The NSW Labor government have accused the Liberals, Nationals, Greens and Mark Latham of ‘reactivating the ability for NSW councils to hold secretive private briefing sessions, undoing measures the Minns Labor Government introduced to increase transparency and public confidence in local government’.
Labor say the move came in the Upper House on Tuesday night.
‘The Government’s rewrite of the Model Meeting Code, which came into effect in January 2026, banned private briefings, required all councils to livestream and record council meetings, as well as provided clearer powers and processes for Mayors so meetings may be conducted in a dignified manner and in the full view of the public’.
‘Members of the Liberals and Nationals banded together with the Greens and Mark Latham to disallow the regulation that enacts the Code – completely disregarding the principles of open decision-making and recommendations of the ICAC to prevent corruption in local government.
‘Every council will now be burdened with unnecessary confusion and uncertainty as the transparency and other measures contained in the new Code need to be wound back by each of New South Wales’ 128 councils.
‘The Liberal-Nationals, the Greens and Mark Latham unity ticket in the NSW Upper House has thrown the baby out with the bathwater.
‘While extensive consultation with stakeholders was undertaken in developing the new Code, the Government had agreed to consider a number of wording amendments to address any unintended consequences. This was mainly in response to issues raised by rural and regional councils where the circumstances can be unique to a particular area.
‘Constructive meetings were held earlier this month with Local Government NSW and the Country Mayors Association where the Government agreed to a range proposals from the sector. Last night’s actions go against recent representations made on behalf of the sector.
‘Not only are the political games being played by the Liberal-Nationals and Greens in the Upper House hampering the state government’s ability to legislate, but they are now also directly impacting on local government and all 128 councils.
‘The Government is now considering options in relation to these long overdue reforms which were introduced to improve the transparency and decency of council meetings and reduce corruption risks’, NSW Labor says.
Labor’s changes dilute the democratic processes, says Greens MLC
In reply, Greens Member of the NSW Legislative Council Sue Higginson, told The Echo, ‘It’s offensive that the Minns Labor Government have glossed over the fact that their changes would dilute the democratic processes of Council by excluding communities from decision making meetings and Councillors living with disability or that have caring needs’.
‘Under the Minns Labor Government’s plan members of the community would no longer be able to address their Councillors during council meetings when actual decisions about their lives, their rates and their local environment are being made.
‘The changes also prohibit Councillors that cannot attend meetings in person from performing their duties as elected representatives. It’s likely this part is in fact discriminatory.
‘The Greens will always support ensuring that Councils are transparent and open to the public, but cutting community and some Councillors out of meetings is not good for democracy, and for communities who want to be a dynamic part of our democracy.
‘Almost every non-Government member of the Upper House rejected these changes. The Greens sought to disallow this regulation in November last year, but held off bring the vote to the floor of the Parliament because the Minister for Local Government committed to working with all to strike a better balance, but it’s now May. At some point you have to move forward. There are some good aspects of the Regulation that the Greens and others support, but the way they were brought forward meant the only way to cut out the offending parts was to disallow the whole regulation. The Minister should now take on board the fact that his rules were undemocratic and discriminatory’, Ms Higginson said.
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