Representing the community on the Glenorchy City Council has been a great privilege and one that I have taken great pride in performing.
However, Glenorchy City Council’s ongoing instability does not allow a suitable environment for the Board of Enquiry to complete its investigations appropriately and therefore today’s announcement by the Minister was the only logical option he had available.
Unfortunately for the past two years, in the face of newer representatives calling out the poor practices of council, there has been a majority of Aldermen who have seemed to show they do not have the capacity to govern appropriately and in the best interests of the community, and seem to care only about receiving their allowance.
The community of Glenorchy has put up with this self-interest for far too long.
Today’s attempt by seven Aldermen to suggest mediation could fix Council’s problems, five days after submissions to the Minister closed, only goes to highlight this lack of capacity and self-interest.
I welcome Sue Smith’s appointment as commissioner and trust this allows the Board of Inquiry to conclude its investigations in a more efficient manner than has occurred to date.
It is clear that Council has significant deficiencies in its governance arrangements, and I look forward to being able to assist in providing a solution to these problems through the remainder of the Board of Inquiry process.
I would like to acknowledge the tireless work of the Mayor, in the face of significant ongoing pressure, in continuing to highlight the deficiencies of Council.
Kristie has shown a tremendous amount of courage to face up and tackle this entrenched council.
We are both in lock step in working to have a transparent and accountable Glenorchy Council, and I look forward to having the opportunity to continue to work with her to achieve this outcome at a point in time that the Minister sees fit to reinstate a Council.
Ald. Matt Stevenson
