The Office of the Independent Assessor (OIA) is the state’s councillor conduct watchdog, and can refer complaints to the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC), investigate them itself or send them back to council depending on their seriousness.
Other proposals in the upcoming legislation – to be called the “Empowering Councils Bill” and passed before the end of this year – included ensuring councillors have the power to appoint senior council staff and streamlining the conflict-of-interest framework.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding.Credit: Tony Moore
Council candidates will no longer be required to publish their home address on election material, with the government citing privacy and safety concerns.
Mayors will also be declared the official spokespeople for their local governments, eight months after Ipswich mayor Teresa Harding faced efforts from rival councillors to prevent her speaking on some issues.
“We saw yesterday that the state is proceeding with … some common-sense improvements,” she told 4BC on Wednesday morning.
Loading
“Mayors are the only councillors who are democratically elected by the entire city, and therefore really should play a key role in ensuring that councils are effectively communicating with our communities.”
Local government minister Ann Leahy said the government was “delivering a fresh start and empowering” councils to deliver for their community.
In her statement, she also disputed characterisations the accord signed with Indigenous leaders this week amounted to a Voice to Parliament by stealth.
“Queenslanders rightly overwhelmingly rejected the Voice to Parliament while at the same time called for greater practical outcomes to be delivered in Indigenous communities,” she said.
“Unlike the Voice to Parliament, this is elected officials working together to deliver for their communities.”
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Read the full article here
