Coomalie Community Government Council awaits fate as report investigating ‘deficiencies’ delayed
A report into a sacked council’s conduct has been delayed, as another deadline on the council’s future creeps closer – which could see a reversal of a big decision made. Read the latest.
Northern Territory
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The saga of a council placed into administration has faced a delay heading into its final chapter, with a report investigating “deficiencies” missing it’s deadline.
Friday, March 14, was the deadline for when a report by Cathryn Hutton into the Coomalie Community Government Council had to be placed on the desk of local government and community development minister Steve Edgington.
Ms Hutton has been investigating the council’s conduct for the past eight months, after she was appointed investigator by then-local government minister Chansey Paech.
Mr Paech sacked the council in July 2024 after a “a number of deficiencies” were identified in the council’s conduct, he said at the time.
This led to a “failure” by the council to “properly meet its objectives” under the 2019 Local Government Act, Mr Paech said at the time.
Mark Blackburn was appointed as official manager of the council, which covers an area of 2000 sqkm and has 1400 constituents.
Coomalie was the second council to be sacked in 2024, with all elected members sacked from Barkly Regional Council a month earlier.
All elected members of Coomalie council were suspended, and in the wake of the suspension, Coomalie Community Government Council president Sharion Beswick also stood down from her Local Government Association NT board position.
Ms Hutton’s report was due to land in Mr Edgington’s Friday, but was delayed, this masthead understands.
Mr Edgington said the report is still with the department and is due to arrive “next week”.
“I will take time to review the Investigator’s findings, consider any key actions and provide an opportunity for suspended members to respond,” he said.
“My decision to reinstate or dismiss suspended members will be reached within the 12-month window of the council being placed in administration (no later than 22 July 2025), in accordance with the Local Government Act 2019.
“I will not make my final decision until I have reviewed all finding and considered all submissions received from suspended members, to ensure procedural fairness.”
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Originally published as Coomalie Community Government Council awaits fate as report investigating ‘deficiencies’ delayed
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