Council undecided over release of ‘secret’ advice

Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors may hold discussions in secret about whether they should publicly release advice they receive during their scheduled secret briefings.

A bid by Cr David Gill to have the issue debated at the council’s Tuesday 3 October public meeting was stymied when the mayor Cr Steve Holland ruled that it could not be discussed in urgent business.

Holland quoted part of the council’s governance rules which stated, “the chairperson must not accept any motion which is vague or ambiguous or outside the powers of council and … must not accept any motion question or statement which is defamatory, malicious, abusive or objectionable in language or in substance or outside the powers of council”.

Gill argued that he did not see his motion as fitting the description as any of the issues raised by Holland.

“I think it’s a very debateable motion; one that doesn’t cause offence. It’s simply asking that council briefings be opened up to the public, and I don’t see how that’s offensive in any way shape or form,” he said.

The motion emailed to Holland and other councillors the previous night, sought to have information provided to councillors during private briefings and workshops “be made easily available on the council website” unless it had been declared confidential under the Local Government Act.

Gill said the Independent Broad Based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC) supported the “opening up of council briefings to public scrutiny” in the wake of its Operation Sandon investigation into Casey Council.

“It may be embarrassing, it may be seen to be unnecessary, it may be something that council officers or councillors or anyone else doesn’t wish to have happen for various reasons. Mainly, I think, they would come down to how the council operates and the efficiency of the council, and I can understand those reasons. But they should be debated,” he said.

“Trying to open up council briefings and workshops should be something that is on our agenda for transparency and accountability.

“Openness is one of our values. It’s stated as one of our five values, and that’s certainly that’s what this is about.

“I expected us to be able to debate it … [this has] been the only opportunity to bring it up in public.”

Cr Antonella Celi said there was nothing in Gill’s motion “that cannot be discussed with councillors as a council group. …There’s nothing urgent bout this topic”.

Cr Sarah Race said she understood Gill’s intent and thought it “worthy of discussion, but not by this method”.

The motion allowing the mayor to rule against having a debate was carried on a six to three vote with Crs Holland, Race, Celi, Despi O’Connor and Kate Roper voting for and Gill, Simon Brooks and Lisa Dixon against.

The News has been told that Crs Anthony Marsh and Susan Bissinger were refused permission to “attend” the meeting online.