Transparent, accountable local government vital

IT looks as if those councillors who were excluded from the cozy restricted December discussions about the budget the Mayor had with his selected councillors will get their wish for more transparency in local government.

Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe has put out a media release outlining the latest tranche of reforms stemming from the Belcarra Report.

These include “removing powers of Mayors in relation to budgets, the appointment of senior executive employees, and the issuing of directions to the chief executive officer and senior executive employees”, among many others relating to compulsory training for candidates, conflict of interest requirements, and donations and gifts.

Gecko and many other Gold Coast residents look forward to the many other reforms needed in regard to secret meetings, closed-door meetings, and hiding documents that should be public through the overuse of Right to Information and redactions.

More transparent and accountable local government works better for everyone and these reforms are timely for candidates of the local government elections in March 2020.

LOIS LEVY, CAMPAIGN CO-ORDINATOR, GECKO ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL