Deputy Mayor Liberal Councillor Chris Van der Kley has slammed an idea to webcast local council meetings.
Local Government Minister Gabrielle Upton said under the new Model Code of Meeting Practice released last week all councils will need to webcast meetings by the end of 2019.
“If it’s good enough for federal and state MPs to go live to the nation, then there is no reason why local councillors should be exempt,” Minister Upton said.
“The reality is residents and ratepayers who want to know what is going on at their council can get online and be informed.”
But Cr Van der Kley of Ward 2, said just because state and federal MPs operate under that system, doesn’t mean local councils should.
“State and Federal Parliament have Parliamentary privilege. By allowing webcasts, councillors will be more prone to be sued for something they say, and again another cost to council.”
Minister Upton said some councils were already streaming their meetings.
A Blue Mountains City Council report from February this year said webcasting was “unnecessary” and involved expense and “legal risk” due to possible defamation action.
Of the 128 local councils, 29 are live streaming meetings. Viewer webcast numbers range from just 4 people in Coffs Harbour to 105 in Newcastle or 114 in Wollondilly.
The new Model Code of Meeting Practice is the first uniform set of meeting rules for NSW councils. The code includes optional time limits on meetings, a five-minute limit on councillor speeches, uniform rules of debate, and limits on mayoral minutes.
“There have been too many instances where Mayoral Minutes have been used to bring issues to the council without proper notice,” Ms Upton said.
Councils are also encouraged to hold public forums before ordinary meetings so residents can address the council as well as pre-meeting briefings for councillors where general managers outline business agenda items so they can make informed decisions.
“From now on, meetings will be more transparent, informed, inclusive and respectful,” Minister Upton said.
Liberal Ward 4 Councillor Brendan Christie, who originally pushed for the idea at council, said “councillors are bound by the code of conduct which, if followed, won’t put councillors into situations like defamation”.
“I’ve been calling for live streaming for the past 18 months. Live streaming provides access to those who physically can’t attend council meetings … I look forward to the rest of the model code being implemented.”
Mayor Mark Greenhill said “the more people actually see of the decision-making process the better”.
