The Local Government Mayoral Advisory Panel (LGMAP) is appointed and chaired by the Minister for Local Government. The panel advises the Minister on a range of legislative, regulatory, strategic and policy decisions which impact the local government sector. Meetings of the LGMAP are usually scheduled between March and October to account for mayoral terms and to enable the Minister to select and appoint new members each year.

2024 LGMAP

The Minister for Local Government wrote to all mayors, and to the Chairs of 15 council-led advocacy groups, to request nominations for appointment to the 2024 LGMAP.

The Minister has appointed ten mayors to the 2024 LGMAP, which will provide advice to the Minister on a broad range of topics relevant to the local government sector.

The appointees to the 2024 LGMAP are:

  1. Cr Ian Bye, Wellington Shire Council, representing One Gippsland
  2. Cr Jenna Davey-Burns, Kingston City Council, representing the Association of Bayside Municipalities
  3. Cr Damien Gallagher, Murrindindi Shire Council, in his individual capacity
  4. Cr Naim Kurt, Hume City Council, representing Interface Councils
  5. Cr Cuc Lam PSM, Maribyrnong City Council, in her individual capacity
  6. Cr Clare Le Serve, Bass Coast Shire Council, representing Peri Urban Councils Victoria
  7. Cr Denise Massoud, Whitehorse City Council, representing the Eastern Region Group of Councils
  8. Cr Shane Sali, Greater Shepparton City Council, representing Regional Cities Victoria
  9. Cr Fiona Stitfold, Bayside City Council, representing the Inner South Metropolitan Mayor’s Forum
  10. Cr Robert Vance, Pyrenees Shire Council, representing Rural Councils Victoria.

Chaired by the Minister, this year’s panel will have a focus on governance, representation and inclusion.

The first meeting took place on 21 March 2024. The Minister provided members with an interim summary of key findings from the Local Government Reform consultation and members discussed matters relating to the reforms.

Future meetings are scheduled for 2 May, 1 August and 12 September 2024.

The membership criteria, responsibilities and operations of the Panel are detailed in the 2024 LGMAP’s Terms of Reference.

For further information about the LGMAP, please email LGV-LGMAP-Secretariat@ecodev.vic.gov.au.

2023 LGMAP

The 2023 LGMAP term ended on 20 October 2023.

The Minister for Local Government appointed the 2023 Local Government Mayoral Advisory Panel (LGMAP) to provide advice on a broad range of topics relevant to the local government sector.

The appointees to the 2023 LGMAP were:

  • Cr Andrea Metcalf, Mayor, Greater Bendigo City Council
  • Cr Annemarie McCabe, Mayor, Baw Baw Shire Council
  • Cr Antoinette (Tony) Briffa, Mayor, Hobsons Bay City Council
  • Cr Augustina (Tina) Samardzija, Mayor, Monash City Council
  • Cr Claudia Nguyen, Mayor, Yarra City Council
  • Cr Fiona Stevens, Mayor, Mitchell Shire Council
  • Cr Hadi Saab, Mayor, Kingston City Council
  • Cr James (Jim) Magee, Mayor, Glen Eira City Council
  • Cr Karen Foster, Mayor, Moyne Shire Council
  • Cr Laura Binks, Mayor, Strathbogie Shire Council
  • Cr Pierce Tyson, Mayor, Moonee Valley City Council
  • Cr Rosie Annear, Mayor, Mount Alexander Shire Council
  • Cr Sophie Price, Mayor, Indigo Shire Council

Back L-R: Cr Hadi Saab; Cr Fiona Stevens; Cr Pierce Tyson; Cr Jim Magee; Cr Rosie Annear; Cr Tina Samardzija.

Front: L-R: Cr Tony Briffa; Cr Claudia Nguyen; Cr Sophie Price; Cr Andrea Metcalf; Minister for Local Government, the Hon Melissa Horne; Cr Annemarie McCabe, Cr Laura Binks.

The role of LGMAP is to provide high level advice to the Minister on a range of legislative, regulatory, strategic and policy decisions which impact on local government.

Chaired by the Minister, the 2023 LGMAP focused on the theme of sector governance and accountability.

The panel met for the first time on 4 April 2023 when they discussed local government sector priorities including council culture and sector governance and accountability.

The second meeting of the panel took place on 11 July 2023.  At this meeting members continued discussions on governance and accountability, with a focus on councillor conduct.

The last meeting of the panel took place on 12 October 2023. Members discussed the recommendations from the Operation Sandon special report and local government financial sustainability.

Further information regarding the responsibilities and operation of the panel is detailed in the 2023 LGMAP Terms of Reference.