Ministerial Powers to Remove or Suspend Appointed Councillors
Local Government Amendment (Rural and Remote Councils) Bill 2024
1st House
2nd House
Law
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Governor can designate a council as a rural and remote council; this happens if an administrator is in office and regulations are met.
The Governor sets the council membership by proclamation; at least half the councillors must be elected.
Rural and remote councils must have between 5 and 15 councillors.
The Minister appoints specific councillors by order; these people must collectively have experience in finance, governance, emergency management, and environment.
The Minister appoints the council chairperson.
The Minister can remove or suspend an appointed councillor.
The Minister can take disciplinary action against appointed councillors for misconduct.
Rural and remote councils cannot change or abolish their wards without the Minister's agreement.
The Minister for Local Government can remove or suspend an appointed councillor from office.
The Governor can designate a council as a rural and remote council for up to 10 years.
Rural and remote councils must get the Minister's agreement to change or abolish their wards.
The Governor must ensure rural and remote councils have between 5 and 15 members; at least half must be elected.
The Minister for Local Government appoints the appointed councillors and the council chairperson for rural and remote councils.
The Minister for Local Government can fill casual vacancies for elected councillors if the council applies.
The chairperson of a rural and remote council must call an extraordinary meeting if two councillors—one appointed and one elected—request it in writing.