Gag on question time as election looms

By Paul Dunlop
RESIDENTS will be stopped from asking questions at council meetings in the countdown to Cardinia Shire elections.
The move comes as council prepares to go into caretaker mode when councillors are required by law to avoid official actions or decisions that could be seen to influence voters.
The caretaker period runs from 30 September to 26 November.
Council decided on Monday to suspend public question time in the final two meetings before voters go to the polls in November. Dropping the public question component was included in a policy guiding council behaviour during the caretaker period.
The policy was developed to ensure the election was conducted in an ‘ethical, fair and equitable’ manner, and publicly perceived as such.
Councillors were generally happy with the requirements, but the move to drop question time prompted questions of its own.
Pakenham Ward councillor Bill Ronald said it was “outrageous”.
“To suspend the community from the opportunity of asking questions about anything whatsoever is an absolute disgrace,” Cr Ronald said.
“Council has the ability to not accept or not answer questions, it is the wrong thing for council to be playing around with people’s right to question councillors and officers.”
Cardinia Ratepayers and Residents’ Association president Gloria O’Connor, who regularly poses questions at council meetings, said she was concerned by the move.
It was revealed at the meeting that council had taken legal advice on the issue and decided that dropping question time would prevent the segment from potentially being misused during the election period.
Bunyip Ward councillor Helen Ward said she was comfortable with the move, and that it would overcome the possibility of public question time being used for electioneering purposes.
Cr Ward said ratepayers would not miss out on the chance to ask questions. She said councillors could still be contacted privately at any time.
“It is not stopping the community from communicating with their councillors.
“They are more than able to do that and we are more than willing to do that,” Cr Ward said.
“This is a very responsible and appropriate policy.”
Cr Ward’s stance was supported by all of her colleagues with the exception of Cr Ronald.