Public question time submitters will get to read their query in person at Greater Dandenong Council meetings.
At their Monday 27 February meeting, councillors unanimously agreed to a three-month trial of the proposal from Cr Matthew Kirwan from the 27 March meeting.
“This motion came from a desire expressed regularly by residents to me since I was first elected for them to be able to speak for themselves at what is, after all, called public question time,” he said.
“They have told me that it would also enable them to personally clarify answers if needed but more broadly… enable them to more meaningfully engage as citizens and residents.
“I am passionate about civic participation and this is an important breakthrough for this council.”
Cr Kirwan said the concept was not unusual in local government.
“This is not cutting edge or radical,” he said.
“A number of diverse councils throughout Victoria already allow people physically present at council meetings to ask public questions in person and have done so for many years.
“From my experience of going to two other councils that allow members of the public to ask questions verbally, they have better attendance by the public as they can participate in a limited, controlled way.”
Cr Kirwan’s notice of motion also proposed moving public question time from the second-last item on the agenda to the first portion.
He said this was an ideal time for the trial because the council was due to revise its Meeting Procedure Local Law.
Questions will still need to be submitted prior to the meeting and public question time will be limited to 20 minutes.
