What are the income sources for Australian LGAs?

As asset managers, we often plan and manage infrastructure performance through the lens of demand - usage, growth, cost, environment, material, and deterioration. But sometimes, root cause analysis leads our curiosity to the upstream supply side - income.

This interactive map visualises the total income (accrual basis) received by each of Australia's 537 local government Councils in FY2024 - a combined total of $60.8 billion used to provide crucial services and infrastructure to a population of 26.7 million. The map shows the proportion of income sources grouped into three core categories:

• Rates & Charges (50%): On average, about half of Australian Council income is generated from the core local tax base, including general rates, special rates, and annual charges like waste collection levied on residential, business, and other property owners.
• Own-Source Income (23%): On average, about a quarter of Australian Council income is revenue generated by councils through operations, including user fees (e.g. planning applications, child care), statutory charges (e.g. parking fines), rent, investment returns, and sales.
• Grants & Contributions (27%): On average, about a quarter of Australian Council income is transferred via operating and capital grants from State and Federal governments, plus monetary and non-monetary contributions from developers, community groups, and other third parties.

While the map demonstrates the current state of income source apportionment, it does not reflect history, trends, or the full context — such as unique services, geographic differences, or local socioeconomic challenges. It answers the ‘what’, but provokes the more important ‘why’ and ‘how’ councils can be better supported to to better serve their communities.

Compiling and standardising council financial data across Australia isn’t simple. Each state has its own accounting frameworks and reporting categories. Even within states, councils report with different levels of granularity and structure. To enable fair, high-level benchmarking, we grouped income into three common categories — based on the lowest common denominator found consistently across jurisdictions. While some detail is inevitably simplified, this approach provides a consistent national view, unlocking new opportunities for shared learning, benchmarking, equity, and evidence-based planning.

Explore our interactive map below and discover the proportion of income sources for each Council in Australia. How does your local area compare?