The New South Wales Government has passed legislation through Parliament that will ban the holding of dual roles of State MPs and local mayors and local councillors.

 

State Local Government Minister Don Page said the Local Government Amendment (Members of Parliament) Act 2012 brings NSW into line with other mainland states.

 

“This legislation ensures that one person serves in one elected position in State or local government, dedicating their effort to one role in the NSW political system,” Mr Page said.

 

“It eliminates the problem of elected MPs who are also councillors or mayors trying to be in two places at once.

 

“This issue was raised here in NSW after last year’s election, when it became known that 29 MPs in the new NSW Parliament were serving as councillors or mayors on a council – and once it was discovered that that practice was prohibited in all other mainland States, which have clear separation between State and local government.