Ensuring safe and effective local government operations in the COVID-19 era

Local government organisations around the country are going to have an increasingly critical role to play in engaging with their communities and delivering essential services as we address and eventually recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Friday ASIC announced that companies can avoid holding AGMs in public and can instead do so “virtually” via technology. This required no change of the law - ASIC just said they wouldn’t take any action against companies who held meetings in technical contravention of the law.

That’s what a sensible, pragmatic and responsive action by a regulator looks like.

As things stand, Local Government Victoria is insisting that local councils must hold their meetings meet face-to-face AND that those meetings must to remain open to the public. So if you’re an applicant or objector in a planning matter, for example, you have to turn up in person if you want to make verbal representations or answer questions.

In my view, if this position is maintained, it will quickly lead to an effective breakdown in the governance of local councils.

This is because many Councillors who are either in high risk categories or are essential service providers themselves will choose not to attend meetings or are forced to self-isolate. That’s to say nothing of the quarantining effects as COVID–19 continues to spread.

Local Government Victoria needs to follow ASIC’s lead and allow Councils to use suitable technology to hold “virtual” meetings (including hearing submissions from members of the public) so that local government can continue to function safely and effectively.

These are just my personal views of course. Please talk to and email your local concillors to see how they’re planning to govern through this emerging health and economic crisis and what support they need.