By CASEY NEILL
PEOPLE who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
This was the reaction from some Greater Dandenong councillors to the State Government’s “tough new powers” for mayors to remove misbehaving councillors from meetings.
“The new legislation will be instrumental in raising the standard of councillor behaviour,” Local Government Minister Jeanette Powell said.
“In the past, some councillors have thought they can get away with unruly, disrespectful and inappropriate behaviour during council meetings – this must stop.”
Under legislation to be introduced to parliament later this year, a mayor will have the power to suspend a councillor from a meeting if they continue to misbehave following two warnings.
Mrs Powell said councillors must lead by example, acting with respect and integrity to encourage public confidence in the office of councillor.
But Cr Maria Sampey said, “people in glass houses should not throw stones”.
“Mrs Powell likes to adopt the attitude of ‘do as I say and not as I do’,” Cr Sampey said.
“What about the unruly behaviour of members of parliament – will the same rule apply to them?”
Cr Peter Brown said it was too bad that the State Government didn’t take some of its own medicine, and some MP behaviour “makes any misbehaving councillor pale in comparison”.
“This seems an exercise in point-scoring by the State Government to divert attention from their own inadequacies,” Cr Brown said.
“All mayors have the power to adjourn a meeting and there are penalties already under the Local Government Act to punish misbehaving councillors.”
Three-time mayor Cr Roz Blades said she didn’t have any problems during her time in the chair.
“The only problem I see with this are the comments ‘unruly and disrespectful and inappropriate behaviour’,” she said.
“What one mayor thinks is disrespectful and inappropriate behaviour, another mayor may not.
“It is all open to interpretation.”
Cr Blades said local issues could be very emotional and councillors needed the ability to respectfully debate.
“At Greater Dandenong, we have a councillor code of conduct, which in my view should be the standard,” she said.
Former mayor, Cr Angela Long welcomed the new powers.
“I think it’s a good idea as long as it’s not misused,” she said.
“It might make some of the councillors think twice about misbehaving.”
She said there was some worry the power could be used in a vindictive way.
“But we have to stop the misbehaving and the inappropriate behaviour,” she said.
“I don’t think it will stifle free speech, because if you behave yourself you’ll get a good chance at it.”
Mayor Jim Memeti said the council had not yet had time to consider the changes as a group.
“However, I do support any initiatives that aim to improve transparency, accountability and good governance,” he said.
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