SA government probes legal options to force councils to keep working
The State Government is looking at how it can force councils to keep key services running as it’s revealed several local governments are planning to send staff home.
SA News
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The State Government is investigating legal options to force councils to continue providing services and keep employees on the job.
Hundreds of Adelaide City Council workers will be sent home at close of business today because of the coronavirus crisis and other councils are following the council’s lead. The Advertiser understands West Torrens, Marion and Renmark councils have been investigating sending staff home.
City council chief executive Mark Goldstone said about 400 staff would be sent home for four weeks, two paid and two taken as holidays.
A full list of affected services was to be posted on its website but today Mr Goldstone said he would commit the council only to “essential services to our community but with a reduced capacity”.
However, Local Government Minister Stephan Knoll, pictured, and the Local Government Association are opposed to workers being sent home on paid leave or forced holidays. Today they were locked in discussions to try to keep 11,000 council workers on the job.
Of most concern is the loss or reduction of council services that support the community and the economy, such as planning approvals.
“Councils provide essential services and are responsible for a lot of development and job creation in South Australia, and that’s why they must continue to operate,’’ Mr Knoll said.
“We need all three spheres of government working together to keep people safe, keep people in jobs and keep society operating as normally as possible.”
The Government has considerable power over councils, which in 1996 led to the spectacular sacking of the then-city council over performance issues.
LGA president Sam Telfer said he supported Mr Knoll’s stand for economic reasons.
“Councils also have a role to play in stimulating economic activity, and we want to work with the state and federal governments on opportunities to create jobs and drive economic recovery,’’ he said.
Mr Telfer said he would work with councils to maintain operations but in “innovative” ways, such as via the internet.
Mr Knoll said if councils shut their doors, services and local infrastructure projects could grind to a halt. “Councils need to show leadership and keep providing the critical functions and services that the community need in these unprecedented times,’’ he said.
“Councils should do everything possible to keep people employed and keep services operating as long as it is safe to do so, within the current public health restraints. If councils scale down services and operations unnecessarily, it will mean more people are out of work, which is the last thing we need at this time.”