❓ A parliamentary question regarding the Minister for Local Government meeting with select Joondalup City councillors, raising concerns about transparency and accountability. The Minister defends the meeting, citing his duty to address complaints.
AnsweredQoN 1116Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, MEETING WITH JOONDALUP CITY COUNCILLORS
I hope the minister knows more about this question, especially as the previous question also related to local government. (1) Is it correct that the minister met with a number of Joondalup City councillors in the office of the member for Joondalup to discuss City of Joondalup business? (2) If so, is it appropriate for the Minister for Local Government to meet with only some Joondalup councillors to discuss council business? (3) How are such secret meetings in the best interest of open and accountable government? Hon TOM STEPHENS
I hope the minister knows more about this question, especially as the previous question also related to local government. (1) Is it correct that the minister met with a number of Joondalup City councillors in the office of the member for Joondalup to discuss City of Joondalup business? (2) If so, is it appropriate for the Minister for Local Government to meet with only some Joondalup councillors to discuss council business? (3) How are such secret meetings in the best interest of open and accountable government? Hon TOM STEPHENS
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) It could hardly be considered a secret meeting if the Leader of the Opposition is able to ask questions about it. The meeting was reported in the Press both before and after it occurred. It was hardly a secret meeting. Hon Norman Moore: It was until you got caught out. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes; I had a meeting. The Leader of the Opposition should read the Local Government Act. Regrettably, as Minister for Local Government I have the responsibility of dealing with complaints about local government. I find that responsibility regrettable because I do not consider that it engenders a respectful partnership between the second and third tiers of government. The Local Government Act should be amended so that complaints about local government can be dealt with by an independent tribunal. In the meantime, I am regrettably charged with responsibility for receiving the many complaints about that level of government. I will discharge my responsibility with due care and diligence, and I will receive complaints from anyone. I will ensure that they are processed and investigated, and that action is taken when necessary. If people choose to lodge their complaints through the forum of a meeting, I will, where possible, make myself available for those meetings.
(1) Is it correct that the minister met with a number of Joondalup City councillors in the office of the member for Joondalup to discuss City of Joondalup business? (2) If so, is it appropriate for the Minister for Local Government to meet with only some Joondalup councillors to discuss council business? (3) How are such secret meetings in the best interest of open and accountable government? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) It could hardly be considered a secret meeting if the Leader of the Opposition is able to ask questions about it. The meeting was reported in the Press both before and after it occurred. It was hardly a secret meeting. Hon Norman Moore: It was until you got caught out. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes; I had a meeting. The Leader of the Opposition should read the Local Government Act. Regrettably, as Minister for Local Government I have the responsibility of dealing with complaints about local government. I find that responsibility regrettable because I do not consider that it engenders a respectful partnership between the second and third tiers of government. The Local Government Act should be amended so that complaints about local government can be dealt with by an independent tribunal. In the meantime, I am regrettably charged with responsibility for receiving the many complaints about that level of government. I will discharge my responsibility with due care and diligence, and I will receive complaints from anyone. I will ensure that they are processed and investigated, and that action is taken when necessary. If people choose to lodge their complaints through the forum of a meeting, I will, where possible, make myself available for those meetings.
(2) If so, is it appropriate for the Minister for Local Government to meet with only some Joondalup councillors to discuss council business? (3) How are such secret meetings in the best interest of open and accountable government? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) It could hardly be considered a secret meeting if the Leader of the Opposition is able to ask questions about it. The meeting was reported in the Press both before and after it occurred. It was hardly a secret meeting. Hon Norman Moore: It was until you got caught out. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes; I had a meeting. The Leader of the Opposition should read the Local Government Act. Regrettably, as Minister for Local Government I have the responsibility of dealing with complaints about local government. I find that responsibility regrettable because I do not consider that it engenders a respectful partnership between the second and third tiers of government. The Local Government Act should be amended so that complaints about local government can be dealt with by an independent tribunal. In the meantime, I am regrettably charged with responsibility for receiving the many complaints about that level of government. I will discharge my responsibility with due care and diligence, and I will receive complaints from anyone. I will ensure that they are processed and investigated, and that action is taken when necessary. If people choose to lodge their complaints through the forum of a meeting, I will, where possible, make myself available for those meetings.
(3) How are such secret meetings in the best interest of open and accountable government? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) It could hardly be considered a secret meeting if the Leader of the Opposition is able to ask questions about it. The meeting was reported in the Press both before and after it occurred. It was hardly a secret meeting. Hon Norman Moore: It was until you got caught out. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes; I had a meeting. The Leader of the Opposition should read the Local Government Act. Regrettably, as Minister for Local Government I have the responsibility of dealing with complaints about local government. I find that responsibility regrettable because I do not consider that it engenders a respectful partnership between the second and third tiers of government. The Local Government Act should be amended so that complaints about local government can be dealt with by an independent tribunal. In the meantime, I am regrettably charged with responsibility for receiving the many complaints about that level of government. I will discharge my responsibility with due care and diligence, and I will receive complaints from anyone. I will ensure that they are processed and investigated, and that action is taken when necessary. If people choose to lodge their complaints through the forum of a meeting, I will, where possible, make myself available for those meetings.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) It could hardly be considered a secret meeting if the Leader of the Opposition is able to ask questions about it. The meeting was reported in the Press both before and after it occurred. It was hardly a secret meeting. Hon Norman Moore: It was until you got caught out. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes; I had a meeting. The Leader of the Opposition should read the Local Government Act. Regrettably, as Minister for Local Government I have the responsibility of dealing with complaints about local government. I find that responsibility regrettable because I do not consider that it engenders a respectful partnership between the second and third tiers of government. The Local Government Act should be amended so that complaints about local government can be dealt with by an independent tribunal. In the meantime, I am regrettably charged with responsibility for receiving the many complaints about that level of government. I will discharge my responsibility with due care and diligence, and I will receive complaints from anyone. I will ensure that they are processed and investigated, and that action is taken when necessary. If people choose to lodge their complaints through the forum of a meeting, I will, where possible, make myself available for those meetings.
(1)-(3) It could hardly be considered a secret meeting if the Leader of the Opposition is able to ask questions about it. The meeting was reported in the Press both before and after it occurred. It was hardly a secret meeting. Hon Norman Moore: It was until you got caught out. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes; I had a meeting. The Leader of the Opposition should read the Local Government Act. Regrettably, as Minister for Local Government I have the responsibility of dealing with complaints about local government. I find that responsibility regrettable because I do not consider that it engenders a respectful partnership between the second and third tiers of government. The Local Government Act should be amended so that complaints about local government can be dealt with by an independent tribunal. In the meantime, I am regrettably charged with responsibility for receiving the many complaints about that level of government. I will discharge my responsibility with due care and diligence, and I will receive complaints from anyone. I will ensure that they are processed and investigated, and that action is taken when necessary. If people choose to lodge their complaints through the forum of a meeting, I will, where possible, make myself available for those meetings.
Hon Norman Moore: It was until you got caught out. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes; I had a meeting. The Leader of the Opposition should read the Local Government Act. Regrettably, as Minister for Local Government I have the responsibility of dealing with complaints about local government. I find that responsibility regrettable because I do not consider that it engenders a respectful partnership between the second and third tiers of government. The Local Government Act should be amended so that complaints about local government can be dealt with by an independent tribunal. In the meantime, I am regrettably charged with responsibility for receiving the many complaints about that level of government. I will discharge my responsibility with due care and diligence, and I will receive complaints from anyone. I will ensure that they are processed and investigated, and that action is taken when necessary. If people choose to lodge their complaints through the forum of a meeting, I will, where possible, make myself available for those meetings.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes; I had a meeting. The Leader of the Opposition should read the Local Government Act. Regrettably, as Minister for Local Government I have the responsibility of dealing with complaints about local government. I find that responsibility regrettable because I do not consider that it engenders a respectful partnership between the second and third tiers of government. The Local Government Act should be amended so that complaints about local government can be dealt with by an independent tribunal. In the meantime, I am regrettably charged with responsibility for receiving the many complaints about that level of government. I will discharge my responsibility with due care and diligence, and I will receive complaints from anyone. I will ensure that they are processed and investigated, and that action is taken when necessary. If people choose to lodge their complaints through the forum of a meeting, I will, where possible, make myself available for those meetings.
(1) Is it correct that the minister met with a number of Joondalup City councillors in the office of the member for Joondalup to discuss City of Joondalup business? (2) If so, is it appropriate for the Minister for Local Government to meet with only some Joondalup councillors to discuss council business? (3) How are such secret meetings in the best interest of open and accountable government? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) It could hardly be considered a secret meeting if the Leader of the Opposition is able to ask questions about it. The meeting was reported in the Press both before and after it occurred. It was hardly a secret meeting. Hon Norman Moore: It was until you got caught out. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes; I had a meeting. The Leader of the Opposition should read the Local Government Act. Regrettably, as Minister for Local Government I have the responsibility of dealing with complaints about local government. I find that responsibility regrettable because I do not consider that it engenders a respectful partnership between the second and third tiers of government. The Local Government Act should be amended so that complaints about local government can be dealt with by an independent tribunal. In the meantime, I am regrettably charged with responsibility for receiving the many complaints about that level of government. I will discharge my responsibility with due care and diligence, and I will receive complaints from anyone. I will ensure that they are processed and investigated, and that action is taken when necessary. If people choose to lodge their complaints through the forum of a meeting, I will, where possible, make myself available for those meetings.
(2) If so, is it appropriate for the Minister for Local Government to meet with only some Joondalup councillors to discuss council business? (3) How are such secret meetings in the best interest of open and accountable government? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) It could hardly be considered a secret meeting if the Leader of the Opposition is able to ask questions about it. The meeting was reported in the Press both before and after it occurred. It was hardly a secret meeting. Hon Norman Moore: It was until you got caught out. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes; I had a meeting. The Leader of the Opposition should read the Local Government Act. Regrettably, as Minister for Local Government I have the responsibility of dealing with complaints about local government. I find that responsibility regrettable because I do not consider that it engenders a respectful partnership between the second and third tiers of government. The Local Government Act should be amended so that complaints about local government can be dealt with by an independent tribunal. In the meantime, I am regrettably charged with responsibility for receiving the many complaints about that level of government. I will discharge my responsibility with due care and diligence, and I will receive complaints from anyone. I will ensure that they are processed and investigated, and that action is taken when necessary. If people choose to lodge their complaints through the forum of a meeting, I will, where possible, make myself available for those meetings.
(3) How are such secret meetings in the best interest of open and accountable government? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) It could hardly be considered a secret meeting if the Leader of the Opposition is able to ask questions about it. The meeting was reported in the Press both before and after it occurred. It was hardly a secret meeting. Hon Norman Moore: It was until you got caught out. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes; I had a meeting. The Leader of the Opposition should read the Local Government Act. Regrettably, as Minister for Local Government I have the responsibility of dealing with complaints about local government. I find that responsibility regrettable because I do not consider that it engenders a respectful partnership between the second and third tiers of government. The Local Government Act should be amended so that complaints about local government can be dealt with by an independent tribunal. In the meantime, I am regrettably charged with responsibility for receiving the many complaints about that level of government. I will discharge my responsibility with due care and diligence, and I will receive complaints from anyone. I will ensure that they are processed and investigated, and that action is taken when necessary. If people choose to lodge their complaints through the forum of a meeting, I will, where possible, make myself available for those meetings.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) It could hardly be considered a secret meeting if the Leader of the Opposition is able to ask questions about it. The meeting was reported in the Press both before and after it occurred. It was hardly a secret meeting. Hon Norman Moore: It was until you got caught out. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes; I had a meeting. The Leader of the Opposition should read the Local Government Act. Regrettably, as Minister for Local Government I have the responsibility of dealing with complaints about local government. I find that responsibility regrettable because I do not consider that it engenders a respectful partnership between the second and third tiers of government. The Local Government Act should be amended so that complaints about local government can be dealt with by an independent tribunal. In the meantime, I am regrettably charged with responsibility for receiving the many complaints about that level of government. I will discharge my responsibility with due care and diligence, and I will receive complaints from anyone. I will ensure that they are processed and investigated, and that action is taken when necessary. If people choose to lodge their complaints through the forum of a meeting, I will, where possible, make myself available for those meetings.
(1)-(3) It could hardly be considered a secret meeting if the Leader of the Opposition is able to ask questions about it. The meeting was reported in the Press both before and after it occurred. It was hardly a secret meeting. Hon Norman Moore: It was until you got caught out. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes; I had a meeting. The Leader of the Opposition should read the Local Government Act. Regrettably, as Minister for Local Government I have the responsibility of dealing with complaints about local government. I find that responsibility regrettable because I do not consider that it engenders a respectful partnership between the second and third tiers of government. The Local Government Act should be amended so that complaints about local government can be dealt with by an independent tribunal. In the meantime, I am regrettably charged with responsibility for receiving the many complaints about that level of government. I will discharge my responsibility with due care and diligence, and I will receive complaints from anyone. I will ensure that they are processed and investigated, and that action is taken when necessary. If people choose to lodge their complaints through the forum of a meeting, I will, where possible, make myself available for those meetings.
Hon Norman Moore: It was until you got caught out. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes; I had a meeting. The Leader of the Opposition should read the Local Government Act. Regrettably, as Minister for Local Government I have the responsibility of dealing with complaints about local government. I find that responsibility regrettable because I do not consider that it engenders a respectful partnership between the second and third tiers of government. The Local Government Act should be amended so that complaints about local government can be dealt with by an independent tribunal. In the meantime, I am regrettably charged with responsibility for receiving the many complaints about that level of government. I will discharge my responsibility with due care and diligence, and I will receive complaints from anyone. I will ensure that they are processed and investigated, and that action is taken when necessary. If people choose to lodge their complaints through the forum of a meeting, I will, where possible, make myself available for those meetings.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes; I had a meeting. The Leader of the Opposition should read the Local Government Act. Regrettably, as Minister for Local Government I have the responsibility of dealing with complaints about local government. I find that responsibility regrettable because I do not consider that it engenders a respectful partnership between the second and third tiers of government. The Local Government Act should be amended so that complaints about local government can be dealt with by an independent tribunal. In the meantime, I am regrettably charged with responsibility for receiving the many complaints about that level of government. I will discharge my responsibility with due care and diligence, and I will receive complaints from anyone. I will ensure that they are processed and investigated, and that action is taken when necessary. If people choose to lodge their complaints through the forum of a meeting, I will, where possible, make myself available for those meetings.
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