Ms BURNET – I’ll just go back to the issue around bullying and harassment in councils. It obviously seems to be on the increase both between elected members, staff to elected members and the general public. It’s probably becoming more threatening and more frequent, and since the October 2022 election, there has been a significant number of resignations from mayors, deputy mayors and councillors. Of the 19, it’s highly likely that there is a significant number of people who have been forced out because of this issue.
I conducted a survey recently, which was a just over 25 per cent sample of elected representatives. They say that when asked the question, ‘Is bullying and harassment an issue in your council?’, 41 per cent of those respondents said yes. This is just unbelievable, when you’re thinking you’re in that sort of situation. 56 per cent of the respondents felt that the code of conduct was not effective. It was considerable concern for councillors. I’m wondering how you will measure the effectiveness of changes to the code of conduct and these reforms?
Mr STREET – Measuring the reforms is going to be through observation over a reasonable period of time as to whether what we’re doing is working or not. Also through feedback from the local government sector, we’ll quickly find out whether it’s working or not. I know the Office of Local Government is currently engaging proactively with LGAT councils and WorkSafe Tasmania to develop guides material that clarifies the roles and responsibilities of elected representatives and council staff in providing a safe workplace. As Minister for Local Government, I’ll fully support the provision of safe and appropriate workplaces for everyone, not just for elected members, but for staff, and for members of the municipality who come in to use the council chambers as well.
We’re developing the statewide Local Government Learning and Development Framework, implementing the agreed reforms to the code of conduct, exploring targeted legislative reforms to clarify work health and safety responsibilities for councils, and providing additional powers to respond promptly to serious misconduct. I admit that it’s concerning that over 40 per cent of the people that you’ve surveyed feel that bullying is an issue in the workplace. It’s another deterrent to what Ms Dow was saying about attracting people not only to run for council, but to work in local government as well.
Ms BURNET – I’ve been involved, as have other people at this committee table, probably, in ALGWA, Australian Local Government Women’s Association forums for getting people, particularly women, interested in running, so that there is greater diversity. Unfortunately, those people who are likely to leave, or don’t even consider council, because of poor remuneration, or the culture and the reputation that goes before them, won’t even stand. How can you specifically say to women that you will be addressing some of these issues so that we do have that real diversity and a culture that is acceptable?
Mr STREET – I don’t know how much was provided, but we did provide money to ALGWA before the last local council elections for forums to be run right across the state, encouraging women to run. But I agree, if the workplace that they’re being elected to is unacceptable, then we’ve got a more fundamental problem than just encouraging women to run for local government. My commitment isn’t just to women, it’s to men as well, that we will do everything we can to improve the culture and the standard of behaviour in the workplace of local government, but it’s going to take time. I think you would agree: there is no silver bullet to fixing this particular problem, as much as we would like to.
Ms BURNET – No, but presumably places like South Australia – they seem to have quite a good code of conduct framework. I’m just curious as to know how borrowing from other jurisdictions is likely.
Mr STREET – I know that South Australia in particular is an area that the Office of Local Government is looking at at the minute in terms of the processes that they have, because they do seem to be working better. The Office of Local Government is working across jurisdictions on this.
Mr HEALEY – The Office has certainly recognised the increasing concerns about the behaviour of a minority of councillors. As the minister pointed out, it’s getting worse and the office’s attention to that issue has escalated significantly over the years. The code of conduct has received some complaints, but at times it has also worked. People have been suspended for their behaviour. The director has taken the unusual step, on two occasions now, lodging a code of conduct complaint against councillors. So, the office is escalating its response and the office is also working really closely with councils around how we utilise the provisions of the work, health and safety legislation to also remind all people within the workplace that they have an obligation to keep the workplace safe, including from psychosocial harm.
So, as the minister pointed out, we are continuing to escalate our response. We are looking very closely at the South Australian code of conduct system and we’ll keep doing whatever we can to try to get on top of the issues.
Mr STREET – It coincided with me coming into the portfolio rather than being a direction from me, but the Office of Local Government has become significantly more proactive in these issues rather than waiting for them to come to. As both Mike and Matt have said, the office has become more proactive at responding to initial complaints and trying to nip stuff in the bud as well, rather than letting it get out of hand.
Ms BURNET – I might just say one last thing if you don’t mind, but sometimes codes of conduct aren’t lodged because there is a lack of confidence by elected members that it’s going to be effective.
