Councillors confused about conflict of interest as briefings sought on anti-corruption laws on Gold Coast
The new anti-corruption laws are causing deep divisions down at the Gold Coast’s City Hall as councillors seek more advice.
Council
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MAYOR Tom Tate is warning the Local Government Association that new conflict of interest laws are causing confusion and uncertainty among councillors and council staff.
The Bulletin has obtained an internal email in which the Mayor asked his chief-of-staff, Wayne Moran, to contact the LGAQ before it staged a workshop yesterday on the Belcarra legislation.
The Palaszczuk Government has introduced the new laws, stemming from an investigation into allegations involving local government, which require councillors to provide more details about donations and potential conflicts of interest, and to dob in colleagues suspected of hiding information.
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The laws also increase jail terms for offenders.
In his “important message” to the LGAQ, Mr Moran wrote the timing of yesterday’s teleconference was very short and some councillors, along with several key personnel, could either not attend or prepare with a “comprehensive range of questions”.
“The Mayor is wondering if a similar second workshop could be conducted here on the Gold Coast as an option for council and surrounding councils to attend, such as Scenic Rim, Redlands and Logan. Council would be happy to host the workshop in one of our meeting facilities,” Mr Moran wrote.
His email said the Mayor “confirms’’ there was confusion, uncertainty, contradictions and obfuscation surrounding the legislation that concerned him, councillors and senior staff.
“He therefore highly recommends that this second workshop be undertaken by the LGAQ,” Mr Moran wrote.
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When contacted by the Bulletin, Cr Tate said: “I’ve asked that the LGAQ holds a second workshop, here on the Gold Coast, so SEQ specific councils like us, Redlands and Logan can be briefed and important questions answered. Yes, the new legislation is proving very confusing.”
Councillors’ response to Mr Moran’s email showed division over the laws.
Some councillors leaving the chamber at meetings this week said they did not understand why they could not participate in debate.
Others who have followed a strict regimen about reporting conflicts of interest regarded it as “business as usual”, other than adding more information about the origin of donations.
The reporting has forced changes at City Hall, with Deputy Mayor Donna Gates leaving the planning committee.
Just 24 hours after councillors were given a private briefing late last month about sweeping legal reforms following the Crime and Corruption Commission’s Operation Belcarra, the Mayor reviewed his committee structure. Councillors were given a briefing by CEO Dale Dickson and City Solicitor David Montgomery on how meetings would be impacted by the new laws.
Some have taken private advice.
Cr Gates wiped away tears at the last full council meeting, describing the new laws as “chunky and unwieldy” and saying she did not want to hold up colleagues as she detailed donors who had contributed at successful campaign fundraisers at the Gold Coast Turf Club.
But the real impact of the new laws is yet to take effect, with developer donations banned from campaigns and councillors and powerbrokers keeping a watching brief on rivals.
The legislation has the potential to cause fiery disputes.
Hinterland-based councillor Glenn Tozer, who made a declaration about free swimming lessons and left the chamber, was forced to defend himself after “council sources” spoke to a media outlet.
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The new laws require any councillor “who knows or reasonably suspects that another councillor has a conflict of interest or material personal interest in a matter” to report to either the committee chairman or chief executive officer.
Councillors who fail to comply with the new rules could face “possible removal from office”.
Councillors are provided with forms before meetings to ease the process. The forms require councillors to fill in a space on “the nature of the interest” where there is a perceived conflict along with the name of the person, nature of the relationship and value of the gift.
If they decide to stay in the chamber, councillors are required to “list the reasons why you are staying in the meeting”.
“The legislation before said you have to provide details. The only problem was not many were providing details,” a council source said.
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