❓ Mr. Templeman questions the Minister for Local Government about the government's refusal to support transparency amendments to the City of Perth Bill, citing governance concerns. The Minister responds by agreeing with the need for greater transparency but suggests applying changes to all local governments, not just Perth.
AnsweredQoN 873Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CITY OF PERTH BILL 2015 — PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS
873. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN to the Minister
for Local Government:
I understand that the Premier has
now indicated that the government will not support the opposition's
proposed amendments to the City of Perth Bill.
(1) Why will the
minister and his government not support open and accountable transparency
amendments to the City of Perth Bill, given the recent Corruption and Crime
Commission report and subsequent concerns associated with governance issues at
the City of Perth?
(2) Given that a
new City of Perth act is all that the minister has salvaged out of the $40 million
of ratepayers' and taxpayers' money spent on forced
amalgamations, is the minister now walking away from that bill?
AMENDMENTS
873. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN to the Minister
for Local Government:
I understand that the Premier has
now indicated that the government will not support the opposition's
proposed amendments to the City of Perth Bill.
(1) Why will the
minister and his government not support open and accountable transparency
amendments to the City of Perth Bill, given the recent Corruption and Crime
Commission report and subsequent concerns associated with governance issues at
the City of Perth?
(2) Given that a
new City of Perth act is all that the minister has salvaged out of the $40 million
of ratepayers' and taxpayers' money spent on forced
amalgamations, is the minister now walking away from that bill?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
I thank the shadow minister for his question on accountability. At this year's
Local Government Week annual general meeting, I spoke about a number of issues
that I was taking local government to task on. There were a few issues we had
to try to deal with. Number one, I mentioned councillor training. That is
something that we need to review and find a better way to make sure our
councils have the right tools to do the job. Number two, I spoke about bringing
in the Auditor General to local government. And number three, I spoke about
accountability and transparency in local government; there is not enough
transparency. To answer the opposition's question with regard to
supporting some amendments to the City of Perth Bill about transparency and
what has happened through this process around the gift register and travel
allowances and so forth, I agree with the opposition and I think it is
important that we look at that.
Mr D.A. Templeman interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Mandurah!
Mr A.J. SIMPSON :
The most important thing is that all local governments should be able to look
at that review and we should make it for all local governments, not just for
the City of Perth. I take it on board, but if I am going to make changes to the
act to make sure that there is more transparency around gifts and travel, it
will be for all local governments and not just for the City of Perth.
I thank the shadow minister for his question on accountability. At this year's
Local Government Week annual general meeting, I spoke about a number of issues
that I was taking local government to task on. There were a few issues we had
to try to deal with. Number one, I mentioned councillor training. That is
something that we need to review and find a better way to make sure our
councils have the right tools to do the job. Number two, I spoke about bringing
in the Auditor General to local government. And number three, I spoke about
accountability and transparency in local government; there is not enough
transparency. To answer the opposition's question with regard to
supporting some amendments to the City of Perth Bill about transparency and
what has happened through this process around the gift register and travel
allowances and so forth, I agree with the opposition and I think it is
important that we look at that.
Mr D.A. Templeman interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Mandurah!
Mr A.J. SIMPSON :
The most important thing is that all local governments should be able to look
at that review and we should make it for all local governments, not just for
the City of Perth. I take it on board, but if I am going to make changes to the
act to make sure that there is more transparency around gifts and travel, it
will be for all local governments and not just for the City of Perth.
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