Conflict of interest bill would restrict councillors
Conflict of interest bill would restrict councillors
BY BIANCA HALL, TMT 8/10/2008
COMMUNITY activists elected to local government could be sued for voting on contentious issues under a bill being considered by Parliament.
The upper house is due to vote on a revamped series of laws governing the conduct of councillors in two weeks.
If the bill is passed, any councillor who makes a submission or objection on an issue his or her council votes on would be considered to have a conflict of interest. Fines of more than $ 11,000 apply.
Under the new rules, councillors would be prevented from objecting to a range of matters they could be expected to vote on.
Save Our Suburbs president Ian Quick is a candidate for November's Yarra City Council election. Mr Quick, who regularly lobbies councils on planning and transport issues, said the new law "removes councillors' ability to make submissions, let alone objections, on a wide range of issues".
He said it was "a typical move by this State Government to muzzle democracy" and "an attempt to silence councillors who are also members of community groups".
Under the bill, councillors would be prevented from making submissions on matters including council budgets, local laws and planning schemes and then voting on those issues - or even being present during a vote.
Councillors' family members would also be barred from making submissions on community issues.
Local Government Minister Richard Wynne said the new provisions had been included on the advice of Liberty Victoria president Julian Burnside QC.
"An elected official must at least have an open mind to hear arguments, and that is the key criteria that anybody in public office should adhere to," Mr Wynne said.
Northern Metropolitan MLC Greg Barber will try to move amendments to the bill to scrap the section relating to conflict of interest.
