The New South Wales Government has unveiled new powers that will enable the Minister for Local Government to suspend ‘misbehaving’ councils.

 

The legislation is an amendment of existing laws, which now allow only for sacking misbehaving councils following a lengthy period of dysfunction, public inquiries and intervention by the Minister and Governor.

 

“These new laws will give the Minister the power to protect the interests of the community and will provide a strong deterrent against council misbehaviour,’’ Local Government Minister Don Page said.

 

“In the past the only measure available was sacking councils after a public inquiry, which generally only happened after a long period – usually years.

 

“This resulted in long delays during which the community was disadvantaged, and business including DAs were delayed and services suffered,’’ Mr Page said.

 

“These new laws will act as a powerful deterrent against council misbehaviour and will enable a more appropriate response to problems that arise.’’

 

Under the news laws the Minister or Director General will have:
• Stronger powers to gather information from councils to identify dysfunction
• New powers to issue an Order to Improve
• New powers to suspend a council for up to three months
• More appropriate response to problems that arise.