Scenic Rim Mayor Tom Sharp has welcomed the new state government Bill aimed at allowing councils to “get back to basics” and delivering for their communities.
The Local Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 is aimed at reforming local government operations in a number of areas, including reducing red tape, empowering mayors and refocusing councillor misconduct complaints to only serious ones.
Mayor Sharp said he believed the two most significant changes were the removal of low level and frivolous code of conduct complaints and the appointment of senior executives by a panel which included elected representatives, rather than solely the CEO.
“All the low-level nonsense has created a system of weaponising the previous legislation against a councillor over frivolous matters, which has them bound in knots responding to such, and makes them unable to perform their role in representing the people,” Mayor Sharp said.
“It allows the councillor to focus and get on with their job, and the people of the region will welcome that change.”
According to Mayor Sharp Scenic Rim Regional Council has previously had one of the highest number of complaints to the Office of the Independent Assessor (OIA) of any Queensland local government.
He said allowing councillors to appoint and dismiss executives ensured they had the capacity and capabilities to deliver on council expectations.
“Their performance is critical in terms of delivering the council strategy,” he said.
“We should always be looking to work together so the executive team are supporting councillors to assist their objectives for the people of the region.”
He would not comment on whether the Bill would reduce tensions with the CEO, but said a performance agreement setting the expectations of council for the performance of the CEO and a series of KPIs were introduced in January.
The Bill will also reduce red tape and regulation, however, Mayor Sharp said most of the council’s red tape was internal, rather than restricted by legislation.
It will also reinforce the mayor’s role as the official spokesperson, which Mayor Sharp said had not been a major issue within the Scenic Rim Council, unlike other councils such as Ipswich.
“I take an active position,” he explained. “I am always out listening to the community. You can’t make a decision with integrity if you don’t have the local knowledge.
“It is agreed that I am the spokesperson for council and the region. The councillors speak for their portfolios and division.”
He said the removal of red tape and frivolous complaints to the OIA would have a direct impact on the ratepayer by freeing councillors to get on with job.
“It disempowers the official that wants to stymy that process,” Mayor Sharp explained.
Councillor Stephen Moriarty, who has been the subject of 14 complaints to the OIA, which have all been dismissed, also welcomed the changes in the Bill and agreed it had been used as a weapon against councillors.
He believed the tightening up of complaints to the OIA would provide less opportunity for people to make vexatious allegations designed to cause the councillor distress.
“It is a relief, because it does weigh on your mind,” Cr Moriarty said.
“While I’m confident, I have never done the wrong thing and never advocated on my behalf for a better outcome for myself, still having complaints made against you is a challenge and is disappointing.
“I commend the state government on taking this action. It had been almost impossible for councillors to represent the people of the region. The power of the council needs to rest with the mayor and councillors.”
Minister for Local Government and Water Ann Leahy said the legislation was all about having respect for taxpayer’s money.
Mayor Sharp said he felt the Bill achieved this through the disempowerment of the bureaucrat to be able to make vexatious claims against councillors trying to do their job.
“It is possible that they (the executives) could underperform without any input from the elected representative,” he explained.
“It puts more pressure on the councillor to perform, which in my belief is what should be happening.”
State Member for Scenic Rim Jon Krause said the performance of the council was a key issue regularly raised with him by residents.
He said the previous rules and regulations got in the way of mayors and councillors doing their job representing local people and giving voice to their concerns.
“The LNP government respects the will of Queenslanders when they elect councillors and is rebuilding the relationship between the state and councils to help councils get on with the job of serving the communities,” Mr Krause said.
“Importantly, elected councillors will now have a say in the appointment of senior staff at council – previously in the hands only of the CEO – improving both accountability of councillors and the ability for local views to be considered in those appointments.
“This is putting councillors – the representatives of the people – back in the driver’s seat when it comes to these appointments.”
