By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Greater Dandenong Council has reached a “compromise” solution that limits each councillor’s question time to 15 minutes at formal meetings.
The middle ground was found at a 14 October meeting between proponents of an eight-minute limit and those wanting to retain an unlimited duration.
Councillor Matthew Kirwan, who was regarded as the target for the time limit, said the “mitigation” was a “great victory for people-power defending local democracy”.
About 47 residents wrote objections – as well as many of them making impassioned verbal submissions.
“It is still a sorry reduction in the ability of councillors to scrutinise the council administration and raise important issues in public – essential for openness and transparency – but at least it is an improvement.”
The need for a time limit was a “non-existent problem”, Cr Kirwan said.
“With all the questions I have asked at council meetings over the past seven years we still have council meetings that usually finish between 8.30pm and 9.30pm.”
Cr Kirwan said meeting time was wasted on councillors’ reports in which they read aloud all the events they’d recently attended.
“It’s worthwhile being in the (meeting) minutes but not to take up councillor meeting time.
“From now on I’m not going to read out all of the activities – I’ll pick out what I think are the most important things and table the rest.”
Cr Kirwan welcomed the council backing down from other “anti-democratic” changes, including its proposed ban on online petitions and requiring a second councillor signature for rescission motions.
He also successfully moved for Greater Dandenong Council to allow verbal public question time.
“I have been fighting for that for years and finally it has happened.”
Public question time will also be heard earlier in meetings.
Cr Maria Sampey, in support of Cr Kirwan, said the time limit was a “gag” on councillors asking questions on behalf of residents.
Cr Jim Memeti, in opposition, said an eight-minute limit was “way way not enough” but 15 minutes was enough opportunity to ask questions.
It set a limit of roughly three hours for the councillor question time in total, he said.
“It brings a bit of formality. We are not trying to gag anybody.”
Cr Sean O’Reilly said the change was about imposing a “reasonable limit” on questions in the public realm.
Councillors could still ask unlimited questions by email or later face-to-face with council directors, he said.
“Where’s the gag? There’s no gag there. There’s no duct tape.
“I don’t make decisions based on 50 (submitters). I make decisions based on over 100,000 residents who want us to get on with the job.”
Cr Tim Dark, who recently opposed the time limit, said there needed to be a “sensible centre”.
“There definitely needs to be a time (limit). What that time is has to be determined by the council.”
