Code of Meeting Practice

About the project

You’re invited to review our draft Code of Meeting Practice (draft Code)and make a submission by 11 August 2025.

The draft Code supports good governance and:

  • ensures meetings of Council and its Committees are conducted in an orderly, consistent and efficient manner
  • ensures meetings of Council and its Committees are conducted according to the principles of procedural fairness and due process
  • assists with the conduct of discussion and debate during Council and Committee meetings
  • ensures all Councillors understand their rights and obligations during Council and Committee meetings
  • ensures Councillors have an equal opportunity to participate fully in meetings and that meetings provide a positive environment without malice, avoiding insulting, improper or defamatory statements.

Council is required to review, exhibit and adopt a code of meeting practice within the first 12 months following an ordinary election of councillors.

Principles of the Code

The draft Code is underpinned by the following principles. 

Council and Committee meetings should be:

Transparent: Decisions are made in a way that is open and accountable

Informed: Decisions are made based on relevant, quality information 

Inclusive: Decisions respect the diverse needs and interests of the local community

Principled: Decisions are informed by the principles prescribed under Chapter 3 of the Local Government Act 1993

Trusted: The community has confidence that Councillors and staff act ethically and make decisions in the interests of the whole community 

Respectful: Councillors, staff and meeting attendees rreat each other with respect

Effective: Meetings are well organised, effectively run and skillfully chaired

Orderly: Councillors, staff and meeting attendees behave in a way that contributes to the orderly conduct of the meeting.