The Victorian Government will early next year introduce legislation to improve the performance and accountability of individual councillors ahead of the 2024 council elections.
Local Government Minister Melissa Horne said council leaders and community members had called for action.
She said confidence in local government in some areas had suffered due to poor councillor behaviour and ineffective performance.
Almost 30 councillors have resigned since January, while municipal monitors have been appointed as an urgent intervention eight times in 18 months.
However, Opposition local government spokesperson and Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh said the problems plaguing councils weren’t just about councillors.
He said he had seen councils where behaviour problems stem as much from chief executives and senor staff “basically keeping the elected members in the dark on what they are doing”.
Reforms would introduce mandatory training, a uniform councillor code of conduct and strengthened powers for the minister to address conduct.
The Local Government Act 2020 mandates induction training for new councillors. The changes would take this focus further with a requirement for ongoing training for councillors.
Ms Horne said good governance was critical “to ensure councils make sound decisions and deliver the services their communities need”.
“Expanded powers to address councillor misconduct will discourage poor behaviour,” she said.
The minister would be able to suspend or disqualify individual councillors found to have created a risk to health and safety or to have prevented the council from performing its function.
The Chief Municipal Inspector would also have enhanced powers, including the ability to issue infringement notices.
“A model code of conduct for councillors with tougher sanctions for misconduct will provide a uniform set of standards and reduce the regulatory burden on councils, which will no longer need to establish their own codes,” Ms Horne said.
The government said it would consult with the sector about the legislation and on developing regulations for the code of conduct and training.
Swan Hill Mayor Stuart King said the council was “proud to have a strong governance team serving residents across the municipality, respectfully and responsibly”.
“We welcome changes that ensure all councils maintain accountability and act with transparency, for the better of their communities,” he said.
“Councillors have been elected by the municipality and are accountable to the community.
“We welcome contact and feedback from the community as to how we can serve them better.
“It would be great if the State Government also brought in similar reforms to improve their accountability and conduct.”
Cr King said it was important going into council elections next year that nominations were received from across the community.
“Accountability and conduct will inevitably improve if we have councillors with real life experience in organisational leadership, business and/or management,” he said.
“If this reform also happens to provide the additional benefits of encouraging more people to run for council in the future, then this is welcomed by our council.”
Mr Walsh claimed it was a “communication issue”.
“How often do you see the word ‘toxic’ used to describe a local council?” Mr Walsh said.
“That covers both councillors and council staff, and it would be far more effective for everyone involved if the minister recognised the whole problem instead of trying to use financial penalties as a big stick just on councillors.
“There is no reason council staff should not be held to the same high standards as is expected of the elected people who are giving up much, much more of their time.
“Being a councillor is a big commitment by elected individuals, but unless they get the full support the position needs, and deserves, the real issues won’t be impacted by threats of fines.”
