Local Government Minister Warren Pitt has announced that the Queensland Government would remake the policy guidelines for the reimbursement of expenses and provision of facilities for local government councillors.

LGAQ president Paul Bell said councils were “grateful” for the decision to abolish the policy and make appropriate amendments to the Local Government Act.

“The LGAQ has lobbied extensively for the guidelines to be dropped since their introduction in March,” Cr Bell said.

“The government has listened to the considerable number of difficulties councils have had in the implementation of the guidelines and the burden with which the guidelines have saddled them.”

Under the current policy guidelines, the onus for setting the level of councillor expenses reimbursement is delegated to individual councils. 
 
“Mr Pitt’s announcement yesterday is an example of what can be achieved when the state government is prepared to work with local government.

“Our understanding is that the new guidelines will be restricted to a primary focus on matters of public accountability and transparency,” Cr Bell said.

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