SYKES – GOVERNMENT BACKS DOWN ON GAGGING COUNCIL CANDIDATES

The Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, says the State Government has backed down on proposed changes to the local government electoral regulations which would have gagged candidates for council elections in November 2005.

Dr Sykes said, “Our office has received a number of concerned phone calls regarding the State Government’s proposal to prohibit Candidate Statements from including comments in relation to council performance. There’s been a great deal of public backlash over this issue and it’s pleasing to see the turn around on both the Candidate Statements’ content and the indication of preferences.

“The Nationals strongly lobbied the Government to reconsider these proposed regulations as our local councils have been telling us the consultation process was not ‘long and comprehensive’ as the Government had claimed.

Dr Sykes said, “This is another example of how with enough momentum and enough public pressure changes can be achieved. It’s a shame that the Government doesn’t thoroughly consult stakeholders and the general public prior to making decisions … it would certainly save those involved a lot of anguish.

“The Nationals Member for Shepparton and Spokesperson on Local Government, Jeanette Powell, made a submission to the Minister for Local Government, Candy Broad, requesting that regulations remain in their current form for this coming election. Since then the Government has confirmed that Candidate Statements will remain the same, requiring only that a disclaimer be included indicating that it represents the view of the candidate and not the authority running the election.

Dr Sykes concluded, “We have finally come to a common sense solution on this issue… the Government would do well to note this happens more often through proper consultation.

Media contact: Bill Sykes (03) 5762 2100 or 0427 624 989