Hobart City Council want change in Code of Conduct complaints

There are calls for reform of local government Code of Conduct complaints after it was revealed they cost the Hobart City Council $109,000 to investigate. It comes as police continue to investigate an alleged incident between the mayor and a new councillor.

There are calls for reform of local government Code of Conduct complaints after it was revealed they cost the Hobart City Council $109,000 to investigate.

Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds, who has been the subject of complaints from newly elected councillor Louise Elliot, wants the state government to require mediation before a panel is convened to investigate a complaint.

Ms Elliot also supports reform saying the process is “faulty”.

Police are still investigating a complaint Ms Elliot made after an incident at a public meeting at the Town Hall in May in which she alleges Ms Reynolds grabbed her arm. No charges have been laid.

Ms Reynolds said it was a “shame” Code of Conduct complaints have become “the play thing of candidates vying for election to pursue trivial matters”.

“It’s a waste of time and money when they’re taken to undermine and attack political opponents,” she said.

“I’d love to see the state government require mandatory mediation before a full-blown panel process is convened.”

Mayor of Hobart, Anna Reynolds. Picture: Linda Higginson

Under the Local Government a framework was introduced in 2016 to address allegations of councillor misconduct.

Ms Elliot said she was disappointed a complaint she made in May had not been resolved.

“It’s been constantly delayed. We need swifter time lines,” she said.

“I’ve never put in frivolous complaints.

“I don’t know what the alternative is but we need to get it right.”

At a recent Hobart council meeting, Councillor Mike Dutta, asked questions about the cost of investigating complaints.

He was told the average cost per complaint was $4000 and HCC had paid $109,000 for code of conduct panels and reimbursement of legal expenses during the term of council.

Mr Dutta said he supported the right of anyone to bring a complaint but evidence need to be substantiated.

He said the panel had described one complaint as “vexatious”.

“Is it feasible to deduce from this that some people are motivated to do this to tarnish or discredit or vilify the particular person?” Mr Dutta asked.

Hobart City Council Alderman Mike Dutta. Picture: Kenji Sato

“I think it’s very frivolous, it’s trivial and a waste of ratepayers’ money. We tend to make a mountain out of a molehill.”

Councillor Jax Fox, who lost a seat on council, said the process was “very flawed”.

They said complaints against had cost ratepayers thousands of dollars which could be better spent on homelessness and housing, arts and community events or planting trees.

“The onus needs to be on the person who’s made the complaint to stand by that and cover the costs and not be a burden on the rest of the community because this is money that is coming out of other areas of our budget.”

Local Government Minister Nic Street said he hoped to introduce legislation before the end of the year “that strengthens the Code of Conduct process, including dispute resolution”.

Originally published as Hobart City Council want change in Code of Conduct complaints