Council reforms add new level of transparency

GOLD Coast Mayor Tom Tate and the 14 councillors will now be able to report themselves to the State’s Integrity Commissioner.

The State Government reforms mean all mayors and councillors can now seek ethical and integrity advice, which is hoped to increase transparency and accountability.

The change is one of the recommendations from the Crime and Corruption Commission’s Operation Belcarra, which investigated the 2016 local government elections on the Gold Coast.

Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said it was in the public interest that councillors and mayors had access to the commissioner.

“This reform takes effect immediately, giving our local government representatives access to an impartial source of advice,” he said.