With public participation in council meetings under threat, former Greens mayor, Jan Barham addressed Council in October and proposed amendments to the Code of Meeting Practice to retain the current level of public access.
While these changes weren’t included in the draft – which is now on exhibition – Green councillors have advised they are seeking to make changes after exhibition.
This means there is less lead time for the public to be aware of what is proposed.
Additionally, Council’s Draft Code of Meeting Practice is buried within its website, and is not easy to find unless you search for ‘Code of Meeting Practice’.
The community is encouraged to make submissions opposing the removal of the current public access provisions that allow submissions and questions about items that aren’t on the agenda.
Another of the changes proposed is removing confidential briefings between councillors and senior staff.
Greens Cr Elia Hauge released a media release around Byron Shire Council’s draft Code of Meeting Practice, which is currently on public exhibition until 4 December 2025.
She says the code comes to Council for adoption at the 11 December meeting.
‘The NSW Office of Local Government’s 2025 Model Code includes mandatory provisions that all councils must adopt by 31 December 2025. While public forums become mandatory, the new code eliminates several aspects of public participation that Byron Shire has traditionally championed, including: General public submissions on non-agenda matters; Questions from the public; and Councillors asking questions of speakers’.
She says, ‘These changes would silence community members who want to raise urgent local issues that aren’t yet on council’s radar, and prevent the meaningful dialogue between councillors and community that has been a hallmark of Byron’s democratic culture’.
‘The Greens councillors will be carefully reviewing the code to ensure Byron’s exemplary public participation model is preserved wherever possible within state requirements. They will also move additional motions addressing broader community engagement improvements, reflecting the Greens’ commitment to grassroots decision-making and genuine community participation.
‘The Byron Greens are urging community members to make submissions on the draft code via council’s website before 4 December 2025 to help protect our community’s voice’.
The Echo asked Cr Hauge why Greens councillors ignored advice from former Greens mayor, and NSW MLC, Jan Barham.
Ms Barham made representations at Council’s public access meeting, and gave proposed changes to improve the draft Code of Meeting Practice.
Cr Hauge replied, ‘It’s been great to have Jan’s suggestions and input, she’s got some good ideas on how we can preserve public access’.
‘We’ve discussed these changes with Jan and always value her input and experience.
Greens unsure of appropriate amendments
‘There was an extremely tight turnaround to put the code out for exhibition to be able to meet the NSW government’s deadline for adopting it – at the time we had to put the code out for exhibition, we weren’t sure of the most appropriate specific amendments to make, and we look forward to community submissions on the draft code.
‘We will look at community submissions, Jan’s suggestion, and other models that councils around the state are considering to manage the restrictive new code. Our intention is the same as Jan’s – to preserve the vibrant public engagement that is a hallmark of Byron’s council meetings’.
Council’s Draft Code of Meeting Practice is buried within its website – it can be found by the links ‘Report, Requests & Feedback’, then ‘Public Notices’, and then scroll to nearly the bottom items.
Here is the link – www.byron.nsw.gov.au/Council/Report-Requests-Feedback/Public-Notices/Draft-Code-of-Meeting-Practice
For more info visit https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2025-Model-Meeting-Code-–-FAQ.pdf
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