BY DAKOTA TAIT
Local governments across New South Wales have voted to ban property developers and real estate agents from standing for elected councils.
Representatives voted the New South Wales Local Government Conference on Tuesday.
It's now up the State's Lower House to make a call on the legislation, after the Upper House passed the bill last June.
Newcastle Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen is representing the city at the conference this week.
He says it's a change that needs to happen.
"It's a really important integrity and probity measure," Cr Clausen.
"We have seen, unfortunately, a number of instances where property developers and real estate agents on local government have made decisions to bring the whole sector into disrepute, and really undermine community trust in local decision making."
If the change to legislation happens, it would mean Newcastle councillor John Church would likely have to vacate his position.
Cr Clausen says councillors won't be required to quit immediately, however.
"The draft legislation that has passed the Upper House and is before the Lower House includes a transitional period of, I think, eighteen months, which does allow councillors to make decisions about whether they can continue their business operations as both a property developer or real estate agent, and simultaneously, an elected councillor," Cr Clausen said.
"I think that's more than enough time."
"I hope that the strong view of Local Government NSW, expressed by this conference, again representing the view of 126 councils from across New South Wales, will provide a really clear set of evidence to the legislature in NSW Parliament, when that bill comes to the Lower House, to get that change done."
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| Image credit: Local Government NSW |
