Mark Shelton,Minister for Local Government
Reforms for the Local Government Legislative Framework Review were released today following two years of extensive consultation with the local government sector, stakeholders and the community.
The majority of the proposed 51 Reform Directions consulted on in the Reform Directions Paper will be implemented after receiving broad support from the public, councils and stakeholders.
Only three of the 51 reforms were strongly opposed in the consultation feedback and a decision was made not to progress them. These included:
- changing the way mayors and deputy mayors are elected;
- introducing a candidate nomination fee; and
- establishing Regional Councils.
This holistic legislative review, which commenced in June 2018, has elicited a high degree of interest and engagement with the most recent consultation period receiving almost 800 survey responses and 75 written submissions.
The next step is for Government to develop a new Local Government Bill based on the principles of community engagement, good governance, transparency and accountability, efficiency and effectiveness. The new Bill will support the important role and functions of councils and allow them to best serve their local communities.
The Government also intends to progress approved electoral reforms through a stand-alone Local Government (Elections) Bill, which will streamline provisions only used during elections and ensure that a new Local Government Act will be as concise and user-friendly as possible.
While the Review is continuing to progress, it’s acknowledged that timelines for final drafting, exposure bill consultation and progress through the Parliament will be impacted by the current coronavirus pandemic.
I would like to sincerely thank the local government sector and our community members for the high level of interest and engagement shown to date in the Review.
The approved reforms can be found on the Review’s webpage at www.dpac.tas.gov.au/lgreview.
The Reforms Directions Paper can be found https://www.dpac.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/530315/Reform_Directions_Paper_-_July_2019.pdf
