The Allan Labor Government is facing mounting criticism over its mandatory statewide councillor code of conduct, amid growing concerns the rules are being weaponised to silence debate and punish councillors for doing their job.
In Parliament, with the support of the Liberals and Nationals, a parliamentary motion calling for the government to review the Model Councillor Code of Conduct and associated laws and regulations was successfully passed.
Shadow Minister for Local Government, Bev McArthur, said: "The Model Councillor Code of Conduct has had a chilling effect on free speech and democratic representation in local government.
"As elected representatives, councillors have a mandate to advocate fiercely for their communities and challenge prevailing orthodoxies.
"The provisions in the Code are too broad and regularly weaponised by activist councillors to settle petty political scores at great cost to the ratepayer.
"The Allan Labor Government introduced the Code - it now has a responsibility to fix it."
