- The Crisafulli Government is delivering on its commitment to empower the local government sector through fit-for-purpose legislation so they can better serve their communities.
- Proposed amendments in the Local Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill were passed in Queensland Parliament this week.
- Changes include reducing red tape, empowering mayors to be the voice for their councils and promoting good governance and decision making.
- The Crisafulli Government has a plan for Queensland's future after a decade of decline under Labor.
The Crisafulli Government has delivered on a key election commitment, progressing important reforms to better empower Queensland councils with the passing of the Local Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill in Parliament this week.
Under the former Labor Government, decision‑making powers were removed from councillors and mayors which created unnecessary red tape and led to declining outcomes for ratepayers.
The amendments in the Bill deliver on a key election commitment by the Crisafulli Government to empower councils to better serve their communities, establishing a practical legislative framework that strengthens accountability while cutting unnecessary red tape.
Changes include:
- Streamlining the work of councils by removing unnecessary red tape and regulation.
- Improving transparency by simplifying the councillor conflicts of interest and register of interests framework.
- Focusing the councillor conduct framework to better address serious misconduct and removing the process for councillors sitting in judgement of their peers.
- Protecting the privacy and safety of election participants by removing the requirement to publicly disclose residential addresses.
- Empowering mayors to be the voice for their councils.
The Bill incorporates comments from the Local Government, Small Business and Customer Service Committee's report on this Bill and has garnered support from sector representatives from across the state.
The passing of the Bill continues to build on the Crisafulli Government's commitment to deliver local government reforms, including amendments to the City of Brisbane Regulation 2012 and Local Government Regulation 2012 which have been in force since December last year.
Minister for Local Government and Water Ann Leahy said the Bill's implementation will allow councils to get back to basics and focus on delivering for their communities.
"Mayors and councillors have been telling us how the outdated processes and confusing regulations are impacting their ability to serve their communities," Minister Leahy said.
"These amendments are designed to strengthen the capacity of Queensland councils to meet the expectations of their communities, while ensuring the highest levels of integrity and accountability.
"This legislation is all about having respect for ratepayers money."
Former Mayor of Barcaldine and Assistant Minister Sean Dillon said that Labor's changes to the Conflict-of-Interest provisions clouded the real situation for rural and remote councils, often excluding real subject matter experts leaving the community poorer.
"Our changes restore the community's representatives to the decision and advice stage instilling confidence and restoring integrity in outcomes," Mr Dillon said.
"Often councilors are the only true locals in the chamber and without their guidance an input, communities suffer."
Former Gold Coast Councillor and Assistant Minister Hermann Vorster said the former Labor Government hurt Queensland democracy by forcing councillors and candidates to share their home addresses on print campaign materials and across social media channels.
"I felt that stress firsthand, particularly at election time when threats and intimidating messages were scrawled over the same signs disclosing where my family lived," Mr Vorster said.
"The Crisafulli Government will restore safety during Council elections after Labor refused during their decade of decline."
Mayor of Blackall-Tambo Regional Council Andrew Martin said rural and remote mayors carry vital local knowledge, especially after years of staff turnover. Western councils work differently and this isn't always understood by new executives.
"Having first been elected in 2016, I saw firsthand the impacts of uninformed decision making that removed mayors from selection panels," Mr Martin said.
"This change to remove mayors meant the individual elected by the community to provide leadership and oversight in high-level decision-making was excluded from that responsibility.
"I support the Crisafulli Government's amendments to make this essential change to include mayors on selection boards and correct other misconceptions."
