New reforms targeting the local government sector will be a shakeup for elected councillors and mayors in the region.
The council reforms planned for South Australia aim to strengthen calls to transform the local government sector, with many new national polls revealing the public’s strong appetite to remove or shrink local councils, have larger regional authorities, or have the state government take over their duties.
Minister for Local Government Geoff Brock told The [Naracoorte Community] News that the review was to improve people’s engagement with councils across their terms.
“Following the completion of the 2022 council elections, Minister Brock (the ministry) is undertaking a review to improve people’s engagement with councils across their terms and, crucially, at election time, to increase the number and diversity of candidates for election,” Mr Brock said.
He said that through the reforms, the aim was also to increase voter turnout during council elections, which remained at a low level.
Mr Brock said the review will also consider any improvements to council elections to improve their efficiency and integrity, including any that may be identified by the Electoral Commissioner in his report to Parliament.
This newspaper [Naracoorte Community News] had questioned the Minister about the new rounds of reforms that he had flagged in February after dozens of South Australian councillors, including four mayors, were revealed to be at risk of losing their offices for failing to submit financial disclosure forms.
The Minister was also asked how effective the council system was in regional towns when it came to community responsiveness and efficiency of service delivery, and what the way forward was.
Shadow Local Government Minister Sam Telfer told The [Naracoorte Community] News that there were many ongoing opportunities across the state for further local government reforms.
Mr Telfer said the significant local government legislative changes under the previous government were a start.
“I had been hoping that the current Minister might have an appetite to continue to look at local government reform.
“Unfortunately, what we have seen from this Minister and government has been a hands-off approach to local government, missed opportunity for putting in place robust processes, and a department that seems to be apathetic to positive outcomes for local communities,” he claimed.
Mr Telfer said his office has seen a financial oversight process by ESCOSA developed that seemingly doesn’t add any value to councils or their communities, an election that saw some worrying processes in place, and a CEO salary determination that seems to have missed the mark.
“This all reflects a minister who doesn’t know what he should be doing.
“Councils across our state are partnering together to drive positive outcomes for communities, and I know that they are keen for further reforms, but there has to be a collaborative approach by state government.
“Financial accountability, community responsiveness, and efficiencies of service delivery are all areas that need to be continuing priorities for local government.”
This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.
