Model Code of Meeting Practice

The Model Code of Meeting Practice for local councils in NSW prescribes a uniform set of rules to ensure council and committee meetings are open, accessible, orderly, effective and efficient.

Councils must adopt a code of meeting practice that incorporates the mandatory provisions of the code, under section 360 of the Local Government Act 1993 and the Local Government (General) Regulation 2005.

The code applies to meetings attended only by councillors. Council committees whose members include persons other than councillors may adopt their own rules for meetings, unless the council determines otherwise.

The Model Code of Meeting Practice for local councils in NSW (PDF, 423 KB) was prescribed in late 2025. A key focus of the changes made to the 2025 Model Code of Meeting Practice is to ensure meetings are conducted in a dignified and orderly way befitting to a chamber of democracy and to promote community confidence in councils and their decisions. 

For further information, read the frequently asked questions (PDF, 155 KB).

The 2025 Model Code of Meeting Practice has 2 elements, mandatory provisions and non-mandatory provisions.

The non-mandatory provisions cover areas of meeting practice that are common to most councils, but where there may be a need for some variation in practice between councils based on local circumstances. These provisions also operate to set a benchmark based on what the Office of Local Government sees as best practice for the relevant area of practice.

The 2025 Model Code of Meeting Practice also applies to meetings of the boards of joint organisations and county councils.

Reforms to the Model Code of Meeting Practice

In December 2024, the OLG exhibited A New Model Code of Meeting Practice – Consultation draft (PDF, 758 KB).

181 submissions on the consultation draft were received informing further development of the revised Model Code of Meeting Practice. To maintain privacy and confidentiality, each submission required a thorough review and redactions, which contributed to the delay in publication of submissions.