Opinion: local government elections

NORTH Metropolitan MLC Peter Katsambanis recently made a statement in State Parliament about the caretaker convention in relation to local government elections.

He pointed out that while electors were considering who to vote for, sitting councillors seeking re-election were making decisions.

This could lead to a perception that a conflict of interest might exist whereby councillors standing for re-election could be accused of using their votes on council to influence the outcome of an election.

He suggested that councils could display better standards of governance by adopting the caretaker convention whereby during election periods no important decisions are made, as is the case in State and Federal elections.

In other States, local governments have a caretaker convention.

I think this is worthy of consideration given that so few councillors lost their seats statewide in recent council elections.

LES ATKINS, Halls Head.