[Greens-Media] (Shoebridge MLC) Local Government Minister says it's somebody else's problem

[Colin Hesse]

Media Release
 
>From David Shoebridge, Greens MP
 
14 September  2010   - For immediate use
 
Local Government Minister says it's somebody else's problem
 
Greens MP and spokesperson for Local Government, David Shoebridge, has questioned the Minister for Local Government Barbara Perry for refusing to close down loopholes in the code of conduct procedures for local government at today's budget estimates hearings in State Parliament.
 
"When presented with example after example of local government councillors having code of conduct investigations being presented against them where there was clearly no merit in the allegations the Minister did nothing but fall back on platitudes about the need for councillors to behave better," said Mr Shoebridge.
 
"The Minister must exercise her power to remove from general managers the power to refer code of conduct allegations for investigation. Many general managers are themselves a key part of the political dynamic of local councils and they are not a fair judge of the allegations.
 
"The current system allows councils where the majority of  councillors may have a close relationship with the general manager to effectively intimidate councillors in a minority by the investigation of allegations with no basis in fact.
 
"It should not be up to third parties such as the Ombudsman's Office to intervene as it did in the case of allegations against Hurstville Greens Councillor Anne Wagstaff where the Ombudsman recommended that Council apologise to Councillor Wagstaff after a code of conduct complaint was found not breach Hurstville code.
 
"While the Minister stands on the sidelines wringing her hands, the reputations of councillors across NSW are being denigrated . The Minister must intervene and the Division of Local Government must take responsibility for the proper, timely and transparent examination of alleged breaches of codes of conduct.
 
"While the Minister herself is happy to say words like transparent, her lack of action is a classic example of buck passing so that it seems it is someone else's problem, said Mr Shoebridge.
 
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/ombudsman-steps-into-councils-apology-row-20100531-wrgt.html 
 
Contact:  David Shoebridge 0408 113 952 or Colin Hesse (Media officer) on 02 9230 3030 or 0401 719 124