Have Your Say – Office of Local Government’s New Community Engagement Charter

The State Government (through the Office for Local Government) is currently seeking community feedback on a proposed Community Engagement Charter (the Charter) that will guide the way councils consult and engage with their communities.

🔹 Please note: This consultation is being run by the Office of Local Government — not the City of Onkaparinga — but we’re sharing the opportunity because the proposed changes will directly impact how all councils, including ours, engage with their communities.

What is being proposed?

The new Charter will replace the existing consultation requirements under the Local Government Act 1999, introducing updated engagement principles and mandatory minimum standards that councils must follow. The goal is to make engagement more responsive, transparent, and inclusive — particularly for significant decisions such as annual business plans and budgets.

You can learn more and have your say by visiting the Office of Local Government’s consultation page:

👉 Local Government Community Engagement Charter | YourSAy

What are we doing?

At the City of Onkaparinga, we’re committed to meaningful engagement and already have a Community Engagement Framework outlining how we approach engaging with citizens. We continue to evolve our approach to community engagement through clearer policies, better tools, and increased transparency.

👥 We will also be making a formal submission on the draft Charter to ensure our local community’s needs and experiences are considered in shaping these new statewide requirements.

To learn more about how we currently engage with our citizens please download council's Community Engagement Promise and Community Engagement Framework.

Visit the Office of Local Government to have your say. open in new window

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