Huon councillor Mike Wilson speaks out after code of conduct complaint against him about mints at meetings was dismissed

The code of conduct complaint process will stop good people standing for council, says a Huon Valley councillor, who revealed how much ratepayers have forked out to pay for recent complaints.

A TASMANIAN councillor who had a code of conduct complaint brought against him about mints at council meetings says the process is stifling debate and democracy.

Cr Mike Wilson had a complaint brought against him about whether or not he lied under oath about mints being handed out at the start of council meetings.

The complaint was dismissed.

His colleague Mick Newell has also been suspended for six weeks from yesterday, after having three code of conduct complaints against him upheld.

Cr Wilson said today the council’s bill for the six complaints made against him and Cr Newell, all lodged by the same community member and of which two were dismissed, was more than $15,000.

“I think if the person who lodges a complaint loses their case, they should be made to pay, not the ratepayers,” Cr Wilson said.

Huon Valley Councillor Mike Wilson speaks about the fractured Huon Valley Council Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

“The State Government must do something about these because it’s becoming a major issue – it’s going to stop good people from standing for council.

“I’ve had mayors from around the state ringing me saying ‘we’ve got to do something’ it’s out of control.”

Cr Wilson said while state and federal politicians were protected by parliamentary privilege, there were no such protections for local government members, which was leaving some “too frightened to say anything.”

“A lot of our discussions are in closed council now for the very reason that in open council you’re too frightened to say anything because you’re worried if someone in the public gallery will take issue with a comment and use it against you,” he said.

“That stifles debate and democracy.

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“I’ve always been a strong supporter against amalgamation, but I’m changing my mind and would nearly go as far as to say we’d be better off with 29 commissioners instead of elected members.

“It would cost the ratepayers less money and there were no complaints made against the commissioner [Adriana Taylor] in the two years she was in charge down here.”

Cr Wilson is on a three month leave of absence for personal reasons, but is reconsidering his future as a councillor.

“I’ve been in local government for 17 years and I’ve been thinking to myself lately, is it worth going through all of this – you can’t have an opinion,” he said.

“We get paid $1200 a month – you don’t join local government for the money, you join because you have a passion for your community and you want to do something.”

Local Government Minister Mark Shelton told the Mercury earlier this week he would ask for possible legislative or administrative changes for extra checks into code of conduct complaints to ensure ongoing confidence in the system and “the use of public resources”.