This chapter examines the intricate landscape of local government funding and service provision in Australia. Despite serving similar functions, local governments operate under distinct governance systems across the country, determined by their local state or territory jurisdiction. They also confront major resourcing variations—resulting from differences in population size, geography and economic capacity between councils. The sector has undergone significant change over the last 30 years, affected by factors such as forced amalgamations, broadening responsibilities and changing community expectations. Australian local government has progressively moved away from a traditional focus on “rates, roads, and rubbish” to offer more diverse services such as services in recreation, childcare, and community building. For many councils, however, this shift presents fundamental challenges. Financially, their capacity to generate revenue is often limited, commercial partnerships are difficult to secure, and many remain financially dependent on grants from federal and state governments.