Local Government Area (abbreviated LGA) is a term used in Australia (and especially by the Australian Bureau of Statistics) to refer to areas controlled by each individual Local Government. The generic names of Local Governments vary from state to state, and included Shire, City and Borough. Many Local Government Areas in New South Wales no longer possess a classifier such as Shire or Municipality, but are simply known as a Council, e.g. Manly Council or Waverley Council. This is due to the phenonemon in Australian English of referring to the geographic area belonging to a local government as a council, when in other countries this word refers only to the board of elected politicians that administers local government affairs.
The Australian Capital Territory, Jervis Bay Territory and the external territories do not have Local Government Areas distinct from their Territory governments.
