Tim James
Shadow Minister for Local Government
For the second time in just four months, the Legislative Council has struck down the Minns Labor Government's council meeting rules, delivering a damning rebuke to Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig and a win for local democracy.
Last night's disallowance of the Local Government (General) Amendment (Meetings) Regulation 2026 overturned councillor briefing restrictions the Government reintroduced after Parliament disallowed its Model Code of Meeting Practice in May.
Shadow Minister for Local Government Tim James said the Minister must stop doubling down and work with councils to get the rules right.
"Two parliamentary rejections in four months amount to a vote of no confidence in this Minister's handling of the issue," Mr James said.
"The Minister has been all at sea and good council governance is suffering. When Parliament rejected his Model Code, he remade the briefings restriction instead of fixing it."
"Residents expect councils to spend their money wisely and make sound decisions about local roads, parks and community facilities. That requires councillors who can test advice, understand costs and ask hard questions. The Government's
approach undermined their ability to do that."
"The Minister must now deliver the workable Code of Meeting Practice he should have produced at the start of the year. Councillors need a briefings framework that strengthens transparency and allows them to do their jobs. Safeguards against decisions being made behind closed doors must not prevent proper scrutiny or force councils into bureaucratic workarounds."
Mr James also warned that the draft model for distributing Commonwealth Financial Assistance Grants risks becoming the Minister's next mess, with many NSW councils facing substantial funding cuts.
"Councils are sounding the alarm about cuts that would put more pressure on local infrastructure, services and ratepayers. The Minister cannot keep ignoring the consequences of decisions affecting the sector."
"Dictating to councils has failed. The Minister needs to start listening and get this right. Good local government depends on it."
