City of Busselton’s behaviour complaints committee potentially facing the axe after review narrowly approved

The committee at the centre of a dispute within the City of Busselton could now face the axe after elected members narrowly voted to review its future. Chief executive Tony Nottle will investigate potential changes to behaviour complaints committee after Cr Andrew Macnish and deputy mayor Anne Ryan both refused to be appointed to it last month. A review of the city’s audit and risk committee will also be conducted, investigating the potential of including a person outside of council on the committee and a redesign of its terms of reference. It comes as the city decided to adopt a “narrow” interpretation of legal advice it had received, meaning it could not force elected members to join a committee against their will. Cr Macnish said he believed the “narrow” legal advice was “only fair and reasonable”. “Councillors serve their role under the Act in the decision-making process, as best they see fit with their skills align,” he said. “That’s reinforced by the legal advice that discourages, if I must use that term, the ability of the council to cruelly force the councillor somewhere they don’t feel their skills are aligned and haven’t nominated.” Cr Macnish also criticised the council’s process of nominating for committees, arguing the decisions should not be made “about one hour after being sworn in” as an elected member. His move to have Cr Ryan appointed to the audit and risk committee was unsuccessful after it failed to receive an absolute majority. The overall vote was carried 4-3, with Busselton mayor Phill Cronin, Cr Sue Ricelli and Cr Kate Cox in the minority. Cr Sue Ricelli had earlier unsuccessfully attempted to have all the councillors appointed to the behaviour complaints committee, alongside the audit and risk committee. She also moved to request all councillors put their hands up for at least two committees amid concerns about uneven workload. “If we truly have the best interests of our community at heart, then we need to ensure a productive, transparent and efficient council moving forwards and I believe that my alternative motion is a step in the right direction,” she said.