paul mallett calls for the City of Launceston to lead the way and improve the level of detail, and frequency, of disclosures made by Councillors regarding their entitlements, benefits, affiliations, interests, and meetings held in their capacity as elected representatives.

As way of background, paul recognises that the Tasmanian Local Government Act 1993, and Local Government (General) Regulations 2015 provides the baseline legal requirement for the disclosure of: declarations of interest, registers of interests, disclosures of interests at meetings, gifts and benefits. Each council also adopts a model code of conduct which reinforces disclosure obligations and management of conflicts of interest.

paul calls for “radical transparency” in the interests of building a stronger democracy and a more open and accountable tier of government.  paul advocates for the introduction of disclosure practices that go beyond the above noted legal minimum. paul calls for:

• Frequent disclosure. Update disclosures in the published Council Meeting Agenda every meetings, and on the Council website.
• Easy to find. Publish disclosures including registers, gift declarations, expense claims and travel reports on their website — in clear, simple, searchable language.
• Comprehensive detail.
  • Councillor allowances paid for the period
  • Traveling expenses for attendance at meetings, and expenses for eligible journeys
  • Childcare or Dependant Care costs incurred while attending specified events
  • Information technology, hardware, software, and internet, phone, handset allowances
  • Stationery and office consumables
  • Motor vehicle
  • Administrative support, and access to council resources
  • Training and development, conference travel, memberships and subscriptions
  • Events
  • Meals and refreshments
  • Register of interest
  • Gifts received
  • Councillors sources of income, current employers
  • Names of any political party, and any body or association, trade association of which the Councillor is a member
  • All meetings held in capacity as Councillor including lobbyists, developers, and special interest groups
• Audit & oversight. Regular independent review of registers for compliance. With use of the Integrity Commission as required.
• Community-friendly language. Plain English annual summary: How much each councillor claimed? For what? Were there any gifts or trips?
• Disclosure of lobbying. Log who councillors meet with (developers, lobbyists) and publish that record in real time.

See link to sample “Elected Members Allowances and Benefits Register” from a South Australian city council.