Results of 2024–25 Audits: Local Government

Results of 2024–25 Audits: Local Government

The VAGO report on the results of the 2024–25 audits of Victoria’s local councils and associated entities has been tabled in Parliament.

The report confirms that users can rely on councils’ financial reports and performance statements, with clear audit opinions issued. It also highlights opportunities for councils to improve reporting timeliness, strengthen quality assurance processes and better understand their legislative obligations.

The report outlines key financial outcomes across the sector, including the impact of advance financial assistance grants on reported surpluses, ongoing growth in revenues and expenses, increased asset values, and generally low debt levels. It also notes continued capital underspending and emerging financial sustainability pressures for some small councils.

Finally, the report identifies persistent internal control and financial reporting issues, and emphasises the need for stronger oversight by senior management and audit and risk committees to ensure agreed recommendations are implemented in a timely way.

The full report is available on our website.

A dashboard accompanies this report, providing data at the individual council, cohort and sector levels. The dashboard presents information on each council’s financial sustainability and allows users to filter and compare data by council or cohort (metropolitan, interface, regional, large and small), supporting meaningful comparison and benchmarking. The dashboard contains data from 2016–17 to 2024–25.

Click here to read the report.