Resolving issues and complaints with your local council brochure ( PDF 302 kB).

Queries, compliments and complaints to council about actions, decisions, policies or the conduct of councillors

Please note that it is not the Minister or the Department's role to be involved in the day-to-day running of individual councils. Local councils are autonomous and accountable for their own actions or decisions. Any query, compliment or complaint should be directed to your local council. Find your councils contact details in the Local Government Directory.

What Councils are responsible for

How your council works for you brochure ( PDF 511 kB).

Local governments provide a wide range of local services. Examples of these services include those relating to Rates, animal control, planning, roads, nuisances, parking and drainage. This list is by no means exhaustive.

More information regarding the role and responsibilities of local governments can be found on the All about councils page. Every council in Queensland is required by law to have a complaints management process to improve their accountability and resolve complaints, including those about administrative actions.

How to complain to your Council

Write to the CEO of your local government (this can be via email, fax or letter). Contact details for your local government can be found in our Local Government Directory.

You should be aware that any appeal rights may be dependent to your specific issue. For example, if you have received a parking ticket the details of how and to whom you should appeal are given with the ticket. It may effect your right to appeal if you do not follow these specific instructions.

If your complaint is about official misconduct of a council it must be referred direct to the Crime & Misconduct Commission (CMC). For details on how to contact the CMC can be found below.

What will happen once a complaint is lodged

Your local government must appoint a complaints officer to conduct an investigation into the matter. Upon making a decision in relation to the complaint, the officer is required to give the local government and the affected persons (you or the person or group you are representing) notice of, and reasons for, the decision.

If you are unhappy with the handling of a complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of your local government’s investigation under it’s general complaints process, you may refer your concerns to the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman’s role is to investigate and review administrative actions taken by Queensland’s State agencies and local governments.

Complaints to the Ombudsman can be made in writing to GPO Box 3314, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, in person or by using the online complaint form which can be found at www.ombudsman.qld.gov.au. The Ombudsman’s office can also be contacted on telephone number 3005 7000 or toll free (outside Brisbane) 1800 068 908.

Possible official misconduct complaints

You may refer your concerns to the Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC). The CMC is an independent body established by the State Government to investigate and determine whether the actions of any public official constitute 'official misconduct'.

Complaints to the CMC can be made in writing to GPO Box 3123, Brisbane, QLD, 4001 or by email at mailbox@cmc.qld.gov.au. The CMC can also be contacted on telephone number (07) 3360 6060 or toll free (outside Brisbane) 1800 061 611. You may also wish to visit the CMC website which can be found at www.cmc.qld.gov.au to obtain further information regarding lodging a complaint.

The CMC may refer certain complaints back to the relevant council for it to conduct an internal investigation.