❓ Hon. Sally Talbot questions the Minister for Local Government regarding concerns about the operation of new gift declaration provisions for local councils. The Minister acknowledges some misunderstanding but indicates a review process is underway.
AnsweredQoN 346Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
LOCAL GOVERNMENT —
DECLARATION OF GIFTS
346. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the minister
representing the Minister for Local Government:
I refer to the
government's advice to local councils about the declaration of gifts.
(1) Is the
Minister for Local Government aware of concerns about the operation of the new
provisions?
(2) Which
elements of the government's advice have given rise to these concerns?
(3) Will the
minister now review the declaration of gift provisions; and, if so, who will
carry out the review, when will it start, when will it conclude and will the
review outcome be made public?
DECLARATION OF GIFTS
346. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the minister
representing the Minister for Local Government:
I refer to the
government's advice to local councils about the declaration of gifts.
(1) Is the
Minister for Local Government aware of concerns about the operation of the new
provisions?
(2) Which
elements of the government's advice have given rise to these concerns?
(3) Will the
minister now review the declaration of gift provisions; and, if so, who will
carry out the review, when will it start, when will it conclude and will the
review outcome be made public?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
member for some notice of the question.
(1) The only
changes that have been made to the gift provisions in the Local Government Act 1995 are
that gifts are now required to be declared within 10 days of receipt, rather
than annually, and that this register is to be published on the local
government's official website.
(2) No change has
been made to what has to be declared, but the new timing of the disclosure has
highlighted some misunderstanding within the local government sector of
existing requirements.
(3) A working
group led by the Western Australian Local Government Association was
established in 2014 to examine and advise on the various gift provisions within
the legislation. I understand that this group is close to finalising a report
for consideration by the Governance Round Table, whose membership comprises the
Department of Local Government and Communities, the WA Local Government
Association and Local Government Managers Australia, WA Division. This will
then be provided to the Department of Local Government and Communities for
formal consideration. If it is established that changes are needed to the
current provisions, a discussion paper
will be released for public comment.
member for some notice of the question.
(1) The only
changes that have been made to the gift provisions in the Local Government Act 1995 are
that gifts are now required to be declared within 10 days of receipt, rather
than annually, and that this register is to be published on the local
government's official website.
(2) No change has
been made to what has to be declared, but the new timing of the disclosure has
highlighted some misunderstanding within the local government sector of
existing requirements.
(3) A working
group led by the Western Australian Local Government Association was
established in 2014 to examine and advise on the various gift provisions within
the legislation. I understand that this group is close to finalising a report
for consideration by the Governance Round Table, whose membership comprises the
Department of Local Government and Communities, the WA Local Government
Association and Local Government Managers Australia, WA Division. This will
then be provided to the Department of Local Government and Communities for
formal consideration. If it is established that changes are needed to the
current provisions, a discussion paper
will be released for public comment.
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