Draft Code of Conduct for Councillors

The Qld Department of Local Government, Planning, Sport and Recreation has released the new draft model Code of Conduct for Councillors. The Toowoomba City Council must adopt a Code before 1 March 2006 otherwise the model Code provisions will be deemed to apply. (The Council apparently intends to adopt the Model Code.)

The draft Code contains some pretty woolly feel good stuff but it does state that:

- Councillors must ensure that they do not harass or intimidate other councillors, council staff or contractors engaged by the council.

- Councillors must disclose, through appropriate processes, any suspected fraud, corruption or mal-administration of which they become aware.

Also, the Code improves the provisions for the disclosure of financial and non-financial interests. This includes "gifts" used for election campaigns.

It will be interesting to see the final version adopted by the Council and some of the disclosures made in relation to financial and non-financial interests. Hope they're accurate!

See - Code of Conduct