’Business as usual’ as acting mayor confirms council code of conduct probe

The acting mayor said council the council was safe from government administration but all is still not well at Barkly Council. Read what’s happening.

Barkly Regional Council’s acting mayor says there is no reason the local government should be placed under government management.

Councillor Greg Marlow, who is filling in for mayor Jeffrey McLaughlin while he is on extended leave, said there was no reason the Territory government or Local Government Minister Chansey Paech should intervene in the organisation.

“Right now, the short answer is no,” he said.

“Under the (Local Government) Act, the only person who could is the minister. It’s up to the minister what he decides to do or doesn’t do.”

Mr Marlow presided over Tuesday morning’s council meeting, held under the watchful eye of two representatives from the department.

The Local Government minister has declined to respond to questions from this masthead about Barkly Council’s future.

Attorney-General Chansey Paech declined to comment on the future of Barkly Council. Picture: Annabel Bowles

“There were two members of the department who were attending as observers,” Mr Marlow said.

“Department personnel always oversee what a council does and for all councils throughout the Northern Territory.

“The department obviously relies on feedback from the public and council itself,” he said. “They will have their own perspectives, if there’s a breach they’ll advise us if we’re operating outside the guidelines and at this stage there have been no breaches.

“Like any council they’re observing how we go about business.

“It’s up to the minister what he decides to do or doesn’t decide to do.

“I can’t foresee any situation at this stage that would warrant that. We are continuing to deliver services in remote communities.”

Mr Marlow said decisions around Mr McLaughlin’s future, who is under police investigation following a citizen’s arrest where he was filmed sitting on a 12-year-old child, were for the mayor to determine.

Barkly Regional Council acting mayor Cr Greg Marlow

Mr McLaughlin has denied wrongdoing.

Mr Marlow confirmed an alleged breach of the NT’s local government code of conduct was being investigated by the council.

“There are a few issues around council that I’m not at liberty to discuss,” he said.

Otherwise, he said “it’s business as usual at Barkly Regional Council”.

The council held an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday morning where Mr Marlow said code of conduct matters weren’t discussed.

Why Barkly Regional Council could be hanging by a thread

Barkly Regional Council could be hurtling into administration as the NT government deals with months of turmoil and now the fallout from mayor Jeffrey McLaughlin’s citizen’s arrest.

There has been an exodus of senior council staff from the Barkly LGA this year including two chief executives in the past six months.

Under the Local Government Act 2019, if the Local Government minister is satisfied that there are, or may be, serious deficiencies identified in the conduct of a council’s affairs, the minister may by Gazette notice place the council under official management.

Under the Act, only the minister can place a council under official management.

Barkly Regional Council mayor Jeff McLaughlin is on leave. Picture: Supplied

Issues as broad-ranging as animal management and alcohol rehabilitation appear to have been beyond the scope of council to resolve and the latest incident has brought the town an unwanted national profile.

The past two NT governments have placed local governments into administration - and this one could be about to score a hat-trick.

The Local Government Minister Chansey Paech was contacted by email Monday whether Barkly Regional Council would be placed in administration.

A response had not been received by the time of publication.

Barkly Regional Council was also contacted for comment.

The past six months appear to have brought longstanding issues in council to a head.

Emma Bradbury chief executive Barkly Regional Council

In March, chief executive Emma Bradbury quit suddenly after months of questions about the council’s management and a number of staff resignations.

Thrown into the mix was the mayor’s drug driving charge which, when it finally reached the courts in September, included accusations he was unlawfully targeted by police.

The matter returns to court for remediation on Friday.

Mr McLaughlin has not entered a plea.

Ms Bradbury was replaced by experienced local government administrator Russell Anderson, who was appointed in an acting role after having previously worked to revive councils and shires that had been placed under official management.

Former Local Government Minister Bess Nungarrayi Price

Mr Anderson held on until last week when he left the council, apparently over issues around animal management.

The departure of a man recognised as a local government Mr Fixit could point to the extent of the difficulties at Barkly.

In 2015, “dysfunctional” Litchfield Shire was placed into administration when the Department of Local Government identified infighting and cost blowouts at the organisation.

In June 2017 after Labor was returned to government, Palmerston Council was placed into administration.

Local government minister at the time Gerry McCarthy demanded an investigation when council approved a $13.5m, 378-bay multistorey carpark without seeking permission from the minister.

Days later, the council was sacked.

Barkly Regional Council’s next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 10am.

Greg Marlow will be acting mayor while Mr McLaughlin is on leave.