A PUSH to find a new way to control councillor behaviour has the backing of Gawler Mayor Karen Redman, in the wake of the chamber discussing an internal defamation claim last
week.
As part of its new local government reform bill announced last week, the State Government proposed introducing an independent panel which would have the power to suspend elected members for up to three months for behavioural discretions.
The three-member panel would include one member appointed by local government minister Stephan Knoll, another by the Local Government Association (LGA) SA and a final member agreed upon by both parties.
As reported in The Bunyip last week, Gawler councillors discussed defamation accusations from councillor Ian Tooley, directed at the rest of the chamber, last
Tuesday night.
Speaking to The Bunyip, Ms Redman backed the State Government’s attempt at behavioural reform.
“I think it’s an honest attempt to bring rogue behaviour and unacceptable behaviour into line,” she said.
I think that’s well overdue, but we need to work through the details and the impact of these changes.
“It’s early days yet, but I applaud the State Government for their honest attempt at managing that very challenging issue.”
Mr Knoll said the independent panel and threat of suspension – with or without pay – would hold local government “to the highest standards”.
“We are also cracking down on bad behaviour in councils that all South Australians are sick of hearing about and that stifles councils’ ability to deliver services for their community,” he said.
“We’re making sure we put in place penalties to be able to suspend councillors with or without pay, based on a new behavioural standards panel adjudication.
“We need to make sure we keep our local government sector to the highest standards and that’s a key reform as part of this (local government reform bill).”