Brisbane’s LNP Council has passed unprecedented changes to local laws to shield itself from Opposition scrutiny.
Multiple changes, made in a late-night “Special Meeting” post-Budget, mean that Council’s Opposition leader will no longer be able to call files or information on any Council program, project or service outside of his own ward.
Labor Opposition Leader Jared Cassidy tried to amend the proposed local law to allow him to also request information on city-wide issues as well as the administration councillors, but this was defeated by the LNP majority in Council.
The Opposition Leader will also be capped on how many Questions on Notice he is allowed to ask the Council administration. Each non-administration Councillor will only be allowed to ask a maximum of 3 questions per week during Council sitting periods, meaning the Labor Opposition will be capped at 15 questions on notice each week.
Requests for Information and Questions on Notice are how the Labor Opposition broke news of increasing missed bin collections, record collections in parking fines, and confirmation on the administration’s role in the declining state of the Story Bridge.
Further, the LNP majority has also approved delegating more decisions of Council to the CEO that authorises them to make representations of all Councillors to external parties without consultation with each Councillor.
In defending their position, LNP Deputy Mayor Fiona Cunningham claimed that these changes are necessary given changes to state government legislation.
“We have no choice.”
However, Cunningham did not elaborate on whether the LNP Council thinks the laws are ethical or in line with community expectations.
Brisbane City Council is the only Council in Queensland where most representatives are elected on party tickets with a parliamentary-style split in the Council chamber between the government and an opposition, with a cross bench including a minor party and an independent.
Brisbane Labor Opposition Leader Jared Cassidy was scathing of the changes.
“[These] changes mean we can’t ask questions about projects outside our wards, even in my capacity as Opposition Leader.”
“Councillors have responsibilities that often extend beyond ward boundaries. Many citywide decisions including transport, planning, procurement and major infrastructure, affect every Brisbane resident. “
“Effective scrutiny depends on us being able to access the information necessary to properly examine Council decisions.”
“This is not how a modern, capital city operates, and it is not how a healthy local democracy functions.”
Also changing is the response to Council petitions from the public. Rather than the petition response being drafted and being presented before the relevant committee of Council, the petition will now be “dealt with in accordance with council policy.”
Council is now in recess, and meetings will resume on August 4.
