Proposed changes to the Local Government Act 1993 would see the Local Government Minister gain more power over individual councillors and councils, including the ability to suspend or fire councillors rather than entire councils.
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The draft bill states that “the Director may recommend to the Minister that he or she issue a performance improvement direction to a council or councillor”.
The amendment requires the Minister to notify the councillor or council in question of the direction, and the councillor has right of reply.
“If the Minister suspends all of the councillors of a council, the Governor ... may appoint a person as commissioner for that council during that suspension,” the proposed changes read.
Other changes give the Minister increased power over troubled councils or councillors, which follows a number of state interventions and suspensions, including the suspension of Glenorchy Council in February.
The Minister would also be able to “impose on mayors such functions as the Minister considers appropriate”.
Further power is provided for the Minister to recommend local government boundary changes to the Governor, whether minor or major.
We want everyone interested to have their say and have their voices heard.
- Local Government Minister Peter Gutwein
The draft bill was created by a steering committee led by representatives from the Local Government Association of Tasmania, the Local Government Professionals Australia (Tasmania) and the Premier’s department, using 64 public submissions in the process.
Local Government Minister Peter Gutwein said there were “many challenges facing the local government sector”.
“It’s important we make sure they have the right structure and the right tools so that they can best serve their communities,” Mr Gutwein said. “We want everyone interested to have their say and have their voices heard.”
The public consultation period on the proposed changes closes on May 5, before the bill is finalised and introduced in parliament.