Tony Raunic

Tony Raunic is one of Victoria’s most experienced local government lawyers, with particular expertise in governance, integrity and public-sector decision-making. A former councillor and mayor, he has spent more than two decades advising councils, councillors, mayors, chief executives and governance teams on difficult decisions, statutory obligations and public-sector risk.

Based in Melbourne and advising clients throughout Victoria, Tony works with metropolitan, regional and rural councils on governance, councillor conduct, conflicts of interest, meeting procedures, procurement, probity and compliance with the Local Government Act 2020 (Vic). His advice combines legal expertise with first-hand knowledge of how councils operate in politically sensitive and publicly accountable environments.

Having served in elected local government himself, as both a councillor and mayor, Tony understands that technically correct legal advice must also work in practice. Council decisions are often made under pressure and can attract scrutiny from the community, regulators, the media and other levels of government. Tony helps clients reach outcomes that are lawful, practical and capable of withstanding that scrutiny.

Tony’s work includes advising on:

• Councillor conduct, integrity and conflicts of interest
• Governance rules, meeting procedures and statutory decision-making
• Complaints, investigations and sensitive governance matters
• Procurement, probity and contracting
• Council powers and compliance obligations
• Local laws and regulatory responsibilities
• Council property and commercial arrangements
• Training for councillors, mayors, executives and governance teams

Tony is frequently called upon to advise where the legal, political and reputational dimensions of an issue overlap. He works closely with mayors, chief executives, governance officers and senior council staff to clarify their obligations, manage risk and support defensible decision-making.

Beyond his client work, Tony contributes to the broader local government sector through education, training and commentary. He works with the Victorian Local Governance Association on governance and leadership programs and contributes to the LexisNexis Local Government Reporter, which examines legal, policy and administrative developments affecting local government across Australia.

Tony is known for explaining complex governance issues clearly and giving advice that can be acted upon. His focus is not simply on identifying what the law says, but on helping councils understand what it means for the decision in front of them.

Core areas

• Victorian local government law
• Local government governance
• Councillor conduct and integrity
• Statutory compliance
• Procurement and probity
• Governance rules and meeting procedures
• Council property and commercial matters
• Public-sector decision-making
• Councillor and executive training

Frequently asked questions