Of the 20 code of conduct complaints investigated in the 2018-19 financial year, more than half were eventually dismissedThe State Government says the code of conduct was reviewed just over a year agoDorset Mayor Greg Howard has been the subject of five complaints since 2016; three were dismissed, one was upheld, and one was upheld but overturned on appeal.
Despite the fact not all complaints were substantiated, the small, north-eastern community had to foot the bill — those 12 complaints have so far cost ratepayers $31,000, with an estimated $9,000 in invoices still to come."The code of conduct is being used as a weapon by some members of the public against councillors right across the state."
Its members are to be either"Australian lawyers or persons with experience in local government but who have not been councillors or council employees within the preceding two years," the act stipulates.Cr Howard appealed the two decisions upheld against him to the Magistrates Court, shelling out more than $10,000 in legal costs.
In overturning the panel's finding, the court found Cr Howard had a right to political expression, and that the code could be highly restrictive of the ability of councillors to express views and argue about matters of public concern and debate.
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