Councillors debate voting rights

Southern Downs councillors have criticised a decision made earlier this year to remove the voting rights of their representatives who sit on advisory committees for pest management, saleyards, and local road safety.

By Jess Baker

Southern Downs councillors have criticised a decision made earlier this year to remove the voting rights of their representatives who sit on advisory committees for pest management, saleyards, and local road safety.

An amended policy and amended terms of references five different council advisory committees were tabled at an ordinary meeting of Southern Downs Regional Council on Wednesday 8 September.

The item was intended simply to be “procedural”, according to Mayor Vic Pennisi, but prompted debate among councillors.

Councillor Cynthia McDonald said that as a councillor representative on numerous advisory committees, including the Saleyards Advisory Committee, she believed she had a right to vote.

“My question to my colleagues around the table is: who has the right to discern which particular advisory committees may or may not have voting rights?” Cr McDonald said.

Councillor Jo McNally said she agreed councillors should be afforded voting rights, otherwise she couldn’t see the point of being on a committee at all.

“We’ve already heard Councillor (Stephen) Tancred talk about trust. Well, trust our fellow councillors and delegate them to attend these committee meetings,” she said.

“Really we should be going back to everybody being able to vote on those committees. That’s democratic.”

She said Cr Tancred had taken many “hot shots” at herself, Councillor Sheryl Windle, and Councillor Marco Gliori in relation to them representing councillors on community grants and RADF committees, and she believed the council needed to review its representation on groups.

“… I think it’s an opportune time to actually review that because I’m sick of having my integrity called into question,” Cr McNally said.

Councillor Marco Gliori said he would like all councillors to be able to sit in on all committee meetings with council representation.

“There are things that I have a genuine interest in that I would like to attend …,” he said.

“And that way it just makes it a blanket, open opportunity for councillors to sit in, not to participate, only as observers.”

All councillors voted to adopt new terms of references for the Pest Management, Saleyards, Southern Downs Road Safety, Shaping Southern Downs, and Stanthorpe 150th Anniversary Celebration advisory committees.

Mayor Vic Pennisi and council officers agreed to host an information session in October this year, where councillors can discuss – and debate – the topic further.