• Majority of Aussies call for council to be axed
• Councils labelled bloated and outdated 
• READ MORE: Fresh allegations in Dan Andrews' bicycle crash saga

By NICHOLAS COMINO, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA

Published: 01:08 GMT, 12 January 2026 | Updated: 02:56 GMT, 12 January 2026

A majority of Australians say they want local government abolished, according to a major new poll revealing deep frustration with the country's third tier of government.

The Resolve Strategic survey of 1,800 voters highlights growing anger at duplicated responsibilities, confusing rules, and layers of local bureaucracy seen as more of a hindrance than a help. 

While Australians still value essential council services such as bin collection, park upkeep, and libraries, the system is widely considered bloated, outdated and in need of serious reform.

More than half of respondents (56 per cent) said their council performs well, and nearly one in five rated them 'very good'. 

Only 23 per cent thought councils were doing a poor job, The Age reported.

But when asked which level of government they'd scrap, local councils topped the list. A striking 27 per cent want councils abolished, more than for any other tier.

The poll also found most voters want councils to stop operating in 'blurred zones' and stick to clearly defined roles. 

A strong majority blame the current set‑up for confusion, waste and constant buck-passing between councils and other authorities.

A majority of Australians say that local councils should be abolished in a new poll

Nowhere is discontent more intense than Sydney, where outrage has erupted in recent months as several councils seek steep rate hikes while families struggle with soaring living costs.

Six councils across NSW, including North Sydney, the Northern Beaches, Strathfield and Burwood, applied for rate increases far above the standard cap set by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART). 

These proposals have stunned residents already grappling with rising rents, mortgages, food and power bills.

North Sydney Council triggered the fiercest backlash by proposing a special rate hike of more than 87 per cent over two years, an increase that would have pushed minimum residential rates from $715 to $1,548 by mid-2026. 

The plan was ultimately rejected by IPART following uproar from locals.

The push for the steep rate rise was fuelled by the ballooning costs of the North Sydney Olympic Pool redevelopment, a project now priced at $122million, around $60million over budget. 

The controversial pool upgrade has become a symbol of council mismanagement, plagued by long delays, spiralling costs and the collapse of alternative revenue streams intended to offset expenses.

Similar frustrations have erupted across Sydney, with residents accusing councils of neglecting essential services while pushing ahead with expensive capital works, ballooning staff numbers and planning decisions that often defy logic.

The City of Sydney and Clover Moore (pictured) have been criticised for busking rule changes 

The City of Sydney has been a prime example, drawing heavy criticism for a series of contentious moves, including its overhaul of busking rules, which sparked immediate outrage among performers. 

Under the changes, buskers were confined to just six approved spots on George Street and their performance hours were cut back significantly. 

Artists warned the rules were unnecessarily restrictive and threatened their livelihoods. 

Lord Mayor Clover Moore defended the overhaul as a safety measure, but the backlash was so fierce the council began reviewing the policy within days.