Local Government Act 1993

A council may, in accordance with a resolution of the council, contribute money or otherwise grant financial assistance to persons for the purpose of exercising its functions.

A proposed recipient who acts for private gain is not ineligible to be granted financial assistance but must not receive any benefit under this section until at least 28 days’ public notice of the council’s proposal to pass the necessary resolution has been given.

However, public notice is not required if—

the financial assistance is part of a specific program, and

the program’s details have been included in the council’s draft operational plan for the year in which the financial assistance is proposed to be given, and

the program’s proposed budget for that year does not exceed 5 per cent of the council’s proposed income from the ordinary rates levied for that year, and

the program applies uniformly to all persons within the council’s area or to a significant group of persons within the area.

Public notice is also not required if the financial assistance is part of a program of graffiti removal work.