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Revised election period policy to ensure fair conduct and governance for Baw Baw Shire Council needs feedback by 18 August 2023

Seeking community input on revised Election Period Policy governing Councillors' conduct and Council business during October 2024 elections. Share feedback via website survey until 18 August 2023.

By news@gippsland - 28th July 2023 - Back to News

Council is seeking community input on its revised Election Period Policy, which will govern the conduct of councillors and modify council business during the next Election Period in October 2024. Councils are required to maintain an Election Period Policy to ensure that elections are held in a fair and equitable manner. State government legislation also prevents council from making major decisions during an Election Period and imposes several other restrictions.

Complete and submit your your preferences on the Election Period Policy, deadline of submission is on 18 August 2023

Improving policy functionality

A number of changes have been made to the existing policy to provide clarity and improve its functionality. Some of the actions included in the Policy:

• Avoid making significant new policies or decisions that could unreasonably bind a future council
• Ensure that public resources, including staff resources, are not used in election campaigning or in a way that may improperly influence the result of an election, or improperly advantage existing councillors as candidates
• Limit public consultation and council events
• Councillor candidates will be treated in the same way as other candidates with respect to access to council held information

Baw Baw Shire Mayor, Annemarie McCabe said, "This Policy clearly sets out the approved councillor and council actions and prohibits certain decision-making during the election time. It ensures that all behaviour is conducted in a fair, ethical and equitable manner across the board. The Election Period Policy is important for council's governance that's why we have been reviewing its wording and making changes where necessary and now we want to make sure that it's meeting our community's expectations."

Provide your feedback

All interested community members are encouraged to download and review the Draft Election Period Policy and provide any thoughts or feedback via the short survey on council's website.

The consultation period will remain open for community feedback between Friday 28 July and Friday 18 August 2023. For more information, please visit Pen your preferences on the Election Period Policy. Council will next enter an Election Period 32 days prior to the October 2024 general election.

Policy amendment feedback

Mover Councillor Michael Leaney said, "We have made a number of changes to the policy in line with protocols and legislation, some of which include, changes on how customer requests facilitated through councillors can continue during this time and a new section regarding councillors who declare candidacy in state or federal elections. We now encourage our community to get involved and put in your feedback on this amendment to the current policy".

Seconder, Councillor Farhat Firdous said, "I would like to highlight a new clause that states the CEO can correct any misinformation circulating in the community during this period. This is a great new addition to the policy, especially in a fast-moving social media world it is important that misinformation is corrected as soon as possible. I look forward to seeing the feedback that comes back from our residents on this consultation".

Pictures from Baw Baw Shire Council website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com