Letter to the Editor on the next council elections …

Letter to the Editor

With the next Council elections due in October, now is the right time to ask if we really want a flock of real estate agents and property developers on our new Councils?

More and more seem to be putting their hands up,and the big problem for even the most ethical agent is the conflict of interest situation, when confronted with confidential Council information not available to the general public ?

How do they handle the situation knowing that Council may be planning for example, a new subdivision or the sale or possible rezoning of land ?

And if they are former agents, how can the information be properly protected when they may have family members or close colleagues still active in the business ?

In NSW the Labor Party are planning to ban real estate agents from local councils, to avoid these possible problems, and many concerned residents think we should have similar legislation here in Tasmania.

As Councillors are elected to represent the best interests of the community at all times, any outside associations or influences, that could possibly create any conflict of interest, is something that is surely best avoided ?

Les Crawford

Cygnet. 7112
Les Crawford, Cygnet. 7112