State member for Ballina and local government minister Don Page has released a discussion paper on whether individuals should be allowed to hold dual roles in local government and at a state level.
Currently approximately 20 MPs around the state do this, including Byron mayor Jan Barham.
Cr Barham has said she will not seek re-election to council after the end of this term.
In the meantime, she will need to seek the co-operation of her fellow councillors to allow her to attend meetings, by voting to reschedule them so that they don’t clash with her Macquarie St commitments.
The council has thus far refused to do so.
Ms Barham has told local media that holding down both roles is a lot of work but that as the popularly elected mayor she feels a sense of responsibility to see out her term.
