On the first summer update from the Roundup, the sector reacts to a change in the citizenship ceremonies code;
New CEOs announced for Glenelg and Whitsunday;
Critics call for an investigation into the appointment of Liverpool’s new CEO;
The Canterbury Bankstown inquiry into allegations of impropriety delayed;
And a Commissioner appointed to a troubled WA council.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the national broadcaster on all things local government.
Listen to this episode here, and find the link for your podcast player here for any of the 183 episodes so far. Scroll down for the transcript for episode 183 with story links.
Transcript (with story links):
Here’s the latest from the Local Government News Roundup, as at 20th December. I’m Chris Eddy.
On the podcast today…
The sector reacts to a change in the citizenship ceremonies code;
New CEOs announced for Glenelg and Whitsunday;
Critics call for an investigation into the appointment of Liverpool’s new CEO;
The Canterbury Bankstown inquiry into allegations of impropriety delayed;
And a Commissioner appointed to a troubled WA council.
That’s all ahead on the Local Government News Roundup, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the national broadcaster on all things local government.
Councils will no longer be required to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day, after Immigration Minister Andrew Giles last week reversed a restriction imposed by the former Morrison Government.
In announcing the move, Mr Giles said it remained a strong expectation of the government that councils hold ceremonies on 26th January. However, councils now have the option of holding ceremonies within three days before or after the date.
The minister also reinstated the rights of Yarra and Darebin Councils to hold citizenship ceremonies – overturning a decision made in 2017 by then-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
The decision has been welcomed by councils and sector bodies.
Yarra Mayor Claudia Nguyen said it follows strong advocacy to the new Federal Government for the decision to be overturned, and that Yarra would comply with the amended code.
At Darebin, Mayor Julie Williams said she was thrilled by the decision, which means the full diversity of a vibrant community can be celebrated.
Merri-bek Council, which recently made the decision not to hold citizenship ceremonies on 26th January, is planning to hold a ceremony on the 24th January.
In NSW, Blue Mountains Council has been quick to move its citizenship ceremony for next year. It resolved in November to ask the government to reverse the position of the previous government, and will now hold its ceremony on the evening of 25th January. (Blue Mountains Gazette, 17-12-22)
The Local Government Association of Queensland says a number of councils in that state are set to move their ceremonies from Australia Day due to higher operational costs that come with holding them on a public holiday.
And President of the Australian Local Government Association, Linda Scott, welcomed the pragmatic update to the citizenship ceremonies code, recognising the timing of local events as a matter for local governments striving to reflect the broad wishes and aspirations of communities.
She said common sense has prevailed, and the outcome shows the strong respect and understanding the government has for local governments.
The list of 2022/23 Mayors at Victorian Councils is now complete, after meetings last night at Latrobe and Wodonga Councils.
At Wodonga, there were two nominations for the mayoralty – former mayor Kev Poulton, and Ron Mildren. Both candidates were asked to respond to a range of questions from colleagues about their style, approach and political affiliations, before Cr Mildren was successful in a tight vote, 4 votes to 3.
Cr Mildren will spend one year in the position, supported by Cr Libby Hall who was elected unopposed as Deputy Mayor.
At Latrobe City Council, there were two nominations for the mayoralty, with incumbent Cr Kellie O’Callaghan re-elected for a further one year term over Cr Dale Harriman.
Cr Harriman was also a nominee for the deputy mayoralty, but lost out to Dan Clancey who was re-elected to the position.
The list of mayoral election results for 2022 is now complete and available as a handy reference for you at www.lgnewsroundup.com
Glenelg Shire Council has announced who will be succeeding Greg Burgoyne as its new CEO in the New Year.
Paul Phelan, currently the council’s Director of Assets, will take on the role from mid-January.
Prior to joining the council in May 2021, Mr Phelan held senior roles with Victoria Police, the Department of Child Safety in Queensland, and the Department of Children and Families in Tasmania.
Mr Burgoyne announced earlier this year that he would be stepping down after ten years in the position, and is set to take up the CEO role at the Port of Portland from next month.
Victoria’s newly elected Opposition Leader John Pesutto has announced his shadow cabinet, including those with responsibility for local government related portfolios.
The Deputy Opposition Leader Peter Walsh is the shadow minister for regional development, local government aboriginal affairs. The planning portfolio sits with David Hodgett; and former local government spokesperson Richard Riordan has been allocated public transport and housing.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the national broadcaster on all things local government.
Go deeper into topical local government issues by following the VLGA Connect program on YouTube or on your podcast listening app.
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Two senior officers from Canterbury Bankstown Council have reportedly withdrawn their participation in a parliamentary inquiry into allegations of impropriety.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the council’s general manager Matthew Stewart, and Director Corporate Ken Manoski were due to front the inquiry last week, but withdrew due to concerns about the broad remit of the inquiry.
The start of the inquiry has been delayed until this week, when Mayor Khal Asfour is expected to appear.
It was triggered by allegations made in State Parliament by Bankstown MP Tania Mihailuk.
A council commissioned investigation into the claims is yet to be completed.
Meanwhile at Liverpool City Council, the LG minister has been called on to investigate allegations relating to the appointment of former Liberal MP John Ajaka to the chief executive position at that council.
Mr Ajaka becomes the council’s 11th CEO in 10 years, after the departure of Dr Eddie Jackson earlier in 2022.
Some councillors and unsuccessful candidates claim the appointment was politically motivated, and an alleged example of ‘jobs for the boys’ in action.
A spokesperson for the minister told the Sydney Morning Herald that it was a matter for the council and that the minister has no role in the process.
Cootamundra-Gundagai Council has appointed a new interim General Manager to guide the council through the coming demerger process.
Steve McGrath, the former GM of Coffs Harbour Council, brings 30 years of local government experience to the role. He will commence earlier in the new year and lead the council through the transitional period until the demerger process is complete.
He succeeds Les McMahon, who was initially appointed for three months, and was extended while awaiting a decision on the timing of the demerger process.
Inner West council has submitted its business case for deamalgamation to the NSW Government this week.
It follows a poll in 2021 in which a majority of Inner West residents indicated their support for the de-amalgamation of the Council into the 3 previous Councils of Ashfield, Marrickville and Leichhardt.
The business case projects the 10 year cost of de amalgamation at up to $190M, which the council wants the State Government to fund; and it is also insisting that the process be overseen by elected members and not a state appointed administrator.
The business case will be assessed by the NSW Boundaries Commission, with the ultimate decision on whether to proceed with de-amalgamation resting with the LG Minister.
Another experienced local government executive has been appointed to a CEO position – this time at Whitsunday Regional Council in Queensland.
Warren Bunker, most recently in a senior role at Sunshine Coast Council, will take up the position in late February. He takes over from Rod Ferguson who is retiring after holding the role since May 2020.
In WA, the Local Government minister has appointed a Commissioner to the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup, after the recent sudden resignation of five councillors.
As more than half of the council became vacant with those resignations, the Minister has enacted provisions of the Local Government Act to appoint former senior public sector leader Gail McGowan as Commissioner.
In doing so, the remaining four council positions have been declared vacant.
Commissioner McGowan commences this week and will perform the duties of the council until a new council is elected in October 2023.
Meanwhile in the NT, four councillors have quit from Barkly Regional Council, following a number of council staff resignations in recent times.
The mass resignation leaves the council with 9 councillors, and the need for by-elections which are likely to be held early in the new year.
The ABC reports that the territory’s department of Chief Minister and Cabinet is assisting with a review of complaints about a toxic culture at the council, which are not believed to involve any of the recently resigned councillors.
That’s the latest from the Local Government News Roundup.
We’re on our summer schedule now, and episodes dropping will come to you as the news demands with our regular schedule resuming in late January.
Head to lgnewsroundup.com for links to the stories referenced in the podcast, along with handy lists of CEO appointments and mayoral election results.
I hope you can join us again soon for more from the Local Government News Roundup, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the national broadcaster on all things local government.
Until then, thanks for listening and bye for now.