Have your say on the review of the Councillor Conduct Framework
Strong and thriving communities need effective local government. No other level of government is as close to the issues and people.
The Councillor Conduct Framework (Framework) is under review with the aim to facilitate and support local decision making.
Effective local government comes when councillors are visibly in control of their councils. How councillors act and how appropriately and transparently decisions are made at meetings is critical in demonstrating to the community that their elected representatives understand the consequences of their decisions, and then make the best possible decisions they can for their community as a whole.
It is intended that the revised Framework will be based on the following principles of change:
- Council leadership and decision making is paramount
- Freedom of speech is fundamental
- Transparency and accountability are maintained
- Issues are dealt with at the most immediate or local level
- A strong and proportionate local government regulator
- Justice is timely and proportionate
- Significant penalties should only be imposed by a judicial or quasi-judicial body
Who are we seeking feedback from?
OLG has prepared a Discussion Paper to seek the views of the community, key stakeholders and the local government sector about the proposed changes.
Read the discussion paper here.
Submissions will be accepted until COB Friday 15 November 2024.
What are you being asked to do?
The discussion paper outlines the key focus areas of the review. We are seeking your input on these matters through the questions raised in the discussion paper and available in the online form.
Feedback can be provided using the online form below
OR
In writing to – councillorconduct@olg.nsw.gov.au
OR
Postal address: Locked Bag 3015, NOWRA NSW 2541.
Submissions must be clearly labelled “Councillor Conduct Framework Review”
When providing your feedback, we encourage you to keep responses outcomes-focused. There is no need to suggest draft wording or clauses for the legislation.
Note: organisations with multiple teams or individuals contributing responses may wish to save a shared copy of this form and make one submission on behalf of the organisation.
Instructions on submitting your feedback are included at the end of this form.
Not all questions need to be answered.
Information of privacy and confidentiality
When you give us your feedback, OLG will be collecting some personal information about you, in particular:
- your name
- your email address
- any personal information you decide to put in the additional comments fields.
All feedback received through this consultation process may be made publicly available. Please let us know below if you do not want your name and personal details published.
As part of the consultation process, we may need to share your information with people outside OLG, including other public authorities and government agencies. We may also use your email to send you notifications about further feedback opportunities or the outcome of the consultation.
There may also be circumstances when OLG is required by law to release information (for example, in accordance with the requirements of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009). There is a privacy policy located on OLG’s website that explains how some data is automatically collected (such as your internet protocol (IP) address) whenever you visit OLG’s website. The link to that policy is https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/about-us/privacy-policy/.