Brisbane’s residents and ratepayers are being urged to voice their concerns on new local law changes that will curtail transparency and accountability in Brisbane City Council.
Brisbane Labor Opposition Leader Jared Cassidy says that the furious public response to the news online needs to be directed straight to Council during the public consultation period on these changes to local laws.
After the passing of the annual Budget in June, Brisbane’s LNP Council rammed through the Meetings Amending Law 2026 which caps the number of questions on notice the Opposition Leader can ask to just 3 per week and responds to petitions to Council ‘in accordance with Council policy.
Previously, the Opposition Leader could ask up to 50 questions on notice with petitions and their responses needing to be presented and passed at a public committee meeting of Councillors.
These changes are different to the Empowering Local Councils Bill passed by the LNP State Government but are not isolated from the interests of Brisbane’s LNP Lord Mayor and Council.
The Empowering Local Councils Bill removes the Opposition Leader’s ability to request information for issues outside of his own ward, but the Lord Mayor and Civic Cabinet chairpersons may continue to access information about any Council issue all across the city.
Speaking in the Council chamber during the Special Meeting, Cr. Cassidy said these changes will lead to worse outcomes for Brisbane.
“Opposition Councillors are now effectively barred from seeking information on major city‑wide issues.”
“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.”
“The Story Bridge. The Budget. Road projects. Funding submissions. The bus network. The Metro expansion. Homelessness response. Missed bins and dodgy contracts – all things we’ve held this LNP Council to in the past year and now no longer accessible. What a joke.”
LNP Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner claimed Council was responding to changes made by the LNP State Government.
LNP Deputy Mayor Fiona Cunningham backed up the Lord Mayor, saying they were necessary for decision-making and the continuation of the Schrinner administration.
“…Team Schrinner, we’re making the decisions. We’re making the responsible financial decisions for the City of Brisbane, and long may it reign.”
Public submissions will close on Sunday, July 26.
