SCRUTINY ON COUNCILLORS
FIVE years ago a Gold Coast Bulletin report posed this question: where do our city councillors stand on having a perceived conflict of interest when voting on a development?
Were we likely to see our councillors stand up and declare a personal interest or leave the chamber?
The report was sparked by Mayor Tom Tate who brought on this debate after his deputy, Donna Gates, raised a development dispute.
In what she later admitted had been her most challenging week, Cr Gates spoke about an email sent to all councillors suggesting an “unnamed councillor” at the planning committee had voted on a development item despite owning property in the area.
Before full council could tick off on it, Cr Gates outed herself, explaining her knowledge of city-wide planning matters and having to represent the views of other residents compelled her to stay in the planning room.
What Cr Tate said next was compelling for all new councillors.
”I got property all over the city. We got reports – we have to look at the new town plan, we’re going to look at the light rail corridor, the Southport PDA,” he said.
”Why I’m speaking up on this councillors, I don’t want any councillor to feel ... bullied into leaving the room. My attitude is if somebody out there is sending emails to all of you and trying to get you out of the room because they perceive that you may have one view or another before the debate even commences — I think it’s a poor day for democracy.”
CEO Dale Dickson was asked for advice and concluded that “at the end of the day it’s a matter of her judgment, and her judgment alone”.
Cr Gates, on that occasion, stayed but gained no satisfaction from being in the spotlight.
Yesterday, she quit as deputy chair of council’s powerful planning committee. Recently, she left the chamber after a Gold Coast Turf Club matter was discussed. She is a board director.
On Monday, councillors received an update from Mr Dickson and the city’s solicitor about the State Government’s sweeping new laws for councils.
This newspaper’s reporting on Trojan council after the 2016 council elections and subsequent Belcarra hearings by the Crime and Corruption Commission led to the new legislation.
Much of the reporting since has been on property developers being banned from making donations.
But at the heart of the legislation is a new code of conduct for councillors, more details required on declaring conflict of interest and requirement for them to speak up if they see a colleague in breach.
The stakes are high. The new offences carry jails terms of up to 10 years.
It is no longer a case for councillors just to make their own judgment. And it’s not a situation of being bullied. A fellow councillor is in breach if they fail to stand up and point out an alleged offender.
The ultimate aim of this scrutiny on increased disclosure is to return public confidence in our council.