s website.

Evidence provided to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport inquiry into Local Government Sustainability of the 47th Parliament will also be considered as part of this new inquiry.

Programs and submissions from the public hearings are available on the inquiry website.

For more information visit the website: Inquiry into Local Government Funding and Fiscal Sustainability – Parliament of Australia

Photo: Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips chaired the Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport Committee’s inquiry into local government funding and fiscal sustainability.