<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> Local government in Australia is the third tier of government in Australia administered by the states and territories, which in turn are beneath the federal tier . Local government is not mentioned in the Constitution of Australia and two referenda in the 1970s and 1980s to alter the Constitution relating to local government were unsuccessful . Every state government recognises local government in their respective constitutions . Unlike Canada, or the United States there is only one level of local government in each state, with no distinction such as cities and counties . </P> <P> The local governing body is generally referred to as a council, and the territories governed are collectively referred to as "local government areas"; however, terms such as "city" or "shire" also have a geographic interpretation . In August 2016 there were 547 local councils in Australia . </P>

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