Labor calls for urgent reforms

THE government needs to employ the same level of urgency shown to push through legislation to make voting at council elections compulsory to reforming the code of conduct that governs local government, Deputy Labor Leader Anita Dow says.

Ms Dow, (right) a former Burnie mayor, said reform was needed to encourage new candidates to run as more Tasmanian mayors added their names to the list of those not standing for re-election.

Last month the government’s Local Government Amendment (Elections) Bill 2022 passed making it compulsory to vote at the local council elections in September and October this year.

Ms Dow wants the government to get on with its Tasmania’s Local Government Code of Conduct review.

“Why is the government dragging its feet on this?” she asked.

“The community needs confidence in local government otherwise no one will come forward to fill the significant gap left by the retirement of long-serving members.

“Councils need direction and support in the light of recent events which have undermined confidence in the sector.”

Local Government Minister Nic Street said the government was committed to implementing the agreed reforms to the Code of Conduct system for local government.

“Many of the changes require amendments to the Local Government Act 1993 and this legislative drafting work is underway,” Mr Street said.

“I hope to release a draft amendment Bill for an appropriate period of public consultation in the near future and intend to introduce it into parliament later this year. It is hardly surprising that it’s the same Labor Opposition – who previously criticised us for lack of consultation – that is now telling us to rush this important legislation”.

Ms Dow’s comments come as a stoush at the WaratahWynyard Council continues.

Flashing Councillor Darren Fairbrother, who was in May convicted on a charge of prohibited behaviour has refused to resign and the council is powerless to sack him.

In her submission to the government’s Local Government Code of Conduct Framework, Waratah-Wynyard Council’s Mary Duniam said the public expected the highest standards of public administration and did not feel councils dealt well with issues of poor behaviour, conflict and dysfunction.

As a matter of public integrity, councils in Tasmania often feel that they are not appropriately equipped or supported as a decision-making body to carry out their roles as civic leaders to address issues,” the submission said.