Hon Robyn McSweeney questions the Minister about making CEOs complaints officers under the Local Government (Official Conduct) Amendment Bill, given the lack of support from CEOs. The Minister indicates a willingness to amend the bill to remove the CEO as the focal point for complaints.

AnsweredQoN 995Legislative Council
Asked
1 November 2006
Portfolio
Local Government and Regional Development

QuestionView source ↗

LOCAL GOVERNMENT - COMPLAINTS OFFICERS
At the local government managers’ conference the chief executive officers were asked to raise their hands if they agreed with becoming a complaints officer in their local government area. Only three hands in the room went up. Given that the Local Government (Official Conduct) Amendment Bill is said to have involved three years of consultation, why has the minister set out the legislation in this way? Hon JON FORD

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the Hon Robyn McSweeney for the question. As the member pointed out, this bill has been developed over time. I understand that a number of amendments have been proposed by a number of members of this house, including Hon Robyn McSweeney. The only amendment that I find issue with is the one relating to some payments, and only because I do not think that this house can deal with that amendment. I therefore have no problem with the proposition of amending the bill to remove the CEO as the focal point for complaints, particularly on the worthwhile question that the honourable member put in front of all those CEOs.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the Hon Robyn McSweeney for the question. As the member pointed out, this bill has been developed over time. I understand that a number of amendments have been proposed by a number of members of this house, including Hon Robyn McSweeney. The only amendment that I find issue with is the one relating to some payments, and only because I do not think that this house can deal with that amendment. I therefore have no problem with the proposition of amending the bill to remove the CEO as the focal point for complaints, particularly on the worthwhile question that the honourable member put in front of all those CEOs.
I thank the Hon Robyn McSweeney for the question. As the member pointed out, this bill has been developed over time. I understand that a number of amendments have been proposed by a number of members of this house, including Hon Robyn McSweeney. The only amendment that I find issue with is the one relating to some payments, and only because I do not think that this house can deal with that amendment. I therefore have no problem with the proposition of amending the bill to remove the CEO as the focal point for complaints, particularly on the worthwhile question that the honourable member put in front of all those CEOs.
As the member pointed out, this bill has been developed over time. I understand that a number of amendments have been proposed by a number of members of this house, including Hon Robyn McSweeney. The only amendment that I find issue with is the one relating to some payments, and only because I do not think that this house can deal with that amendment. I therefore have no problem with the proposition of amending the bill to remove the CEO as the focal point for complaints, particularly on the worthwhile question that the honourable member put in front of all those CEOs.

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