Reforms to allow independent scrutiny of council budgets and to end local government rorts and waste will be introduced to the South Australian parliament.
The Labor opposition will introduce a private member's bill after joining with the Greens and SA-BEST to oppose government legislation to cap council rate increases.
The Labor bill seeks to enforce transparency of council budgets and rates, while a local government commissioner would be established to deal with council complaints and disputes.
"Labor's comprehensive bill will deliver real results in protecting ratepayers from cost-of-living increases and tackling the outrageous waste and rorts at some councils," Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas said.
Mr Malinauskas said the Marshall government's bill to cap council rates won't stop council members and staff spending "ratepayers' money on golf memberships or Apple watches".
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
Labor's reforms have in-principle support from SA-BEST and the Greens with Greens leader Mark Parnell urging the government to support the move.
"We urge the Marshall Liberal government to get on board with genuine reform and not just abandon the field sulking that they didn't get their rate capping agenda passed," Mr Parnell said.
Local government minister Stephan Knoll responded to the move by labelling it "a slap in the face," saying the majority of South Australians supported rate capping.
SA-BEST MP Connie Bonaros said the government's clear choice was to embrace the Labor bill, "or witness its own legislation fail".
