Landmark reforms in proposed Act

Baw Baw Shire Council will be compelled to introduce a public transparency policy if a new Local Government Act is approved by State parliament.

The Local Government Bill 2018 was presented in parliament for first reading last week.

The transparency policy is one of a number of measures in the bill that Local Government Minister Marlene Kairouz said would lift standards of governance and make councillors more accountable to the ratepayers they represent.

All councils would have to adopt and maintain a policy that makes their information including documents publicly available, is understandable and accessible and which requires councils to make the public aware that information is available.

The only reasons council could withhold information would be if it was deemed confidential by virtue of the Local Government Act, e.g. tender documents, other Acts, such as the Privacy Act, or would be contrary to the public interest.

Ms Mairouz said the new Act would usher in landmark reforms.

Among them was ministerial power to suspend individual councillors for up to a year if they were a threat to council governance and to oust mayors serving two-year terms if at least threequarters of councillors adopted a motion to that effect.

Mr Mairouz said councils would also be required to develop four-year budgets and meet higher standards in strategic planning and financial management.

The Act would make councillors more accountable to ratepayers and their communities, she said.