Municipal Governance
At the local level, the region is governed by the City of Greater Bendigo. This local government area encompasses not just the main urban footprint of Bendigo, but also surrounding satellite towns and rural districts, covering a landmass of roughly 3,000 square kilometres. The council is responsible for local infrastructure, urban planning, waste management, parks, and community facilities. The municipality is divided into several wards—such as Eppalock, Lockwood, and Whipstick—each electing councillors who in turn vote to appoint a Mayor to lead the council's civic functions and chair meetings at the town hall.
State Administration
In the Parliament of Victoria, Bendigo is primarily represented by two state districts in the Legislative Assembly: Bendigo East and Bendigo West. These districts cover the city and its immediate surrounds. Because Bendigo is a major regional centre, it is a significant focus for state infrastructure and service delivery. At the state level, the region operates under the jurisdiction of the Victorian Labor government, currently led by Premier Ben Carroll. Numerous state government departments, such as the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) and Regional Development Victoria, maintain substantial regional headquarters in Bendigo to administer the broader Loddon Mallee region.
Federal Representation
Federally, the city forms the core of the Division of Bendigo, an electoral district in the Australian House of Representatives. The federal electorate covers the entirety of the Greater Bendigo municipality and extends into neighboring shires. Federal responsibilities in the city include funding for major highway projects, higher education via La Trobe University, and telecommunications infrastructure, along with maintaining regional offices for agencies such as Services Australia (Centrelink and Medicare).