How LGPro is spearheading misconduct reform

Poor behaviour in extraordinary cases leads to expensive Workcover claims, dysfunction in the Councillor group, and the loss of dedicated local government professionals who leave the sector.

This is what LGPro is doing about it.

As representatives of all those who work in our sector, a key LGPro priority is ensuring their health and safety.

A cornerstone of our advocacy to this end is our call for State and Federal Governments to financially and legislatively invest in the improvement of relationships between elected members and council officers for the betterment of staff and community outcomes. Conduct issues span governance, culture, training, and the structures that support all the above, from legislation to practical oversight mechanisms.

Misconduct has been borne out in the media over the last year through high profile investigations, damning reports, and unfortunate – but ultimately preventable – outcomes.

LGPro has been striving for practical change to support positive workplace cultures and best practice governance in our councils from the administration to elected representatives in an ongoing campaign.

What we’ve done so far

LGPro has spent almost two years engaged with our counterparts across the sector representing both council officers and Councillors, our members, professionals across Victorian councils, and two successive Local Government Ministers to address the issue of Councillor misconduct.

18 months of work culminated in LGPro’s submission of considered, specific recommendations for legal reform to address the rare but harmful cases of Councillor misconduct that slip through the cracks of the current system.

LGPro’s case for legislative reform methodically but clearly articulates what is currently in place, the flaws in this system, and how to fix it.

What’s happened since

This last month has seen IBAC table its special report on Operation Sandon, identifying broad, systemic misconduct and corruption vulnerabilities at both the state and local government levels.

While officers were given a clean bill of health in the investigation into allegations of corrupt conduct, the report highlighted the urgent need for Victorian Government-led reform for our sector.

Many of the recommended governance reforms echoed the sensible changes LGPro has been calling for, articulated in submissions to the Local Government Minister and the Local Government Inspectorate (LGI).

What’s next

The LGI has since begun its own investigation into how Councillor misconduct is managed, conducting an examination into the efficacy of the Councillor conduct framework in the Local Government Act (2020).

This process began in April, with a tentative December timeframe for a report to be made ready.

LGPro is now liaising with our sector and State Government counterparts to help shape legislation, drawing on these recent reports and those to come, as well as our own recommendations for reform, to enact positive change with meaningful outcomes for the sector and those who work in it.