Councillor Code of Conduct will ensure responsibility, respect and reputation

28 November 2018

Councillors elected to Ipswich City Council in March 2020 will have to abide by a tough new Code of Conduct.

The Local Government (Councillor Complaints) and other Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 was introduced to State Parliament on 15 February 2018 and assented on 21 May 2018.

The Bill amended the Local Government Act 2009 to provide a simpler, streamlined process for making, investigating and determining complaints about councillor conduct in Queensland.

The Act was amended to include Chapter 5A - Councillor Conduct, which is about:

*    setting appropriate standards for the behaviour of councillors

*    dealing with the conduct of councillors at local government meetings that does not meet the standards

*    investigating and dealing with complaints about the conduct of councillors

*    disciplinary action that may be taken against councillors who engage in inappropriate conduct or misconduct

*    the entities that investigate and deal with complaints about the conduct of councillors.

A core part of the legislative reform is a new mandatory code of conduct for all councillors across Queensland.

The Minister for Local Government, Racing and Multicultural Affairs Stirling Hinchliffe, who introduced the new mandatory code, was on hand in Ipswich City Council chambers this week to see it tabled at the council’s Governance Committee.

Interim Administrator Greg Chemello said the new Councillor Code of Conduct would take effect across Queensland as of 3 December 2018 unless earlier endorsed by specific councils.

Ipswich City Council will adopt the Code at the council meeting next week.

He said the code summarises the standards of behaviour as the three Rs: that councillors carry out RESPONSIBILITIES conscientiously and in the best interests of the council and the community; they treat people in a reasonable, just, RESPECTFUL and non-discriminatory way; and their conduct does not reflect adversely on the REPUTATION of the council.

“The code addresses the consequence of failing to comply with the standards of behaviour which may lead to a complaint being submitted to the Independent Assessor who will assess if the complaint falls into corrupt conduct, misconduct, inappropriate conduct or unsuitable meeting conduct.

“This will ensure elected representatives, from the 2020 Ipswich City Council local government election, are explicitly aware of their responsibilities. It will also increase public confidence and understanding in Ipswich City Council’s decision making processes and the expected standards of behaviour of the mayor and councillors when carrying out their roles, responsibilities and obligations as the elected representatives of Ipswich.”

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