The Allan Government has serious questions to answer after councils were shut out of consultation on its revived Local Government Fair Jobs Code.
Despite the Code being under development for years, councils were not properly consulted before the budget announcement, while union bosses reportedly were.
Appearing before the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee, the Minister for Local Government, Paul Hamer, also failed to explain the likely compliance costs for councils and ratepayers.
The Allan Labor Government has allocated $5.4 million towards implementing the Local Government Fair Jobs Code and establishing a new regulatory body, yet councils that will ultimately be required to implement the Code remain in the dark about its detail and impact.
The Minister must now answer the following questions:
- How many meetings were held with the Australian Services Union regarding the Code?
- Have members of the Local Government Fair Jobs Code Advisory Committee signed non-disclosure agreements?
- Has the Department modelled the compliance costs for councils across Victoria?
- How much taxpayer money will be spent operating this new regulator?
- Will councils face penalties if they are unable to comply with the Code?
Shadow Minister for Local Government, Bev McArthur, said: "Labor spent years developing this Code and allocated millions of dollars towards implementing it, yet councils and local government peak bodies have made it clear they were not properly consulted and have not seen a copy of it."
"If the Government consulted unions before councils, Victorians are entitled to ask who this process was designed for - union bosses or ratepayers?
"This Code risks reducing councils' capacity to use contractors to deliver core services, driving higher rates and fees and reducing services for ratepayers."
