This book is the product of three underlying motivations. First, it has been several decades since a comprehensive volume examining the local government systems of Australia has been produced. The book takes a step in addressing this, particularly in providing accounts of the history of local government systems in Australia and examining the theory of local government (philosophical; political; economic) and their application to Australia. Second, it offers an explicitly normative account of local government; one which recognises the promise and limitations of local government as an element of Australia’s polity. Third, it brings together a range of writing examining local government in Australia from both public and academic sources. The themes of autonomy, community, economics and finance, leadership, ethical issues in local government, amalgamations, the global city thesis and the future of local government are explored.