The Tasmanian Government has introduced legislation for new laws to strengthen the code of conduct for local government.
While the Government accepts that the vast majority of councillors uphold the highest levels of probity, after consultation with LGAT a new Code of Conduct panel will be established with additional powers and which will also cut red tape by replacing the current 29 panels with just one.
The new panel will have the power to fine councillors and aldermen who don’t comply with the panel’s directions. They will also have the power to suspend or even remove the councillor or alderman out of office if they continue to seriously flout the rules. We want to send a clear message that ratepayers expect high levels of professional conduct and if you break the rules it’s three strikes and you’re out.
The Director of Local Government will have the capacity to throw out a complaint if it is deemed frivolous.
The new laws will ensure that only people whose principal place of residence is in Tasmania can stand for election to local government in Tasmania.
The new laws will also help stop a repeat of the ‘Gary the Goat’ saga by removing red tape that doesn’t pass the common sense test.
These laws will also act on a number of issues raised in a recent investigation conducted by the Director of Local Government, specifically in relation to how councils deal with private and confidential information that is relevant to an agenda item of a council meeting.
The Government is serious about local government playing its role in making Tasmania the best place to live, work and invest. We are taking both a big picture approach through the voluntary amalgamation and resource sharing process and also through improving efficiency, effectiveness and accountability through specific reforms, like the new laws we have announced today.
More Media Releases from Peter Gutwein
More Media Releases from the Minister for Planning and Local Government