Hannah Hammoud
Brimbank residents may soon be able to ask live, unscripted questions of council, with a proposal to establish a regular public forum meeting for the community endorsed by council.
Councillor Maria Kerr raised the idea as a notice of motion during a council meeting on July 18, and received the support of her fellow councillors.
Cr Kerr said there is currently no mechanism which allows residents to directly engage with their council representatives.
“The only avenue they have is to submit questions prior to council meetings, which are drafted by officers for the mayor to read out of a script,” she said.
“Residents are frustrated, they feel disconnected from councillors and just want honest answers.
“Residents just want to be heard, they want transparency and respect. Scripted answers doesn’t wash with the community any more …”
Cr Kerr cited the success of the nearby Moonee Valley council, which hosts a public forum once a month and allows residents to raise questions directly to their representatives without notice.
The Moonee Valley council website states that the public forums take place in a less formal setting than council meetings and provide another opportunity for residents to play a role in civic matters.
“This is called transparency. This is called being open and accountable. This is called doing what we are paid to do by ratepayers,” Cr Kerr said.
“ … Our community is asking for this forum. Our community wants to see the white in our eyes when we are answering questions.”
Cr Kerr called on her colleagues to support the motion on behalf of “every resident” in Brimbank, and was met with a round of applause from residents seated in the public gallery.
A report will now be provided to council at a future meeting which will detail how regular public forums could be introduced for Brimbank.
