‘Wouldn’t pass the pub test’: Call to compel councillors to attend meetings

Councillors on the fractious Hume City Council have appealed to the state government to act against elected members of local government who won’t physically show up to meetings.

The serial non-attendance of two Hume councillors has left the outer northern suburban council unable to get all its elected members in a room together for the past four years, while personal feuds between councillors have cost ratepayers tens of thousands of dollars in arbitration fees.

City of Hume Mayor Naim Kurt (left) and councillor Jack Medcraft have called for mandatory in-person attendance at council meetings.Credit: Chris Hopkins

Now eight of Hume’s 11 councillors have signed a letter calling for an attendance edict to be part of a new councillor code of conduct the government is developing, warning that the repeated no-shows are making it difficult to effectively govern.

“Over the past four-year council term, our council has faced significant challenges due to the persistent non-attendance of some councillors at in-person meetings and planning weekends,” the councillors’ September 4 letter to Mike Gooey, executive director of state agency Local Government Victoria, reads.

“Some of these councillors have not attended any meeting or planning weekend in person over the course of their term, opting instead to participate remotely.”

The letter does not name any sitting councillors, but is directed at two members who consistently log in remotely to meetings.

Sunbury-based councillor Trevor Dance has not attended a Hume council meeting in person since he was elected four years ago. Two-term Craigieburn-based councillor Jodi Jackson had not attended a meeting in person since May 2021 until she appeared on Monday night.

Hume Mayor Naim Kurt, one of the eight signatories, said there were people on the council who had never met Dance and that the two councillors’ serial non-attendance in person “wouldn’t pass the pub test”.

“You wouldn’t see it in state or federal politics,” Kurt said.

The letter conceded that there are legitimate reasons for attending a meeting virtually, such as the COVID-19 virus, or to allow councillors to manage family and carer responsibilities.

“However while remote attendance has value, we do not believe councillors should be able to attend meetings virtually indefinitely,” the councillors wrote.

The letter also calls for a new approach, prioritising mediation, in resolving conflicts between councillors.

Arbitration of disputes between councillors has cost ratepayers in the economically disadvantaged municipality $65,673, the letter states. The money was spent on 26 internal arbitration processes between 2020 and 2023, with 25 of those cases initiated by one councillor against their colleagues.

“This pattern has placed a substantial financial burden on the council and detracted from our focus on community priorities,” the letter says.

A high number of the arbitration processes have involved allegations by Dance of breaches of the code of conduct against another Sunbury-based councillor, Jack Medcraft.

Medcraft and Dance have both nominated for council in the Emu Creek ward in next month’s local government elections, but only one councillor will be elected under Victoria’s new single member ward model.

Medcraft said Dance was “relentless” and “hell-bent on trying to get me suspended from council”.

Dance said his continual non-attendance in person was initially due to coronavirus-related restrictions, but later due to hostility he faced “because I did challenge behaviour; I’ve copped it ever since”.

“I did not want to be in that room with that man,” Dance said.

Dance labelled the letter “a political witch-hunt” and said Sunbury residents did not care whether councillors attended meetings in person or on Zoom.

“Petty things like they must be in the chamber … how does this help the community? Councillors should get their priorities right.”

Sunbury-based Hume City councillor Trevor Dance has never attended a council meeting in person.Credit: Eddie Jim

Jackson said at Monday night’s council meeting that the pandemic had proven that councillors can perform their duties remotely. She said her virtual attendance had saved ratepayers significant expenses on meals and mileage.

“I meet our residents at their homes, where it’s convenient for them. I meet them at the library, local cafes, the Men’s Shed, in their local park,” Jackson said.

“That’s where residents want their local councillors to be in-person, with them, not with other councillors in a boujee [bourgeoise] setting where most residents will never come.”

The Allan government is preparing to introduce a model councillor code of conduct across all 79 Victorian councils, and to require councillors to undertake annual training and professional development.

Councillors could face sanctions for breaching the incoming councillor code of conduct, a draft version states. Under the current local government act, sanctions range from an apology or training to suspension and ultimately removal from the position.

But the draft version of the new code of conduct makes no mention of requiring in-person attendance at meetings. Kurt said sanctions should be for failing to meet a minimum benchmark for attendance, including potential dismissal.

The Allan government has been contacted for comment.

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