MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors are being urged to publish an itemised list of all their expenses each month to improve accountability and transparency.
At tonight’s council meeting (7 March), Cr Anthony Marsh will move that all councillor expenses during the current council term be published on the shire website every month.
If the motion is approved in its entirety, the onus will sit with individual councillors “to reflect on whether any expenditure incurred or reimbursed is an appropriate use of public money”.
In a report to council, Marsh said it was “appropriate” that the public could scrutinise the use of public money.
“Without complete and regular disclosure, there is no feedback loop with those we represent regarding whether our use of public money is appropriate,” he stated on the agenda.
Marsh said, “only a fraction” of councillor expenses came to public meetings for disclosure, debate and a decision, while a large portion “flies under the radar”.
“A large portion of councillor expenditure flies under the radar, with little or no opportunity for public scrutiny (not disclosed in meaningful detail),” he said.
“Whilst policies exist to guide appropriate councillor expenditure, such policies can never cover all possible eventualities.
“It is incumbent on councillors to consider and reflect on whether their use of public money is appropriate, irrespective of whether it is expressly excluded or even supported by the relevant policy. By regularly itemising and tabling such expenses and providing an opportunity for discussion and review, we will significantly improve transparency, accountability, and trust within our community.”
Marsh’s call comes just weeks after he disputed claims he told his council colleagues he would not claim expenses for a trip to Roper Gulf in the Northern Territory (“Expenses tests memories” The News 20/2/23).
Marsh later told The News that he suspected some councillors of having memory loss and welcomed having his “expenses publicly debated and scrutinised”.
The shire currently publishes a range of councillor expenses under allowances, information and communication, private car mileage, superannuation, parking and travel, expenses and childcare.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Cr Marsh was set to call for the expenses lists to include anything related to conferences, training, seminars, other events and hospitality. “Add-ons” such as dinners, social activities, accommodation are to be itemised separately.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 7 March 2023
