Local council financial management: assessing the impact of policy change and proposed amalgamations

Article


Jones, Greg, Bowrey, Graham, Beattie, Claire and Smark, Ciorstan. 2016. "Local council financial management: assessing the impact of policy change and proposed amalgamations." Australasian Journal of Regional Studies. 22 (3), pp. 355-374.
Article Title

Local council financial management: assessing the impact of policy change and proposed amalgamations

ERA Journal ID18329
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsJones, Greg (Author), Bowrey, Graham (Author), Beattie, Claire (Author) and Smark, Ciorstan (Author)
Journal TitleAustralasian Journal of Regional Studies
Journal Citation22 (3), pp. 355-374
Number of Pages20
Year2016
Place of PublicationAustralia
ISSN1324-0935
Web Address (URL)http://search.informit.com.au/fullText;dn=511194010694314;res=IELHSS
Abstract

New South Wales (NSW) councils are tasked with providing a wide range of resources and services to their communities. However, the conditions and rules under which councils are allowed to operate are not constant. Changes in state government policies and political affiliation have the capacity to alter the focus and rules under which councils function. Political and economic events result in new and sometimes radically different requirements with which councils are required to conform. As policies change, reforms are introduced and the political landscape alters, councils are expected to alter their actions to coincide with expectations of the state government, while still meeting the needs and expectations of their respective communities. This paper evaluates the way that councils have reacted to changes in investment policy prior, and subsequent to, the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) and compares those actions to those currently being undertaken by councils in response to the state government review of local councils with a particular focus on measures of financial viability. The purpose is to demonstrate how council’s actions are influenced by changes to policy and requirements of the state government and to consider the role that accounting plays in facilitating council’s actions. One purpose of financial reports is to provide information to assist users to make valid and informed decisions, to aid planning and inform strategic decision making. Financial reports which are affected by changing requirements due to the political environment, future financial and governance decisions will also be impacted.

Keywordslocal councils, policy, amalgamation, investment, accounting
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020350103. Financial accounting
350208. Investment and risk management
350799. Strategy, management and organisational behaviour not elsewhere classified
Public Notes

Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions.

Byline AffiliationsSchool of Commerce
University of Wollongong
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
Permalink -

https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q3v98/local-council-financial-management-assessing-the-impact-of-policy-change-and-proposed-amalgamations

  • 1524
    total views
  • 11
    total downloads
  • 0
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Did Emotional Intelligence Traits Mitigate COVID-19 Uncertainty Effects on Financial Institutions’ Board Decision-Making Process?
Hall, Jessica, Jones, Gregory, Beattie, Claire and Sands, John. 2024. "Did Emotional Intelligence Traits Mitigate COVID-19 Uncertainty Effects on Financial Institutions’ Board Decision-Making Process?" Journal of Risk and Financial Management. 17 (3). https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm17030106
Obstacles Facing the Development of Forensic Accounting Curricula within the Australian Universities: Exploring Perspectives of Practitioners and Educators
Al-Shurafat, Hashem, Sands, John, Jones, Gregory and Beattie, Claire. 2024. "Obstacles Facing the Development of Forensic Accounting Curricula within the Australian Universities: Exploring Perspectives of Practitioners and Educators." Australasian Accounting Business and Finance Journal. 18 (2), pp. 188-195. https://doi.org/10.14453/aabfj.v18i2.12
IPO Pricing Regulation and Audit Fees: A Perspective from Institutional Changes in China
Zhao, Gang, Deng, Ying, Jiang, Yujia and Bowrey, Graham. 2023. "IPO Pricing Regulation and Audit Fees: A Perspective from Institutional Changes in China." Australasian Accounting Business and Finance Journal. 17 (2), pp. 86-112. https://doi.org/10.14453/aabfj.v17i2.07
The Application of Critical Discourse Analysis to Explore the use of Language and Speech Acts in a Public Sector Accountability Process
Garvie, Leanda, Joubert, Michelle and Jones, Greg. 2022. "The Application of Critical Discourse Analysis to Explore the use of Language and Speech Acts in a Public Sector Accountability Process." Australasian Accounting Business and Finance Journal. 16 (4), pp. 201-217. https://doi.org/10.14453/aabfj.v16i4.11
The influence of ownership structure on the extent of CSR reporting: An emerging market study
Al Fadli, Amer, Sands, Juhn, Jones, Gregory, Beattie, Claire and Pensiero, Dom. 2022. "The influence of ownership structure on the extent of CSR reporting: An emerging market study." Business and Society Review. 127 (3), pp. 725-754. https://doi.org/10.1111/basr.12286
The Postpandemic Future of Australian Regional Aviation: How Regional Express (Rex) Navigated the Challenges and Opportunities
Bowyer, Dorothea Maria, Jones, Greg Evan, El Hamad, Walid, Beattie, Claire, Smark, Ciorstan and Deng, Ying. 2022. "The Postpandemic Future of Australian Regional Aviation: How Regional Express (Rex) Navigated the Challenges and Opportunities." Kurnaz, Salim and Argin, Emrah (ed.) Digitalization and the Impacts of COVID-19 on the Aviation Industry. IGI Global. pp. 73-101
Barriers and Motivations to Integrating Environmental Performance in the BSC: a case study in health care
Khalid, Salim Khaleel, Beattie, Claire and Sands, John Stephen. 2022. "Barriers and Motivations to Integrating Environmental Performance in the BSC: a case study in health care." Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal. 13 (2), pp. 297-319. https://doi.org/10.1108/SAMPJ-09-2020-0325
Impact of NSW Local Council Investment Exposures on Audit Opinions
Jones, Greg and Bowrey, Graham. 2010. "Impact of NSW Local Council Investment Exposures on Audit Opinions." e-Journal of Social and Behavioural Research in Business. 1 (1), pp. 1-11.
Exploring Changing Requirements of Financial Statement Audit Reports via a Morphogenetic Approach
Deng, Ying, Bowrey, Graham and Jones, Greg. 2021. "Exploring Changing Requirements of Financial Statement Audit Reports via a Morphogenetic Approach." Australasian Accounting Business and Finance Journal. 15 (2), pp. 38-55. https://doi.org/10.14453/aabfj.v15i2.4
Survival of the Fittest: Challenges for regional aviation to serve the needs of Australian regional and remote communities
Bowyer, Dorothea, Jones, Greg, Bowrey, Graham and Smark, Ciorstan. 2020. "Survival of the Fittest: Challenges for regional aviation to serve the needs of Australian regional and remote communities." Australasian Journal of Regional Studies. 26 (1), pp. 1-28.
Incorporating the environmental dimension into the balanced scorecard: A case study in health care
Khalid, Salim, Beattie, Claire, Sands, John and Hampson, Veronica. 2019. "Incorporating the environmental dimension into the balanced scorecard: A case study in health care." Meditari Accountancy Research. 27 (4), pp. 652-674. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEDAR-06-2018-0360
Financial and Social Well-being Performance after Privatisation of the Port of Brisbane: A Case Study
Jayasundara, Mudiyanselage Upali Ranjith, Jones, Greg and Sands, John. 2020. "Financial and Social Well-being Performance after Privatisation of the Port of Brisbane: A Case Study." Australasian Accounting Business and Finance Journal. 14 (2), pp. 72-93. https://doi.org/10.14453/aabfj.v14i2.6
Board independence and CSR reporting: pre and post analysis of JCGC 2009
Al Fadli, Amer, Sands, John, Jones, Greg, Beattie, Claire and Pensiero, Dominic. 2020. "Board independence and CSR reporting: pre and post analysis of JCGC 2009." International Journal of Law and Management. 62 (2), pp. 117-138. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLMA-11-2018-0259
Perceptions of the usefulness of various teaching methods in forensic accounting education
Alshurafat, Hashem, Beattie, Claire, Jones, Gregory and Sands, John. 2020. "Perceptions of the usefulness of various teaching methods in forensic accounting education." Accounting Education: An International Journal. 29 (2), pp. 177-204. https://doi.org/10.1080/09639284.2020.1719425
The Influence of Economic (Ir)rationality on Public Sector Reforms
Bowrey, Graham, Smark, Ciorstan and Jones, Greg. 2019. "The Influence of Economic (Ir)rationality on Public Sector Reforms." e-Journal of Social and Behavioural Research in Business. 10 (1), pp. 24-39.
Board Gender Diversity and CSR Reporting: Evidence from Jordan
Al Fadli, Amer, Sands, John, Jones, Greg, Beattie, Claire and Pensiero, Dom. 2019. "Board Gender Diversity and CSR Reporting: Evidence from Jordan." Australasian Accounting Business and Finance Journal. 13 (3), pp. 29-52. https://doi.org/10.14453/aabfj.v13i3.3
Forensic accounting core and interdisciplinary curricula components in Australian universities: analysis of websites
Alshurafat, Hashem, Beattie, Claire, Jones, Gregory and Sands, John. 2019. "Forensic accounting core and interdisciplinary curricula components in Australian universities: analysis of websites." Journal of Forensic and Investigative Accounting. 11 (2 (Special edition)), pp. 353-365.
The value of incorporating emotional intelligence skills in the education of accounting students
Jones, Greg and Abraham, Anne. 2009. "The value of incorporating emotional intelligence skills in the education of accounting students." Australasian Accounting Business and Finance Journal. 3 (2), pp. 48-60.
Local Government investing: a form of gambling?
Jones, Greg and Bowrey, Graham. 2010. "Local Government investing: a form of gambling?" Australiasian Journal of Regional Studies. 16 (1), pp. 37-50.
The perfect paper
Beattie, Claire. 2011. "The perfect paper." Critical Perspectives on Accounting. 22 (3), pp. 333-333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpa.2010.12.006
Managing student expectations: using online quizzes in university subjects
Jones, Greg and Jones, Hazel. 2017. "Managing student expectations: using online quizzes in university subjects." Northcote, Maria and Gosselin, Kevin P. (ed.) Handbook of research on humanizing the distance learning experience. Hershey PA, united States. IGI Global. pp. 364-391
The big end of town meets the local council: the investment habitus of four sets of Australian councils during the GFC
Jones, Greg, Beattie, Claire, Bowrey, Graham and Smark, Ciorstan. 2016. "The big end of town meets the local council: the investment habitus of four sets of Australian councils during the GFC ." Australian Journal of Public Administration. 75 (4), pp. 441-456. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8500.12212
Local council governance and audit committees - the missing link?
Jones, Gregory and Bowrey, Graham. 2013. "Local council governance and audit committees - the missing link?" Journal of New Business Ideas and Trends. 11 (2), pp. 58-66.
Local government internal audit compliance
Jones, Greg and Beattie, Claire. 2015. "Local government internal audit compliance." Australasian Accounting Business and Finance Journal. 9 (3), pp. 59-71.
Australian farm business performance insights from effective farm business managers
Slaughter, Geoff, Glass, Rod, Noble, Chris and Beattie, Claire. 2015. Australian farm business performance insights from effective farm business managers. Canberra, Australia. Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation.
Defining performance: interpretations from the Australian university sector
Beattie, Claire. 2012. "Defining performance: interpretations from the Australian university sector." 26th Annual British Academy of Management Conference: Management Research Revisited: Prospects for Theory and Practice (Bam 2012). Cardiff, Wales 11 - 13 Sep 2012 United Kingdom.
Reporting on service performance: measurement and myth in the New Zealand compulsory education sector
Beattie, Claire. 2007. "Reporting on service performance: measurement and myth in the New Zealand compulsory education sector." Gupta, Atul (ed.) 7th Global Conference on Business & Economics. Rome, Italy 13 - 14 Oct 2007 Rome, Italy.