$1.5m in council code of conduct complaints | Search your LGA

The cost of code of conduct complaints against councils have increased by 63 per cent in two years — costing ratepayers $1.5m. Search for number of complaints lodged in your LGA.

Whingeing and vindictive local councillors are clogging up precious resources which would be better spent on roads, rates and rubbish.

Figures released by the Office of Local Government show the number of code of conduct complaints have increased by 63 per cent between 2017-18 and 2019-20.

The total cost in dealing with these complaints has also increased from $958,463 to $1.5 million.

NSW Labor local government spokesman Greg Warren has called for an urgent review of the “Model Code of Conduct” to ensure it is not used to settle scores, stifle debate and deflect blame.

“A lot of time, effort and expense goes into investigating these complaints and the reality is the investigation often results in very little action taken,” Mr Warren said.

“It’s councils and their communities who are counting the cost of an ineffective and inefficient Model Code of Conduct.”

Labor local government spokesman Greg Warren said these complaints were a waste of time and money. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

Lismore Council fielded a staggering 52 separate complaints about the conduct of councillors, followed by Armidale with 24.

In terms of cost, Georges River Council has cost ratepayers more than $200,000.

“When one council is spending in excess of $200,000 in one year to simply deal with code of conduct complaints, serious questions must be asked,” Mr Warren said.

“Some people use code of conduct complaints as a way to score cheap political points at a significant cost to the council and their community.”

The code applies to councillors and council employees.

Of the 20 code of conduct complaints at Inner West Council, only two were sustained.

One of those complaints upheld was against former mayor Darcy Byrne, whom NCAT found used a council vote to stifle comments about him and others on social media.

At Lismore Council only two of the 52 complaints were upheld.

University of Newcastle local government Professor Roberta Ryan said “there tends to be more code of conduct complaints in the lead up to an election”.

“A lot of the code can look into what is essentially councillors being rude to each other,” she said.

“There is always a need for reform but the code is reasonably recent. It’s useful to have a look at it (the code).”

Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock did not respond to requests for comment.

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Originally published as $1.5m in council code of conduct complaints | Search your LGA