QUEENSLAND councils are set to be given greater control and less red tape under sweeping reforms unveiled by the State Government at this week’s Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) Annual Conference.
The Local Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill will be introduced to Parliament later this year, marking what the government says is a “fresh start for Queensland.”
The reforms aim to strengthen councils’ ability to deliver for their communities by streamlining legislation, improving governance frameworks, and cutting bureaucratic red tape.
Redland City Mayor Jos Mitchell, who is attending the conference for Wednesday’s voting component, said it was an important event for councils across the state.
Cr Mitchell said she was unable to attend the first two days of the conference due to prior commitments and the need to catch up on council business.
“Now, unfortunately, my schedule didn’t allow to attend on Monday and Tuesday. I had other meetings and had to catch up on paperwork, but I am attending for the official component, which is the voting taking place on Wednesday,” she said.
“Now, council has six votes attributed to it. Three are being utilised by the Deputy Mayor and three for me. We are the delegates to vote on behalf of Council for the motions that councils around Queensland put to the LGAQ to carry forward.
She said Redland City Council had submitted a number of motions this year, with several focused on lessons learned from Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
“Now, our Council is putting a number of motions forward, and three relate to disaster management, and they’ve come out as a result of the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Alfred,” she said.
“So issues that were identified, and they are improved energy network resilience — many will be happy about that one — disaster resilience funding, and strengthening human and social resilience through arts and cultural partnerships in disaster recovery.”
She said there were also motions focused on active transport and council integrity.
“There’s also a motion for increased investment in active transport infrastructure, and the final one which I put forward, which is improving integrity of the Councillor Conduct Complaints process,” Mayor Mitchell said.
“For those who have been following along and watching news articles, you’ll know why I believe this is imperative.
“Now, I’ve just received advice that the Premier has made announcements, which are going to impact this process, and I’ve also been advised that this might result in this motion being pulled.
“So I’m very eager to find out what is now going to occur with this process, and I’ll report back, because as everyone knows, I do not believe the current process, which I believe can be politically weaponized, affords natural justice, or the level of integrity that we should expect.”
Under the changes, councillors will regain the power to appoint senior staff, mayors will have their roles clarified, and candidates will no longer have to publish their home addresses.
The conduct complaints system will also be overhauled to cut red tape and boost integrity.
But not everyone’s impressed.
Cr Paul Golle says the reforms could weaken accountability rather than strengthen it.
“In my opinion the Empowering Councils Bill is being sold as reform, but it actually weakens local government integrity. Giving councillors more say in senior appointments invites political interference where professionalism should prevail,” he said.
“The Bill also weakens training for councillors. The current system already allows unqualified people to manage multi-million-dollar budgets and make major planning decisions after just days of basic instruction — and now the government wants to make it even less professional. Anyone can pay $250 and stand for council, no qualifications required.
“We’ve seen candidates exaggerate or falsely claim qualifications to get elected. By the time the truth comes out, the public has been misled — and the Local Government Minister does nothing. True reform would demand candidates prove their competency and qualifications before standing.
“Instead, we’re seeing a rise in candidates backed by protest groups and single-issue agendas — one-trick ponies who do not represent the broader community. Local government is already seen by many as the ‘wild west,’ and this Bill makes it worse by stripping back misconduct rules. False claims, weak training, and less accountability — Queensland deserves stronger standards, not weaker ones.”
Minister for Local Government and Water Ann Leahy said the reforms would help councils focus on delivering for Queenslanders.
“We are delivering a fresh start and empowering local governments to deliver for Queensland communities,” Minister Leahy said.
“Under Labor, councils were kept in the dark and treated like second-class citizens, which is why we promised major reform, and that’s exactly what we’ve delivered.
“Local governments are genuine and equal partners in delivering The Right Plan for Queensland’s Future to get Queensland heading in the right direction for the benefit of all Queenslanders.
“Councils know the Crisafulli Government are committed to working alongside them for our local communities, and this Bill empowers them to do exactly that.”
The government also announced it had signed an Accord with Queensland’s Indigenous leaders, mirroring the Rural and Remote Councils Compact, to support improved outcomes in water, sewerage, infrastructure and jobs across Indigenous communities.
