Lismore Council: Councillors fume over proposal to axe public access from meetings

A recession motion has been filed on a north coast council’s proposal to limit public access from meetings that has been labelled a “power trip” and will “shut-out the community”.

Lismore City Council 2024.

After considerable backlash, a recession motion has been filed over a move by Lismore City Council to restrict public access after a six to four vote to carry the motion on Tuesday.

It is expected an extraordinary meeting of council could be called as early as next week, yet it may also wait until council resumes in February.

Tuesday December 10: A raucous debate erupted in a north coast council chambers after a proposal to axe public access and question time from council meetings.

The debate was held during Lismore City Council’s final meeting of 2024, with some councillors saying it was unacceptable to exclude the public.

A report by staff recommended changes to the code of meeting practice including public access being held prior to each council meeting, meaning it will start at 9am and, because it’s not part of the formal meeting, councillors and staff can choose not to attend.

Council staff also recommended limiting the number of speakers to two for and two against on any matter and limiting the maximum number of speakers to 10.

Speakers would have one minute slashed from their current allowance of four minutes and answers to questions would be restricted to one minute.

Lismore City Councillor Adam Guise.

Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Councillor Adam Guise said the proposal “excludes the public and transparency” around council’s decision-making.

He said limiting the number of speakers also limited the council’s ability to hear a wide range of views.

“Essentially it’s to shut-out the community even more from council meetings and the decisions we make,” he said.

Cr Guise said removing public access from the order of business “paints a very bad picture” and councillors should remember they are there to “represent the community”.

Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg said he was a “big believer” in public access having been swayed in his opinion on issues from public speakers, then backflipped saying council needed to “get with the times” and follow other councils that don’t have public access as part of their meetings.

“Meetings should be used for council business and for notices of motion,” he said.

Mr Krieg said it was up to councillors to “make the effort” to get to chambers and listen to the public.

“It’s an obligation to get here and listen to public access even if it is or not a part of our meeting time,” Mr Krieg said.

Lismore councillor Big Rob.

Councillor Big Rob said he was “deeply offended”, describing the move as a “power trip”.

Cr Rob said the proposal was to help council staff, not the community.

“They’re controlling councillors, they’re restricting the public,” Cr Rob said.

“We’re shutting down the community so life is easier for staff.

“It’s embarrassing. We got elected to do a job and that job is to run the council by setting policy, setting the culture … but we’re being dictated to and controlled, and I’m tired of it.

“We should be telling staff what we want, not them telling us what to do.”

He supported the 9am public access as long as it was live-streamed, however called the changes “poorly thought out” and accused council staff of “making life more difficult for everyone”.

Councillor Virginia Waters. Picture: Value Imagery

Both councillors Rob and Virginia Waters raised concerns that restricted question/answer time would run over the allotted hour.

Councillors voting to adopt the code of meeting practice were Cr Dalton-Earls, Cr Gordon, Cr Batista, Cr Bing, Cr Jensen and mayor Krieg with those opposing the motion being Cr Rob, Cr Knight-Smith, Cr Waters and Cr Guise. Cr Jeri Hall was absent from the meeting.

The code of meeting practice will go on public exhibition for 42 days before returning to council.

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Previously published as ‘Power trip’: North Coast council’s plan to restrict public access