Council Accountability Rankings

A composite ranking of Victoria's 79 councils on accountability and efficiency.

What it shows

  • Councils ranked by an accountability score (0–100).
  • Contributing factors: governance spend ratio, LGPRF compliance, FOI responsiveness, audit findings, transparency of financial disclosures.
  • Year-over-year movement.

How to read it

The ranking is a composite. No single council is the worst on every metric; no council is best on every metric. The score summarises where each council sits on balance.

Click any council for the weighted breakdown of their score.

Data sources

  • VLGGC
  • LGPRF
  • VAGO local government audits
  • Ombudsman reports

Caveats

  • Scoring is weighted and the weights are editorial. We publish them in the methodology.
  • A low score is not an allegation of corruption — it is an observation about disclosure and efficiency.
  • Peer effects matter: metro and rural councils face different constraints.

Last reviewed: 11 Apr 2026