Councillors must have their voice back: candidates
DOES general business need to come back to Gympie council meetings?
For Division 3 and 4 candidates the answer is overwhelmingly yes, with almost unanimous unfettered support for letting councillors ask questions on short notice at meetings.
RELATED
- Numbers reveal the silence since death of general business
- Vetting councillor motions would breach code of ethics: CEO
Incumbent Division 4 councillor Daryl Dodt said he would support its return but only if the councillors had enough time to research and know what is going to be discussed.
“It’s very simple to put your hand up and say anything without any support … if you don’t have the information, how can you make an informed decision?” Mr Dodt.
“It’s ridiculous.”
However Wayne Sachs, who served on councils which had a general business item and called it a “gold mine of ideas”, rebutted Mr Dodt’s concerns.
“You can always leave things lay on the table for a future meeting … so people can go away and do their research.”
Incumbent Division 3 councillor Mal Gear, who voted with other councillors to replace general business with notified motions, but “after four years of listening to the community … I will vote for general business to come back”.
The other divisional candidates – Rae Gate, Colleen Miller, Terry McMullan, Rob Burns, Michiel Pratt, Bruce Devereaux and Shane Waldock – agreed general business “absolutely” must come back to Gympie Regional Council meetings.
