Circulars

What’s new or changing

• The Minister for Local Government, the Hon. Shelley Hancock MP, has initiated an independent review of the framework for dealing with councillor misconduct in New South Wales.
• Mr Gary Kellar PSM has been appointed to carry out the review. Mr Kellar was a member of the expert panel which conducted a review of the local government misconduct framework in Queensland in 2017 and was chief executive officer of Logan City Council for 26 years.
• A consultation paper has been issued to facilitate an understanding of the current framework and to invite submissions identifying areas for improvement, together with suggestions for the practical application of those improvements. The consultation paper is available here.

What this will mean for your council

• Anyone, including councils, individual councillors and council staff, can make written submissions in response to the consultation paper.
• Councils’ complaints coordinators should also advise conduct reviewers of the review and the opportunity to make written submissions in response to the consultation paper.
• Information on how to make submissions is contained in the consultation paper.
• Submissions should be made before 28 March 2022.

Key points

• The review is examining the current administrative framework under which complaints about councillor misconduct are managed, with the aim of identifying possible areas for improvement. The review will include an examination of similar frameworks used in other jurisdictions for any lessons they may offer for improving the New South Wales framework.
• The review’s terms of reference are available here.

Where to go for further information

• For more information, contact the Council Governance Team by telephone on 02 4428 4100 or by email at olg@olg.nsw.gov.au.