The Queensland Local Government Minister David Crisafulli is campaigning to change the Local Government Act and has  garnered the support of five Queensland mayors.

 

“I’ve spoken with most of the 73 Councils throughout the state, and they want change,” Mr Crisafulli said.

 

“The Mayors and councillors are united on this, regardless of political leanings, the size of their Council, or their location,” he said.

 

Mr Crisafulli, the former deputy Mayor of Townsville, said it is a bad Act which has not led to better managed Councils.

 

“It has only multiplied the number of hoops Mayors and councillors have to jump through to get anything done and it has tied up a lot of staff along the way.”

 

Boulia Mayor Rick Britton said a regional Council like his could achieve a lot more through contracting with other Councils.

 

“Smaller Councils need to work together to save costs. Under this current Act, we aren’t allowed to easily enter into joint local government arrangements. Because of that, it has cost us thousands of dollars more than it should to do simple things like fix potholes or paint a building,” Mr Britton said.

 

Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale said he wanted to see Local Government fully accountable to the people, to make sure it is driven by its residents.

 

“At the moment, I can’t ask my CEO to do something without keeping a record of the directive. How much red tape is that?”

 

Scenic Rim Mayor John Brent said the current Act placed too big a burden on Councils, wasting resources and discouraging simple, practical solutions.

 

“Communities expect their Councils to respond to local issues and not be burdened by unnecessary red tape imposed by State legislation,” Mayor Brent said.

 

Mount Isa Mayor Tony McGrady agreed.

 

“This current Act makes us provide yearly strategic and community plans, which comes at a massive cost to ratepayers. How many people actually read them?”

 

Mr Crisafulli also administers the City of Brisbane Act, which shares many clauses with the Local Government Act.

 

Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said under the current Act the Council Chairman was investigated last year and found at fault for moving the Council minutes in the wrong order.

 

“The fact a Councillor thought this trivial oversight should be subject to a ratepayer funded investigation was one thing, but Council’s hands were tied and we had no option but to refer it to the Councillor Conduct Review Panel for an investigation that cost $5,000.”

 

Mr Crisafulli is drafting amendments to the Acts that will cut red tape and put Mayors and councillors back in control of Councils.