by SOS President Ian Quick
Update: this was defeated in the upper house!

The Brumby State Government is moving to restrict resident activists' ability to represent issues if they get elected to a local council, by widening the definition of 'a conflict of interest' to an undemocratic degree in amendments to the Local Government Act.

It will be a deemed a conflict of interest if they had EVER made an objection or submission in relation to a matter being considered at a council meeting, so they would not be able to participate or vote on the item.

For people like me, who have made so many submissions to council that I've lost count (well over 50) - what would there be left to vote on? Would the only thing councilors could vote on be things they have no interest in?

And at the same time the proposed amendments specifically exempt state government employees from having a conflict of interest if items before council relate to or impact their place of work!

The Melbourne Times (8/10/2008) has just published a good article about this naked attempt to curtail democracy:

Conflict of interest bill would restrict councillors
BY BIANCA HALL
COMMUNITY activists elected to local government could be sued for voting on contentious issues under a bill being considered by Parliament.
The upper house is due to vote on a revamped series of laws governing the conduct of councillors in two weeks.
If the bill is passed, any councillor who makes a submission or objection on an issue his or her council votes on would be considered to have a conflict of interest. Fines of more than $ 11,000 apply.
Under the new rules, councillors would be prevented from objecting to a range of matters they could be expected to vote on.
Save Our Suburbs president Ian Quick is a candidate for November's Yarra City Council election. Mr Quick, who regularly lobbies councils on planning and transport issues, said the new law "removes councillors' ability to make submissions, let alone objections, on a wide range of issues".
He said it was "a typical move by this State Government to muzzle democracy" and "an attempt to silence councillors who are also members of community groups".
Under the bill, councillors would be prevented from making submissions on matters including council budgets, local laws and planning schemes and then voting on those issues - or even being present during a vote.
Councillors' family members would also be barred from making submissions on community issues.

Eddington tunnel - a fait accompli?

Our new signs have been delivered - they are 900mm by 600mm, waterproof, and great out the front of your house! SOS members can have one for free, otherwise they are $10 each - use the contact page to request one.

Planning Backlash have organised a public meeting to protest about the abysmal state of Planning in Victoria.

Sunday 6th of July
Town Hall
750 Mt Alexander Rd
Mooney Valley.

We will be there supporting the rally, and we encourage everyone to go!

See http://www.marvellousmelbourne.org/drupal/?q=node/87 for more details.

A storm of dissent is gathering in the inner city over the proposed Eddington road tunnel. There has been unprecedented interest in the proposed North Fitzroy tunnel openings onto Queens Parade, highlighted by Clifton Hill community planning group, "3068". The Eddington Study said the tunnel would have no city exits to avoid exacerbating traffic congestion where Alexandra Parade becomes one long 3-lane exit into the city from the Eastern Freeway and East-Link. But the Queens Parade tunnel off-ramps described in the consultant's technical report would push more commuter and freight traffic onto Queens Parade and Alexandra Parade, doubling the traffic on Queens Parade, with trucks from the port and the west heading up to Heidelberg Road.