Community & Business
16 September, 2026
New policy left on the shelf
A NEW policy that reflects the State Government’s new legislative changes on who must play a role in hiring general managers has been deferred by Tablelands Regional Council.
A NEW policy that reflects the State Government’s new legislative changes on who must play a role in hiring general managers has been deferred by Tablelands Regional Council.
Amendments to the Local Government Act at the end of August dictates that senior executives for TRC must now be appointed by a selection panel which will include the Mayor, the chief executive officer and the Deputy Mayor.
Minister for Local Government Ann Leahy said the changes “empowers Queensland councils by reinstating the role of councillors in the appointment of senior executive employees”.
“The CEO will remain responsible for the management, direction and discipline of all local government employees, including senior executive employees,” she told Parliament.
But when a policy reflecting the legislative changes came for council approval at its last meeting, Cr Kevin Cardew, who had not yet been elected as Mayor, took exception to elements of the policy that, in his opinion, did not need to be included in the document.
“Firstly, we have not had a councillor information session on it, and there’s things in here that are not correct in my view,” he said.
“For example, in the policy, it says external recruitment agencies must be used for senior executive recruitment. Is that a legislative requirement as what you’re suggesting?” he asked a council officer.
“No, it’s not” she replied.
“That’s one. Two, councillors participating on the panel must successfully complete a TRC-approved panel member training before being appointed to a panel. Is that a legislative requirement?” Cr Cardew asked.
“No,” the officer replied.
“There you go, so I implore the rest of the councillors to please not support this,” Cr Cardew said.
Cr Maree Baade also supported Cr Cardew, saying she had numerous questions about the new policy.
She pointed to the fact that if the Mayor or CEO were unavailable, absent or had a conflict of interest, they could delegate the responsibility, and that was not covered in the new policy.
The council voted to defer the policy until a councillor information session was undertaken.
