Councils, Covid And A Major Change In Science?
Local Councils across regional Victoria want to be treated like small businesses in relation to COVID-19 restrictions.
The position would enable council meetings to be staged face-to-face rather than online.
The restrictions on Councils are not included in the public list of COVID restrictions published by the State Government.
However, Councils were recently instructed by the Government not to meet publicly.
Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, said multiple Local Councils have contacted her expressing their distress at this restriction given the lack of coronavirus in the regions.
Mrs McArthur took their concerns to Victorian Parliament, asking the Minister for Local Government, Shaun Leane, by way of a Constituency Question, if local councils will continue to be treated differently.
She asked the Minister “to confirm that this directive will be immediately rescinded in line with the relaxation of COVID restrictions announced today?
She also asked if he could “further confirm it will not be reinstated in similar circumstances?” Mrs McArthur asked.
She said Councils have proven they are able to safely stage meetings – distanced, masked and sanitised.
“If we can have 50 people at a wedding or 300 at a nightclub or a brothel, why should democracy be downgraded?
“Forcing councillors to sit alone behind computers and excluding all members of the public from meetings is no recipe for public engagement or good government,” she said.
The Corangamite Council Mayor, Ruth Gstrein, said her council is unhappy with the virtual directive.
“We believe the best forum for engagement and decision making is face to face,” Mayor Gstrein said.
“It’s not one size fits all – what suits the City of Port Phillip may not be the best fit for Corangamite Shire.
“Not all areas of rural Victoria have reliable internet access which in our case means that 3 of our current Councillors would not be able to participate in a virtual meeting from their own homes – basically defeating the argument that it is a more attractive option,” said Mayor Gstrein.
In cynically announcing the easing of restrictions magically on the eve of school holidays, yesterday’s Statement from the Acting Premier included the following: And these changes won’t just last for a week – they’ll remain in place for at least two weeks’ time, meaning Victorians can plan and get back to doing the things they love.
“So, what happens if we have an outbreak in a few days’ time?” Mrs McArthur asked.
“Do we just keep rolling along without upping restrictions which has been the clear wont of this Government from day one?
“What does that mean for all the previous restriction periods that have been rapidly slapped on Victorians when minimal coronavirus was present in Melbourne and none in the regions?
“Is there a new scientific or epidemiological standard that we are not aware of?
“I hope there’s not an outbreak – but this new rule declaration is a serious deviation from the impositions previously applied.”
24 June 2021
