Wyndham councillors who aren’t on their best behaviour will face tougher punishments under recent changes to the Local Government Act.
Under the changes, councillors will be required to sign new codes of conduct in an effort to improve behaviour of councillors and provide a process for dealing with misconduct.
Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins and councils will be given powers to take action against councillors who breach the code.
Allegations of misconduct will be dealt with by independent councillor conduct panels that will have the power to suspend councillors for up to six months.
Councillors accused of serious misconduct with a panel or VCAT hearing pending, councillors who demonstrate behaviour that could be identified as a threat to health and safety, and those exhibiting behaviour that prevents councils from performing their functions face the prospect of being stood down from their role.
The changes come following statewide consultation with councils and communities.
Ms Hutchins said the laws would be progressively proclaimed in coming months to ensure councils were ready to deal with the changes.
“By giving councils and the state government the ability to step in earlier, it will help ensure problems with councillor standards and governance aren’t left to grow,” she said.
“While overall misconduct among Victoria’s 79 councils is rare, it’s vital that our governance frameworks are robust and ready to deal with misconduct.”
Wyndham chief executive Kelly Grigsby welcomed the changes to the Local Government Act, which she said included improved transparency of councillor conduct panels.
“Council previously supported these measures during the consultation process and councillors amended their code of conduct in 2013 and 2014 in anticipation of these changes,” she said.
