Council talkfest cost $500,000
DOCUMENTS obtained by the State Opposition have found the Citizens’ Jury process cost more than $500,000 to implement.
The jury of 100 people was commissioned by Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins following the dismissal of the City of Greater Geelong councillors last year.
Written material obtained through freedom of information by Opposition municipal spokesman David Davis revealed the cost after a sevenmonth long quest.
He said the process was an attempt at “democratic win- dow dressing” from its incep- tion, given an exemption was made to obtain three written quotes prior to the selection of the newDemocracy Foundation to carry out the consultation.
“This is a hand-picked jury; this is a group of toadies who have been picked to conduct the process for the purposes of delivering a result the minister wanted,” Mr Davis told State Parliament.
“I make the point that members of the jury are good local citizens, but the Government has sought through the newDemocracy Foundation, which is the favoured group, to manage the process to get the outcome that they want.
“Those paying the piper are calling the tune in this case.”
The Local Government Minister announced newDemocracy Foundation as the administrator of the Citizens’ Jury in July.
The 100 jurors were asked to consider how the mayor and deputy mayor would be appointed as well as the number of councillors.
Mr Davis said the $500,000 spent on the Citizens’ Jury process should have been redirected towards infrastructure projects in the Geelong region.
“(Ms Hutchins and the State Government) waved aside normal probity; they waved aside normal arrangements,” the Liberal MP said.
Ms Hutchins said the Citizens Jury was a “randomly selected group” that was representative of the municipality in terms of gender, age and location.
“Consulting the people of Geelong was a decision of the Parliament when the council was sacked,” the Local Government Minister said.
“Of course this costs money, but the cost of doing nothing would be far greater. We’re proud to have involved the Geelong community in our decision-making to such an extent. “Geelong’s return to democracy has been guided by the most democratic form of consultation possible and we make no apologies for that.”