❓ Mr. Templeman questions the Minister for Local Government regarding the City of Perth's alleged free speech restrictions on councillors and their clothing allowance policy. The Minister denies a 'gag' and states councillors decide on allowances.
AnsweredQoN 775Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CITY OF PERTH — COUNCILLORS — FREE
SPEECH POLICY
775. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN to the Minister
for Local Government:
Mr Speaker, before I ask my
question, I would like to acknowledge members of the Mandurah Uniting Church in
your Speaker's gallery, including minister John Marshall, and
especially Mrs Shirley Joiner, who has made an amazing contribution to the
Mandurah community over many years,
I refer to the minister's
comments in the media on Monday regarding the City of Perth and the media gag
placed on councillors.
(1) Why does the minister support
the gagging of free speech by elected members of the council?
(2) If the
minister supports this gagging of free speech policy, does the minister support
the City of Perth's extravagant and ridiculous clothing allowance
policy as well?
SPEECH POLICY
775. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN to the Minister
for Local Government:
Mr Speaker, before I ask my
question, I would like to acknowledge members of the Mandurah Uniting Church in
your Speaker's gallery, including minister John Marshall, and
especially Mrs Shirley Joiner, who has made an amazing contribution to the
Mandurah community over many years,
I refer to the minister's
comments in the media on Monday regarding the City of Perth and the media gag
placed on councillors.
(1) Why does the minister support
the gagging of free speech by elected members of the council?
(2) If the
minister supports this gagging of free speech policy, does the minister support
the City of Perth's extravagant and ridiculous clothing allowance
policy as well?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) On
the question that I was asked on Monday about the so-called gag or not gag,
that is actually obviously in the act. It has been there since 1995. It is not
a gag as such, as has been portrayed by some of the councillors.
Mr
D.A. Templeman interjected.
The
SPEAKER : That is enough!
Mr
P.T. MILES : The mayor or shire president of any council in this state is
the person who is the spokesperson for that council.
Mr
D.A. Templeman interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
P.T. MILES : The mayor or shire presidents are the spokespersons for the
local authority. They are an independent authority in their own right.
Councillors do, however, have a right to go out there and champion local
causes, speak in their local papers, or even go onto their local networks,
radio or otherwise, to talk about issues around the broader area. That is what
I said on Monday. So there is no gag at all.
In reference to clothing allowance or
other allowances that are provided to councillors, the councillors themselves
vote that right. That is not something that the government dictates. It is not
the right of government to dictate what they do.
Mr
D.A. Templeman interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
P.T. MILES : It is not up to the government to interfere with that level of
debate within a chamber. It is up to the ratepayers of the local authorities to
make sure that they vote on, or vote off, who they want to be representing them
on council. That is the first and foremost thing.
the question that I was asked on Monday about the so-called gag or not gag,
that is actually obviously in the act. It has been there since 1995. It is not
a gag as such, as has been portrayed by some of the councillors.
Mr
D.A. Templeman interjected.
The
SPEAKER : That is enough!
Mr
P.T. MILES : The mayor or shire president of any council in this state is
the person who is the spokesperson for that council.
Mr
D.A. Templeman interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
P.T. MILES : The mayor or shire presidents are the spokespersons for the
local authority. They are an independent authority in their own right.
Councillors do, however, have a right to go out there and champion local
causes, speak in their local papers, or even go onto their local networks,
radio or otherwise, to talk about issues around the broader area. That is what
I said on Monday. So there is no gag at all.
In reference to clothing allowance or
other allowances that are provided to councillors, the councillors themselves
vote that right. That is not something that the government dictates. It is not
the right of government to dictate what they do.
Mr
D.A. Templeman interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
P.T. MILES : It is not up to the government to interfere with that level of
debate within a chamber. It is up to the ratepayers of the local authorities to
make sure that they vote on, or vote off, who they want to be representing them
on council. That is the first and foremost thing.
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