LACK of disclosure of local government election donations and the need to retain deputy mayor roles have been thrust under the spotlight in an upper house inquiry. Outgoing Local Government Association of Tasmania chief executive Allan Garcia raised the issues during an investigation into the Electoral Act. Mr Garcia told MLCs some candidates had allegedly received campaign donations before last year's local government elections from parties that could be construed as future beneficiaries of council decisions. "At the present time nobody has to disclose the fact that they received any money in the first place," he said after the Thursday hearing. "And unless anybody else around the council table knows, they arguably don't even have to declare a pecuniary interest." Mr Garcia said there ought to be a much more transparent process to ensure council decisions made - particularly about planning and developments - were all above board in the future. Mr Garcia also told MLCs he was not sure the deputy mayor's role was needed. "What's the role of the deputy mayor, and does it warrant the allowance they get paid if their duties exist in name only?" he later said. "In large part deputy mayors only step up when mayors go on holidays or on leave. I don't see why those duties couldn't be filled by senior councillors on an as-needs rotating basis." Mr Garcia said possible abuse of the contentious general manager's electoral roll also needed to be looked at in detail. "Who should be on there and not on there, and should there be one in the first place?" he said. The outgoing LGAT president said combatting high numbers of informal votes, and exploring compulsory voting, were also hot-button issues worth further debate before the next local elections.
LACK of disclosure of local government election donations and the need to retain deputy mayor roles have been thrust under the spotlight in an upper house inquiry.
Outgoing Local Government Association of Tasmania chief executive Allan Garcia raised the issues during an investigation into the Electoral Act.
Mr Garcia told MLCs some candidates had allegedly received campaign donations before last year's local government elections from parties that could be construed as future beneficiaries of council decisions.
"At the present time nobody has to disclose the fact that they received any money in the first place," he said after the Thursday hearing.
"And unless anybody else around the council table knows, they arguably don't even have to declare a pecuniary interest."
Mr Garcia said there ought to be a much more transparent process to ensure council decisions made - particularly about planning and developments - were all above board in the future.
Mr Garcia also told MLCs he was not sure the deputy mayor's role was needed.
"What's the role of the deputy mayor, and does it warrant the allowance they get paid if their duties exist in name only?" he later said.
"In large part deputy mayors only step up when mayors go on holidays or on leave. I don't see why those duties couldn't be filled by senior councillors on an as-needs rotating basis."
Mr Garcia said possible abuse of the contentious general manager's electoral roll also needed to be looked at in detail.
"Who should be on there and not on there, and should there be one in the first place?" he said.
The outgoing LGAT president said combatting high numbers of informal votes, and exploring compulsory voting, were also hot-button issues worth further debate before the next local elections.
