{"id":"BILL-QLD-local-government-empowering-councils-and-other-legislation-amendment-bill-2025","name":"Local Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025","slug":"local-government-empowering-councils-and-other-legislation-amendment-bill-2025","collection":"bill","jurisdiction":"qld","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":"2025-01-01","administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":446102,"registerId":"BILL-QLD-local-government-empowering-councils-and-other-legislation-amendment-bill-2025:current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2025-01-01","status":"in_force","reasons":null,"registeredAt":"2026-05-06T12:45:17.664Z"},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0001","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 1","content":"# Local Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\n\nQueensland\nLocal Government\n(Empowering Councils) and\nOther Legislation Amendment\nBill 2025\n\nQueensland\nLocal Government (Empowering\nCouncils) and Other Legislation\nAmendment Bill 2025\nContents\nPage\nPart 1 Preliminary\n1 Short title . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12\n2 Commencement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12\nPart 2 Amendment of City of Brisbane Act 2010\nDivision 1 Preliminary\n3 Act amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12\nDivision 2 Amendments commencing on assent\n4 Amendment of s 18 (Review of wards of Brisbane) . . . . . . . . . . 13\n5 Amendment of s 50 (Assessing public benefit) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13\n6 Replacement of s 92B (Prohibition on major policy decision in caretaker\nperiod) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13\n92B Prohibition on major policy decisions during caretaker period\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14\n92BA Approval to make major policy decisions in exceptional\ncircumstances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14\n92BB Approval to make major policy decisions related to disaster\nrecovery funding arrangements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14\n7 Amendment of s 104 (Approval of budget) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15\n8 Amendment of s 155 (Disqualification because of other high office) 15\n9 Amendment of ch 6, pt 2, div 2, hdg (Councillor’s term of office) 16\n10 Replacement of s 160A (Compulsory leave without pay) . . . . . . 16\n160A Remuneration to be paid for term . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16\n11 Amendment of s 162 (When a councillor’s office becomes vacant) 17\n12 Amendment of s 169A (Councillor training) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17\n13 Amendment of s 171 (Requests for assistance or information) . 18\n\nContents\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 2\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n14 Insertion of new ch 6, pt 2, div 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18\nDivision 6 Responsibilities during leave of absence\n178 Responsibilities of councillors during leave of absence 18\n15 Amendment of s 192 (Appointing senior executive employees) . 19\n16 Amendment of s 193 (Appointing other council employees) . . . . 19\n17 Insertion of new s 193A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19\n193A Conditions of appointment of council employees . . . 19\n18 Amendment of s 194A (Appointment and functions of councillor advisors)\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20\n19 Amendment of s 194C (Regulation may prescribe particular matters\nrelating to councillor advisors) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20\n20 Insertion of new ch 8, pt 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20\nPart 13 Transitional provisions for Local Government\n(Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation\nAmendment Act 2025\nDivision 1 Preliminary\n300 Definitions for part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21\nDivision 2 Provisions for amendments commencing on assent\n301 Budget for 2025–2026 financial year . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21\n302 Councillors who were candidates immediately before\ncommencement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22\n303 Councillor training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22\n304 Existing senior contract employees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22\n21 Amendment of sch 2 (Dictionary) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23\nDivision 3 Amendments commencing by proclamation\n22 Amendment of s 171 (Requests for assistance or information) . 23\n23 Amendment of s 172 (Inspection of particular records by councillors) 25\n24 Replacement of ch 6, pt 2, div 5A (Councillors’ conflicts of interest) 26\nDivision 5A Dealing with personal interests of councillors\n177A Matters in relation to which division does not apply . 26\n177B What is a material personal interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29\n177C What is a conflict of interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29\n177D Who is an associate of a councillor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32\n177E Who is a related party of a councillor . . . . . . . . . . . . 32\n177F Councillor’s material personal interest at a meeting . 33\n177G Councillor’s conflict of interest at a meeting . . . . . . . 35\n25 Amendment of s 198D (Dishonest conduct of councillor or councillor\n\nContents\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 3\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nadvisor) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36\n26 Amendment of s 238 (Delegation of council powers) . . . . . . . . . 37\n27 Insertion of new ch 8, pt 13, div 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37\nDivision 3 Provisions for amendments commencing by\nproclamation\n305 Proceedings for particular offences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37\n306 Continued application of s 153 for former integrity offences\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38\n307 Application of Local Government Act for contravention of\nformer COI provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38\n28 Amendment of sch 1 (Serious integrity offences and integrity offences)\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39\n29 Amendment of sch 2 (Dictionary) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39\nPart 3 Amendment of City of Brisbane Regulation 2012\nDivision 1 Preliminary\n30 Regulation amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40\nDivision 2 Amendments commencing on assent\n31 Replacement of s 32 (Minimum requirements for complaint process) 40\n32 Complaints management process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40\n32 Amendment of s 33 (Making a complaint) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41\n33 Amendment of s 36 (Competition authority refusing to investigate) 41\n34 Amendment of s 162 (Adoption and amendment of budget) . . . . 42\n35 Amendment of s 178 (Councillors) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42\n36 Amendment of s 179 (Administrative action complaints) . . . . . . 42\n37 Amendment of s 242J (Closed meetings) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43\n38 Insertion of new ch 10, pt 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43\nPart 14 Transitional provisions for Local Government\n(Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation\nAmendment Act 2025\n315 Budget for 2025–2026 financial year . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43\nDivision 3 Amendments commencing by proclamation\n39 Amendment of s 178 (Councillors) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43\n40 Replacement of s 242AB (Ordinary business matters relating to\ndocuments—Act, s 177C) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44\n242AB Matters in relation to which the Act, ch 6, pt 2, div 5A does not\napply—Act, s 177A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44\n41 Amendment of s 242D (Public availability of agendas) . . . . . . . . 44\n42 Amendment of s 242H (Recording of reasons for particular decisions)\n\nContents\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 4\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44\n43 Amendment of s 242J (Closed meetings) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45\n44 Insertion of new s 316 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45\n316 Investigation reports and council meetings . . . . . . . . 45\n45 Amendment of sch 3 (Financial and non-financial particulars for registers\nof interests) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45\n46 Replacement of sch 3A (Content of extracts of registers of interests of\ncouncillors) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46\nSchedule 3A Content of extracts of registers of interests of\ncouncillors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46\n47 Amendment of sch 4 (Dictionary) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\nDivision 1 Preliminary\n48 Act amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47\nDivision 2 Amendments commencing on assent\n49 Amendment of s 12 (Responsibilities of councillors) . . . . . . . . . . 48\n50 Amendment of s 16 (Review of divisions and councillors) . . . . . 48\n51 Amendment of s 46 (Assessing public benefit) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49\n52 Replacement of s 90B (Prohibition on major policy decision in caretaker\nperiod) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49\n90B Prohibition on major policy decisions during caretaker period\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49\n90BA Approval to make major policy decisions in exceptional\ncircumstances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50\n90BB Approval to make major policy decisions related to disaster\nrecovery funding arrangements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50\n53 Amendment of s 94 (Power to levy rates and charges) . . . . . . . 51\n54 Insertion of new s 94A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51\n94A Limitation on power to levy rates for particular local\ngovernments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51\n55 Amendment of s 138 (What this division is about) . . . . . . . . . . . 52\n56 Amendment of s 138AA (Notices for this division) . . . . . . . . . . . 52\n57 Amendment of s 140 (Entry by an owner, with reasonable entry notice,\nunder a remedial notice) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53\n58 Amendment of s 142 (Entry by a local government worker, with\nreasonable entry notice, under a remedial notice) . . . . . . . . . . . 53\n59 Amendment of s 143 (Entry by a local government worker, with\nreasonable entry notice, to take materials) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53\n60 Amendment of s 150DD (Acting assessor) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54\n\nContents\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 5\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n61 Amendment of s 150DY (Content of register—decisions) . . . . . . 54\n62 Amendment of s 155 (Disqualification because of other high office) 54\n63 Amendment of ch 6, pt 2, div 2, hdg (Councillor’s term of office) 55\n64 Replacement of s 160B (Compulsory leave without pay) . . . . . . 55\n160B Remuneration to be paid for term . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55\n65 Amendment of s 162 (When a councillor’s office becomes vacant) 56\n66 Amendment of s 169A (Councillor training) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56\n67 Amendment of s 170A (Requests for assistance or information) 57\n68 Insertion of new ch 6, pt 2, div 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57\nDivision 6 Responsibilities during leave of absence\n175A Responsibilities of councillors during leave of absence 57\n69 Amendment of s 196 (Appointing other local government employees)\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58\n70 Amendment of s 197D (Regulation may prescribe particular matters\nrelating to councillor advisors) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58\n71 Insertion of new ch 9, pt 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59\nPart 20 Transitional provisions for Local Government\n(Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation\nAmendment Act 2025\nDivision 1 Preliminary\n360 Definitions for part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59\nDivision 2 Provisions for amendments commencing on assent\n361 Councillors who were candidates immediately before\ncommencement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60\n362 Application of s 150DD for existing acting assessor 60\n363 Councillor training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60\n364 Existing senior executive employees . . . . . . . . . . . . 61\nDivision 3 Amendments commencing by proclamation\n72 Amendment of s 150B (Overview of chapter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61\n73 Amendment of s 150C (Definitions for chapter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62\n74 Amendment of s 150F (Department’s chief executive to make model\nprocedures) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62\n75 Amendment of s 150I (Chairperson may deal with unsuitable meeting\nconduct) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62\n76 Omission of s 150J (Unsuitable meeting conduct that becomes a conduct\nbreach) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62\n77 Amendment of ch 5A, pt 3, hdg (Dealing with conduct breaches,\nmisconduct and corrupt conduct) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63\n\nContents\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 6\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n78 Omission of s 150K (What is a conduct breach) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63\n79 Amendment of s 150L (What is misconduct) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63\n80 Amendment of s 150M (Dealing with particular conduct if councillor\nelected or appointed after vacating office) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64\n81 Amendment of s 150R (Local government official must notify assessor\nabout particular conduct) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65\n82 Omission s 150S (Local government must notify assessor about\nmisconduct) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65\n83 Amendment of s 150SA (Application of division) . . . . . . . . . . . . 65\n84 Amendment of s 150SC (Assessor may ask for information) . . . 66\n85 Amendment of s 150SD (Preliminary assessment of complaints, notices\nor information) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66\n86 Amendment of s 150SE (Notice of preliminary assessment) . . . 66\n87 Amendment of s 150SF (Assessor may make preliminary assessment on\nown initiative) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67\n88 Amendment of s 150T (Assessor must investigate conduct of councillor)\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67\n89 Amendment of s 150W (Decision about conduct) . . . . . . . . . . . . 67\n90 Amendment of s 150X (Decision to dismiss complaint) . . . . . . . 68\n91 Amendment of s 150Y (Decision to take no further action) . . . . . 68\n92 Amendment of s 150AA (Notice and opportunity for councillor to\nrespond) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68\n93 Omission of ch 5A, pt 3, div 5 (Referral of conduct to local government)\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68\n94 Amendment of ch 5A, pt 3, div 6, hdg (Application to conduct tribunal\nabout misconduct and connected conduct breach) . . . . . . . . . . . 68\n95 Amendment of s 150AI (Application of division) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68\n96 Amendment of s 150AJ (Application to conduct tribunal about alleged\nmisconduct) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69\n97 Amendment of s 150AN (Role of the assessor) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69\n98 Amendment of s 150AQ (Deciding about misconduct and connected\nconduct breach) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69\n99 Amendment of s 150AR (Disciplinary action against councillor) . 70\n100 Amendment of s 150AS (Notices and publication of decisions and\norders) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70\n101 Amendment of s 150AY (Functions of investigators) . . . . . . . . . 70\n102 Amendment of s 150CU (Functions) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71\n103 Amendment of s 150DU (Costs of conduct tribunal to be met by local\ngovernment) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0002","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 2","content":"Contents\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 7\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n104 Amendment of s 150DX (Local governments to keep and publish\nregister) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71\n105 Amendment of s 150DY (Content of register—decisions) . . . . . . 71\n106 Amendment of s 150EB (Annual report) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72\n107 Replacement of ch 5B (Councillors’ conflicts of interest) . . . . . . 72\nChapter 5B Dealing with personal interests of councillors\n150ED Matters in relation to which chapter does not apply . 73\n150EE What is a material personal interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76\n150EF What is a conflict of interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76\n150EG Who is an associate of a councillor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79\n150EH Who is a related party of a councillor . . . . . . . . . . . . 79\n150EI Councillor’s material personal interest at a meeting . 80\n150EJ Councillor’s conflict of interest at a meeting . . . . . . . 82\n108 Amendment of s 201D (Dishonest conduct of councillor or councillor\nadvisor) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83\n109 Amendment of s 257 (Delegation of local government powers) . 84\n110 Insertion of new ch 9, pt 20, div 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84\nDivision 3 Provisions for amendments commencing by\nproclamation\nSubdivision 1 Councillor conduct\n365 Existing matters about particular unsuitable meeting conduct\nof councillor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84\n366 Preliminary assessment of conduct engaged in before\ncommencement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85\n367 Existing matters referred to local governments . . . . . 87\n368 Existing applications to conduct tribunal for particular matters\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87\n369 Existing reviews by QCAT of particular matters . . . . 88\n370 Existing review rights to QCAT for particular matters 88\nSubdivision 2 Dealing with personal interests of councillors\n371 Proceedings for particular offences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89\n372 Continued application of s 153 for former integrity offences\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89\n373 Application of this Act for contravention of former COI\nprovisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90\n111 Amendment of sch 1 (Serious integrity offences and integrity offences)\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90\n112 Amendment of sch 4 (Dictionary) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91\n\nContents\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 8\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nPart 5 Amendment of Local Government Regulation 2012\nDivision 1 Preliminary\n113 Regulation amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91\nDivision 2 Amendments commencing on assent\n114 Replacement of s 44 (Minimum requirements for complaint process) 92\n44 Complaints management process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92\n115 Amendment of s 45 (Making a complaint) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92\n116 Amendment of s 48 (Competition authority refusing to investigate) 93\n117 Amendment of s 71 (What ch 4 is about) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93\n118 Amendment of ch 4, pt 2, hdg (Land exempt from rating) . . . . . . 93\n119 Insertion of new s 73A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93\n73A Local governments to which Act, s 94A applies . . . . 94\n120 Amendment of s 186 (Councillors) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94\n121 Amendment of s 187 (Administrative action complaints) . . . . . . 94\n122 Amendment of s 247 (Remuneration payable to councillors) . . . 95\nDivision 3 Amendments commencing by proclamation\n123 Amendment of s 186 (Councillors) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96\n124 Omission of s 239C (When summary of investigation report or\ninvestigation report must be made publicly available) . . . . . . . . . 96\n125 Replacement of s 254AB (Ordinary business matters relating to\ndocuments—Act, s 150EF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96\n254AB Matters in relation to which the Act, ch 5B does not apply—\nAct, s 150ED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96\n126 Amendment of s 254D (Public availability of agendas) . . . . . . . . 97\n127 Amendment of s 254H (Recording of reasons for particular decisions)\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97\n128 Amendment of s 254J (Closed meetings) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97\n129 Insertion of new ch 27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97\nChapter 27 Transitional provision for Local Government\n(Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation\nAmendment Act 2025\n382 Investigation reports and local government meetings 98\n130 Amendment of sch 5 (Financial and non-financial particulars for registers\nof interests) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98\n131 Replacement of sch 5A (Content of extracts of registers of interests of\ncouncillors) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99\nSchedule 5A Content of extracts of registers of interests of\ncouncillors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99\n\nContents\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 9\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n132 Amendment of sch 8 (Dictionary) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100\nPart 6 Amendment of Local Government Electoral Act 2011\n133 Act amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100\n134 Amendment of s 26 (Who may be nominated) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100\n135 Amendment of s 45AA (Application for direction that poll be conducted\nby postal ballot) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101\n136 Amendment of s 45AB (Referral of application to electoral commissioner\nfor recommendation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102\n137 Amendment of s 45 (Direction that poll be conducted by postal ballot)\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103\n138 Amendment of s 177 (Author of election material must be named) 103\n139 Amendment of s 178 (Distribution of how-to-vote cards) . . . . . . 104\n140 Amendment of sch 1 (Other matters nomination must contain) . 104\nPart 7 Minor and consequential amendments\n141 Legislation amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105\nSchedule 1 Other amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106\nPart 1 Amendments commencing on assent\nCity of Brisbane Act 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106\nCity of Brisbane Regulation 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107\nLocal Government Act 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107\nPart 2 Amendments commencing by proclamation\nCity of Brisbane Act 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108\nCity of Brisbane Regulation 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108\nLocal Government Act 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109\nLocal Government Regulation 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109\n\n2025\nA Bill\nfor\nAn Act to amend the City of Brisbane Act 2010, the City of\nBrisbane Regulation 2012, the Local Government Act 2009, the\nLocal Government Regulation 2012 and the Local Government\nElectoral Act 2011 for particular purposes\n\nPage 12\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 1]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 1 Preliminary\nThe Parliament of Queensland enacts—\nPart 1 Preliminary\n1 Short title\nThis Act may be cited as the Local Government (Empowering\nCouncils) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2025.\n2 Commencement\nThe following provisions commence on a day to be fixed by\nproclamation—\n(a) part 2, division 3;\n(b) part 3, division 3;\n(c) part 4, division 3;\n(d) part 5, division 3;\n(e) schedule 1, part 2.\nPart 2 Amendment of City of Brisbane\nAct 2010\nDivision 1 Preliminary\n3 Act amended\nThis part amends the City of Brisbane Act 2010.\nNote—\nSee also the amendments in schedule 1, parts 1 and 2.\n1\n2\nClause 3\n4\n5\nClause 6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\nClause 17\n18\n19\n20\n\nPage 13\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 4]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of City of Brisbane Act 2010\nDivision 2 Amendments commencing on\nassent\n4 Amendment of s 18 (Review of wards of Brisbane)\n(1) Section 18, ‘council’—\nomit, insert—\nelectoral commission\n(2) Section 18(b), ‘electoral commissioner’—\nomit, insert—\ncouncil\n5 Amendment of s 50 (Assessing public benefit)\n(1) Section 50(8) and (10)—\nomit.\n(2) Section 50(9), from ‘the decision,’—\nomit, insert—\nthe decision—\n(a) conduct another public benefit assessment\nof the significant business activity; and\n(b) repeat the process relating to a report on the\npublic benefit assessment.\n(3) Section 50(9)—\nrenumber as section 50(8).\n6 Replacement of s 92B (Prohibition on major policy\ndecision in caretaker period)\nSection 92B—\nomit, insert—\n1\n2\nClause 3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\nClause 10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\nClause 22\n23\n24\n25\n\nPage 14\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 6]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of City of Brisbane Act 2010\n92B Prohibition on major policy decisions during\ncaretaker period\nThe council must not make a major policy\ndecision during a caretaker period for the council.\n92BA Approval to make major policy decisions in\nexceptional circumstances\n(1) This section applies if the council considers that,\nbecause exceptional circumstances exist, it is\nnecessary and in the public interest to make a\nmajor policy decision during a caretaker period\nfor the council.\n(2) The council may apply to the Minister for\napproval to make the major policy decision during\nthe caretaker period.\n(3) The Minister may give the approval if the\nMinister is satisfied that, because exceptional\ncircumstances exist, it is necessary and in the\npublic interest for the council to make the major\npolicy decision during the caretaker period.\n(4) The approval may be given on conditions with\nwhich the council must comply.\n(5) Despite section 92B, the council may make the\nmajor policy decision in accordance with the\napproval.\n92BB Approval to make major policy decisions\nrelated to disaster recovery funding\narrangements\n(1) This section applies if—\n(a) during a caretaker period for the council, the\nCity of Brisbane is eligible for assistance\nunder the disaster recovery funding\narrangements; and\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n\nPage 15\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 7]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of City of Brisbane Act 2010\n(b) the Minister considers it is necessary for the\ncouncil to make major policy decisions\nduring the caretaker period to achieve the\nobjectives of the disaster recovery funding\narrangements.\n(2) The Minister may give approval to the council to\nmake the major policy decisions.\n(3) The approval may state—\n(a) the types of major policy decisions that may\nbe made by the council; and\n(b) that the decisions may be made by the\ncouncil only in relation to a stated matter.\n(4) The approval may be given on conditions with\nwhich the council must comply.\n(5) Despite section 92B, the council may make major\npolicy decisions in accordance with the approval.\n(6) In this section—\ndisaster recovery funding arrangements means\nthe funding arrangements jointly administered by\nthe State and Commonwealth that are known as\nthe ‘Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements’.\n7 Amendment of s 104 (Approval of budget)\nSection 104(2)—\nomit.\n8 Amendment of s 155 (Disqualification because of other\nhigh office)\n(1) Section 155, heading, from ‘because’—\nomit, insert—\nof government members and electoral\ncandidates\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\nClause 22\n23\n24\nClause 25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n\nPage 16\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 9]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of City of Brisbane Act 2010\n(2) Section 155(1) and (3), after ‘member’—\ninsert—\nor electoral candidate\n(3) Section 155—\ninsert—\n(2A) A person is an electoral candidate if, under the\nElectoral Act, section 93(3), the person becomes\na candidate for an election of a member of the\nLegislative Assembly.\n(4) Section 155(2A) and (3)—\nrenumber as section 155(3) and (4).\n9 Amendment of ch 6, pt 2, div 2, hdg (Councillor’s term of\noffice)\nChapter 6, part 2, division 2, heading, after ‘office’—\ninsert—\nand entitlement to remuneration\n10 Replacement of s 160A (Compulsory leave without pay)\nSection 160A—\nomit, insert—\n160A Remuneration to be paid for term\nA councillor is entitled to remuneration for the\nperiod—\n(a) starting on the day the councillor’s term\nstarts under section 159; and\n(b) ending on the day the councillor’s term ends\nunder section 160.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\nClause 12\n13\n14\n15\n16\nClause 17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n\nPage 17\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 11]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of City of Brisbane Act 2010\n11 Amendment of s 162 (When a councillor’s office becomes\nvacant)\n(1) Section 162—\ninsert—\n(fa) is elected or appointed as mayor of the\ncouncil; or\n(2) Section 162(fa) to (h)—\nrenumber as section 162(g) to (i).\n12 Amendment of s 169A (Councillor training)\n(1) Section 169A(1)—\nomit, insert—\n(1) A councillor must complete each approved\ntraining course unless the councillor has, at any\ntime, previously completed the approved training\ncourse.\n(2) Section 169A(4), (5) and (6)(a), ‘councillor training’—\nomit, insert—\ntraining course\n(3) Section 169A(6)(b) and (c), ‘training’—\nomit, insert—\ncourse\n(4) Section 169A(7)(b), ‘requirements about’—\nomit.\n(5) Section 169A(8)—\nomit, insert—\n(8) In this section—\napproved training course means a course of\ntraining approved by the department’s chief\nexecutive that—\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\nClause 9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n\nPage 18\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 13]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of City of Brisbane Act 2010\n(a) is about a councillor’s responsibilities under\nsection 14; and\n(b) meets the requirements under subsection\n(7).\n13 Amendment of s 171 (Requests for assistance or\ninformation)\n(1) Section 171(4)—\ninsert—\n(ba) that comprises proceedings in the Assembly\nunder the Parliament of Queensland Act\n2001, section 9; or\n(2) Section 171(4)(ba) to (d)—\nrenumber as section 171(4)(c) to (e).\n14 Insertion of new ch 6, pt 2, div 6\nChapter 6, part 2—\ninsert—\nDivision 6 Responsibilities during\nleave of absence\n178 Responsibilities of councillors during leave of\nabsence\n(1) This section applies if the council grants a\ncouncillor a leave of absence for 1 or more\nordinary meetings of the council.\n(2) To remove any doubt, it is declared that the\ncouncillor may perform any responsibility under\nsection 14 during the councillor’s leave of\nabsence.\n1\n2\n3\n4\nClause 5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\nClause 14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n\nPage 19\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 15]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of City of Brisbane Act 2010\n15 Amendment of s 192 (Appointing senior executive\nemployees)\n(1) Section 192, heading, after ‘employees’—\ninsert—\nand senior contract employees\n(2) Section 192(1), after ‘employees’—\ninsert—\nand senior contract employees\n(3) Section 192(2), after ‘employee’—\ninsert—\nor senior contract employee\n16 Amendment of s 193 (Appointing other council\nemployees)\n(1) Section 193(2), after ‘employ’—\ninsert—\nother\n(2) Section 193(3), after ‘executive employees’—\ninsert—\nand senior contract employees\n(3) Section 193(4)—\nomit.\n17 Insertion of new s 193A\nAfter section 193—\ninsert—\n193A Conditions of appointment of council\nemployees\nA council employee is employed on—\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\nClause 12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\nClause 22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n\nPage 20\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 18]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of City of Brisbane Act 2010\n(a) the conditions contained in any relevant\nindustrial instrument; and\n(b) any other conditions that the council\ndecides.\n18 Amendment of s 194A (Appointment and functions of\ncouncillor advisors)\nSection 194A(2)(b), ‘194C(1)(a)’—\nomit, insert—\n194C(1)\n19 Amendment of s 194C (Regulation may prescribe\nparticular matters relating to councillor advisors)\n(1) Section 194C, heading, from ‘particular’—\nomit, insert—\nnumber of councillor advisors\n(2) Section 194C(1), from ‘may—’—\nomit, insert—\nmay prescribe the maximum number of councillor\nadvisors each councillor may appoint.\n(3) Section 194C(2) and (4), ‘(1)(a)’—\nomit, insert—\n(1)\n20 Insertion of new ch 8, pt 13\nChapter 8—\ninsert—\n1\n2\n3\n4\nClause 5\n6\n7\n8\n9\nClause 10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\nClause 22\n23\n24","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0003","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 3","content":"Page 21\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 20]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of City of Brisbane Act 2010\nPart 13 Transitional provisions\nfor Local Government\n(Empowering Councils)\nand Other Legislation\nAmendment Act 2025\nDivision 1 Preliminary\n300 Definitions for part\nIn this part—\namendment Act means the Local Government\n(Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation\nAmendment Act 2025.\nformer, in relation to a provision of this Act,\nmeans the provision as in force from time to time\nbefore the commencement of the transitional\nprovision in which the term is used.\nnew, in relation to a provision of this Act, means\nthe provision as in force from the commencement\nof the transitional provision in which the term is\nused.\ntransitional provision means a provision of this\npart.\nDivision 2 Provisions for\namendments commencing\non assent\n301 Budget for 2025–2026 financial year\n(1) This section applies in relation to the council’s\nbudget for the 2025–2026 financial year.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n\nPage 22\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 20]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of City of Brisbane Act 2010\n(2) Section 104 as in force immediately before the\ncommencement continues to apply in relation to\nthe budget despite the amendment of that section\nby the amendment Act.\n302 Councillors who were candidates immediately\nbefore commencement\n(1) This section applies if—\n(a) before the commencement, a councillor had\nbecome a candidate, under the Electoral\nAct, section 93(3), for an election of a\nmember of the Legislative Assembly; and\n(b) immediately before the commencement, the\nelection period for the election had not\nended under that Act.\n(2) Sections 155 and 160A as in force immediately\nbefore the commencement continue to apply to\nthe councillor, despite the enactment of the\namendment Act, until the election period ends.\n303 Councillor training\nTraining that was, immediately before the\ncommencement, approved councillor training for\na matter under section 169A as in force\nimmediately before the commencement is, from\nthe commencement, taken to be an approved\ntraining course for the same matter under new\nsection 169A.\n304 Existing senior contract employees\n(1) This section applies to a person if, immediately\nbefore the commencement, the person—\n(a) held an appointment under section 193 as in\nforce immediately before the\ncommencement; and\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n\nPage 23\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 21]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of City of Brisbane Act 2010\n(b) was employed on a contractual basis and\nclassified by the council as ‘senior executive\nservice’.\n(2) From the commencement—\n(a) the person’s contract and conditions of\nemployment continue; and\n(b) the person is taken to have been appointed\nby the council as a senior contract employee\nunder new section 192.\n21 Amendment of sch 2 (Dictionary)\n(1) Schedule 2—\ninsert—\nsenior contract employee means an employee of\nthe council who—\n(a) is employed on a contractual basis; and\n(b) is classified by the council as senior\nexecutive service.\n(2) Schedule 2, definition council employee—\ninsert—\n(ba) a senior contract employee;\n(3) Schedule 2, definition council employee, paragraphs (ba) and\n(c)—\nrenumber as paragraphs (c) and (d).\nDivision 3 Amendments commencing by\nproclamation\n22 Amendment of s 171 (Requests for assistance or\ninformation)\n(1) Section 171—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\nClause 10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\nClause 26\n27\n28\n\nPage 24\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 22]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of City of Brisbane Act 2010\ninsert—\n(4A) Also, subsections (2) and (3) apply to a councillor\nin relation to committee information—\n(a) only if the councillor is a member of the\nEstablishment and Coordination\nCommittee; or\n(b) if the councillor is not a member—only to\nthe extent the committee information relates\nto a matter that has been finally resolved by\nthe Establishment and Coordination\nCommittee.\n(2) Section 171(6), ‘Subsection (5)’—\nomit, insert—\nSubsection (6)\n(3) Section 171(9), ‘subsection (8)(b)’—\nomit, insert—\nsubsection (9)(b)\n(4) Section 171(10)—\ninsert—\ncommittee information means information in a\ndocument made about, by or for the purposes of\nthe Establishment and Coordination Committee,\nincluding the following documents—\n(a) committee submissions;\n(b) committee briefing notes;\n(c) committee agendas;\n(d) notes of discussions in committee meetings;\n(e) committee minutes;\n(f) committee decisions;\n(g) a draft of a document mentioned in any of\nparagraphs (a) to (f).\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n\nPage 25\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 23]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of City of Brisbane Act 2010\nfinally resolved, in relation to a matter, means—\n(a) the Establishment and Coordination\nCommittee has, by resolution, made a final\ndecision about the matter; or\n(b) the Establishment and Coordination\nCommittee has decided, or is taken to have\ndecided, the matter in a way prescribed by\nregulation.\n(5) Section 171(4A) to (10)—\nrenumber as section 171(5) to (11).\n23 Amendment of s 172 (Inspection of particular records by\ncouncillors)\n(1) Section 172—\ninsert—\n(3A) Also, subsection (1) applies in relation to a record\nof the Establishment and Coordination\nCommittee containing committee information\nwithin the meaning of section 171—\n(a) only if the councillor is a member of the\ncommittee; or\n(b) if the councillor is not a member—only to\nthe extent the record relates to a matter that\nhas been finally resolved by the committee.\n(2) Section 172(4)—\ninsert—\nfinally resolved, in relation to a matter, see\nsection 171(11).\n(3) Section 172(3A) and (4)—\nrenumber as section 172(4) and (5).\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\nClause 11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n\nPage 26\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 24]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of City of Brisbane Act 2010\n24 Replacement of ch 6, pt 2, div 5A (Councillors’ conflicts\nof interest)\nChapter 6, part 2, division 5A—\nomit, insert—\nDivision 5A Dealing with personal\ninterests of councillors\n177A Matters in relation to which division does not\napply\n(1) This division does not apply in relation to a\ncouncillor’s personal interest in a matter if the\nmatter—\n(a) is solely, or relates solely to, the making or\nlevying of rates and charges, or the fixing of\na cost-recovery fee, by the council; or\n(b) is solely, or relates solely to—\n(i) making a planning scheme that applies\nto the whole of Brisbane; or\n(ii) amending a planning scheme, if the\namendment applies to the whole of\nBrisbane; or\n(c) is solely, or relates solely to, the preparation,\nadoption or amendment of a budget for the\ncouncil; or\n(d) is solely, or relates solely to, preparing,\nadopting or amending a document\nprescribed by regulation that the council is\nrequired to prepare or adopt under a local\ngovernment related law; or\n(e) is solely, or relates solely to—\n(i) the making of a donation to a religious,\ncharitable or non-profit institution or\norganisation, unless a councillor, or an\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n\nPage 27\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 24]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of City of Brisbane Act 2010\nassociate or related party of a\ncouncillor, receives a benefit because\nof the donation that is more than\nmerely a benefit relating to reputation;\nor\n(ii) a councillor representing the council in\nan official capacity at an event held by\na government agency or an entity that\nis wholly owned by the council; or\n(f) is solely, or relates solely to,\nemployment-related or upgraded travel or\naccommodation undertaken or used by a\ncouncillor, or an associate or related party of\na councillor; or\n(g) is solely, or relates solely to—\n(i) the remuneration or reimbursement of\nexpenses of councillors or members of\na committee of the council; or\n(ii) the provision of superannuation\nentitlements or insurance for\ncouncillors; or\n(iii) a matter of interest to the councillor\nsolely as a candidate for election or\nappointment as mayor, deputy mayor,\ncouncillor or member of a committee\nof the council.\n(2) Also, this division does not apply in relation to a\ncouncillor’s interest in a matter if the interest of\nthe councillor, or an associate or related party of\nthe councillor, is no greater than the personal\ninterests in the matter of a significant proportion\nof persons in Brisbane.\n(3) In addition, this division does not apply in relation\nto a councillor’s interest in a matter relating to a\ncorporation or association that arises solely\nbecause of a nomination or appointment of the\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n34\n35\n36\n\nPage 28\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 24]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of City of Brisbane Act 2010\ncouncillor by the council to be a member of the\nboard of the corporation or association.\n(4) In this section—\nemployment-related or upgraded travel or\naccommodation, for a person, means—\n(a) travel or accommodation undertaken or used\nby the person that is paid for by the State or\na local government; or\n(b) if the person is a councillor—travel or\naccommodation paid for by LGAQ Ltd for\nthe purpose of the councillor attending a\nmeeting of the policy executive established\nunder the constitution of LGAQ Ltd; or\n(c) travel or accommodation that is—\n(i) undertaken or used by the person in the\ncourse of the person’s employment;\nand\n(ii) contributed to, whether financially or\nnon-financially, by the person’s\nemployer; or\n(d) if the person is a director of a\ncorporation—travel or accommodation that\nis—\n(i) undertaken or used by the person in the\ncourse of carrying out the person’s\nduties as director; and\n(ii) contributed to, whether financially or\nnon-financially, by the corporation; or\n(e) if the travel is airline travel undertaken by\nthe person—an upgrade to the travel given\nby the provider of the travel for no charge;\nor\nExample—\na free air travel upgrade to business class\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n34\n\nPage 29\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 24]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of City of Brisbane Act 2010\n(f) an upgrade to accommodation used by the\nperson that is given by the provider of the\naccommodation for no charge.\nExample—\na free accommodation upgrade to a larger room\ngovernment agency means—\n(a) the State, a government entity or another\nlocal government; or\n(b) another Australian government or an entity\nof another Australian government; or\n(c) a local government of another State.\n177B What is a material personal interest\n(1) A councillor has a material personal interest in a\nmatter if the councillor or an associate of the\ncouncillor stands to gain a benefit or suffer a loss,\neither directly or indirectly, depending on the\noutcome of the consideration of the matter at a\ncouncil meeting.\n(2) However, a councillor has a material personal\ninterest under subsection (1) in relation to an\nassociate only if the councillor knows, or ought\nreasonably to know, about the associate’s\ninvolvement in the matter.\n177C What is a conflict of interest\n(1) A conflict of interest is a conflict between a\ncouncillor’s personal interests, or the personal\ninterests of a related party of the councillor, and\nthe public interest that might lead to a decision\nthat is contrary to the public interest.\n(2) However, a councillor does not have a conflict of\ninterest in a matter if—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n\nPage 30\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 24]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of City of Brisbane Act 2010\n(a) the conflict of interest arises solely\nbecause—\n(i) the councillor undertakes an\nengagement in the capacity of\ncouncillor for a community group,\nsporting club or similar organisation,\nand is not appointed as an executive\nofficer of the organisation; or\n(ii) the councillor, or a related party of the\ncouncillor, is a member or patron of a\ncommunity group, sporting club or\nsimilar organisation, and is not\nappointed as an executive officer of the\norganisation; or\n(iii) the councillor, or a related party of the\ncouncillor, is a member of a political\nparty; or\n(iv) the councillor, or a related party of the\ncouncillor, has an interest in an\neducational facility or provider of a\nchild care service as a student or\nformer student, or a parent or\ngrandparent of a student, of the facility\nor service; or\n(b) the conflict of interest arises solely because\nof the religious beliefs of the councillor or a\nrelated party of the councillor; or\n(c) the conflict of interest arises solely because\nthe councillor, or a related party of the\ncouncillor, receives a gift, loan or sponsored\ntravel or accommodation benefit from an\nentity during a financial year, if the total\ngifts, loans and benefits given by the entity\nto the councillor or related party total less\nthan $500 in the financial year; or\n(d) the conflict of interest relates to the\nappointment, discipline, termination,\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n34\n35\n36\n37\n\nPage 31\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 24]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of City of Brisbane Act 2010\nremuneration or other employment\nconditions of a councillor advisor for the\ncouncillor, if the conflict of interest arises\nsolely because the councillor advisor is a\nrelated party, other than an associate, of the\ncouncillor; or\n(e) the conflict of interest arises solely\nbecause—\n(i) the councillor is, or has been, a\nmember of a group of candidates for an\nelection or a previous election with\nanother councillor; or\n(ii) the same political party endorsed the\ncandidature of the councillor and\nanother councillor for an election or a\nprevious election; or\n(iii) the councillor has been elected or\nappointed at the same time, or has held\noffice during the same period, as\nanother councillor.\n(3) Also, a councillor has a conflict of interest in a\nmatter in relation to a related party only if the\ncouncillor knows, or ought reasonably to know,\nabout the related party’s involvement in the\nmatter.\n(4) In this section—\npatron, of a community group, sporting club or\nsimilar organisation, means a person who, under a\nformal arrangement, provides public support to\nthe group, club or organisation as its ambassador\nor representative.\nsponsored travel or accommodation benefit,\nreceived by a person, means travel or\naccommodation undertaken or used by the person,\nother than employment-related or upgraded travel\nor accommodation under section 177A(4), if—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n34\n35\n36\n\nPage 32\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 24]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of City of Brisbane Act 2010\n(a) another entity contributes, whether\nfinancially or non-financially, to the cost of\nthe travel or accommodation; and\n(b) the other entity is not the person’s spouse,\nother family member or friend.\n177D Who is an associate of a councillor\nEach of the following persons is an associate of a\ncouncillor—\n(a) a spouse of the councillor;\n(b) a parent, child or sibling of the councillor;\n(c) a person in a partnership with the councillor;\n(d) an employer, other than a government entity,\nof the councillor;\n(e) an entity, other than a government entity, of\nwhich the councillor is an executive officer\nor board member;\n(f) an entity in which the councillor or a person\nmentioned in paragraphs (a) to (e) for the\ncouncillor has an interest, other than an\ninterest of less than 5% in an entity that is a\nlisted corporation under the Corporations\nAct, section 9;\n(g) another person prescribed by regulation.\n177E Who is a related party of a councillor\nA person is a related party of a councillor if the\nperson is any of the following—\n(a) an associate of the councillor, other than an\nentity mentioned in section 177D(f);\n(b) a spouse of the councillor’s parent, child or\nsibling;\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0004","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 4","content":"Page 33\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 24]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of City of Brisbane Act 2010\n(c) a grandparent, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece or\ngrandchild of the councillor or the\ncouncillor’s spouse;\n(d) a parent, child or sibling of the councillor’s\nspouse;\n(e) a spouse of a person mentioned in paragraph\n(c) or (d);\n(f) an entity in which the councillor, or a person\nmentioned in paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d) or\n(e), has an interest.\n177F Councillor’s material personal interest at a\nmeeting\n(1) This section applies if—\n(a) a matter is to be discussed at a council\nmeeting; and\n(b) a councillor has a material personal interest\nin the matter.\n(2) The councillor must—\n(a) inform the meeting of the councillor’s\nmaterial personal interest in the matter; and\n(b) leave the place where the meeting is being\nheld, including any area set aside for the\npublic, and stay away from the place while\nthe matter is discussed and voted on.\nNote—\nContravention of this subsection is misconduct under\nthe Local Government Act that could result in\ndisciplinary action being taken against a councillor. See\nthe Local Government Act, section 150L(1)(c)(iv).\n(3) The councillor must not contravene subsection\n(2), including by voting on the matter, with an\nintention to gain a benefit or avoid a loss for the\ncouncillor or someone else.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n\nPage 34\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 24]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of City of Brisbane Act 2010\nMaximum penalty—200 penalty units or 2 years\nimprisonment.\n(4) However, the councillor does not contravene\nsubsection (2) by taking part in the meeting, or\nbeing at the place where the meeting is being held,\nif—\n(a) the councillor is a person to whom approval\nis given under subsection (5); and\n(b) the councillor complies with all conditions\non which the approval is given.\n(5) The Minister may, by signed notice, approve the\ncouncillor taking part in the meeting, or being at\nthe place where the meeting is being held, if—\n(a) because of the number of councillors subject\nto the obligation under this section, the\nholding of the meeting would be obstructed\nif the approval were not given; or\n(b) it appears to the Minister to be in the\ninterests of Brisbane that the approval be\ngiven.\n(6) The Minister may give the approval subject to\nconditions stated in the notice.\n(7) The following information must be recorded in\nthe minutes of the meeting or, if minutes are not\nrequired for the meeting, in another way\nprescribed by regulation—\n(a) the name of the councillor who has the\nmaterial personal interest, or possible\nmaterial personal interest, in a matter;\n(b) the nature of the material personal interest,\nor possible material personal interest, as\ndescribed by the councillor;\n(c) whether the councillor took part in the\nmeeting, or was at the place during the\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n34\n\nPage 35\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 24]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of City of Brisbane Act 2010\nmeeting, under an approval under\nsubsection (5).\n177G Councillor’s conflict of interest at a meeting\n(1) This section applies if—\n(a) a matter is to be discussed at a council\nmeeting; and\n(b) a councillor at the meeting—\n(i) has a conflict of interest in the matter (a\nreal conflict); or\n(ii) could reasonably be taken to have a\nconflict of interest in the matter (a\nperceived conflict).\n(2) The councillor must deal with the real conflict or\nperceived conflict in a transparent and\naccountable way.\nNote—\nContravention of this section is misconduct under the\nLocal Government Act that could result in disciplinary\naction being taken against a councillor. See the Local\nGovernment Act, section 150L(1)(c)(iv).\n(3) Without limiting subsection (2), the councillor\nmust inform the meeting of—\n(a) the councillor’s personal interests in the\nmatter; and\n(b) if the councillor participates in the meeting\nin relation to the matter—how the councillor\nintends to deal with the real conflict or\nperceived conflict.\n(4) Subsection (5) applies if a quorum at the meeting\ncan not be formed because the councillor\nproposes to be excluded from the meeting to\ncomply with subsection (2).\n(5) The councillor does not contravene subsection (2)\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n\nPage 36\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 25]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of City of Brisbane Act 2010\nmerely by participating, including, for example,\nby voting, in the meeting in relation to the matter\nif—\n(a) the attendance of the councillor, together\nwith any other required number of\ncouncillors, forms a quorum for the\nmeeting; and\n(b) the councillor complies with subsection (3).\n(6) The following information must be recorded in\nthe minutes of the meeting or, if minutes are not\nrequired for the meeting, in another way\nprescribed by regulation—\n(a) the name of the councillor who has the real\nconflict or perceived conflict;\n(b) the nature of the personal interests, as\ndescribed by the councillor;\n(c) how the councillor dealt with the real\nconflict or perceived conflict;\n(d) if the councillor voted on the matter—how\nthe councillor voted on the matter;\n(e) how the majority of persons who were\nentitled to vote at the meeting voted on the\nmatter.\n(7) To remove any doubt, it is declared that\nnon-participation in the meeting is not the only\nway the councillor may appropriately deal with\nthe real conflict or perceived conflict in a\ntransparent and accountable way.\n25 Amendment of s 198D (Dishonest conduct of councillor\nor councillor advisor)\n(1) Section 198D(2), definition relevant integrity provision,\nparagraph (a)(i) to (v)—\nomit.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\nClause 29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n\nPage 37\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 26]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of City of Brisbane Act 2010\n(2) Section 198D(2), definition relevant integrity provision,\nparagraph (a)(vi) to (ix)—\nrenumber as paragraph (a)(i) to (iv).\n26 Amendment of s 238 (Delegation of council powers)\n(1) Section 238(2)—\nomit.\n(2) Section 238(3), ‘Also’—\nomit, insert—\nHowever\n(3) Section 238(3) and (4)—\nrenumber as section 238(2) and (3).\n27 Insertion of new ch 8, pt 13, div 3\nChapter 8, part 13, as inserted by this Act—\ninsert—\nDivision 3 Provisions for\namendments commencing\nby proclamation\n305 Proceedings for particular offences\n(1) This section applies in relation to an offence\nagainst any of the following provisions\ncommitted by a person before the\ncommencement—\n(a) former section 198D in relation to a\nprovision mentioned in former section\n198D(2), definition relevant integrity\nprovision, paragraph (a)(i) to (v);\n(b) former section 177J(2);\n1\n2\n3\nClause 4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\nClause 12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n\nPage 38\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 27]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of City of Brisbane Act 2010\n(c) former section 177P(5);\n(d) former section 177V.\n(2) Without limiting the Acts Interpretation Act 1954,\nsection 20, a proceeding for the offence may be\ncontinued or started, and the person may be\nconvicted of and punished for the offence, as if\nthe amendment Act, sections 24 and 25 had not\ncommenced.\n(3) Subsection (2) applies despite the Criminal Code,\nsection 11.\n306 Continued application of s 153 for former\nintegrity offences\n(1) This section applies if a person is convicted of an\noffence against former section 177J(2) or 177V\nbefore or after the commencement.\n(2) The conviction is taken to be a conviction of an\nintegrity offence for section 153(1)(d).\n307 Application of Local Government Act for\ncontravention of former COI provisions\n(1) This section applies if—\n(a) before the commencement, a person had\nmade a complaint to the assessor about the\nconduct of a councillor; and\n(b) the conduct related to a contravention of\nformer section 177H, 177I, 177MA, 177N,\n177T or 177W (the former COI provisions);\nand\n(c) immediately before the commencement, the\ncomplaint had not been resolved.\n(2) The Local Government Act, chapter 5A, as it\napplies under chapter 9, part 20, division 3,\nsubdivision 1 of that Act, applies in relation to the\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n\nPage 39\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 28]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of City of Brisbane Act 2010\ncouncillor’s conduct as if—\n(a) the former COI provisions had not been\nrepealed; and\n(b) contravention of a former COI provision\ncontinued to be misconduct within the\nmeaning of the Local Government Act,\nsection 150L.\n(3) In this section—\nresolved, in relation to a complaint about a\ncouncillor’s conduct, means all proceedings or\nactions that are required or permitted to be taken\nunder the Local Government Act, chapter 5A in\nrelation to the conduct are complete.\n28 Amendment of sch 1 (Serious integrity offences and\nintegrity offences)\n(1) Schedule 1, part 2, under heading ‘This Act’, entries for\nsections 177J(2) and 177V—\nomit.\n(2) Schedule 1, part 2, under heading ‘This Act’—\ninsert—\n29 Amendment of sch 2 (Dictionary)\n(1) Schedule 2, definitions close associate, declarable conflict of\ninterest, eligible councillor, employment-related or upgraded\ntravel or accommodation and prescribed conflict of interest—\nomit.\n(2) Schedule 2—\ninsert—\nassociate, of a councillor, see section 177D.\n177F(3) Councillor’s material personal interest at a meeting\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\nClause 14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\nClause 21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n\nPage 40\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 30]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of City of Brisbane Regulation 2012\nconflict of interest see section 177C.\nmaterial personal interest see section 177B.\n(3) Schedule 2, definition related party, ‘section 177M’—\nomit, insert—\nsection 177E\nPart 3 Amendment of City of Brisbane\nRegulation 2012\nDivision 1 Preliminary\n30 Regulation amended\nThis part amends the City of Brisbane Regulation 2012.\nNote—\nSee also the amendments in schedule 1, parts 1 and 2.\nDivision 2 Amendments commencing on\nassent\n31 Replacement of s 32 (Minimum requirements for\ncomplaint process)\nSection 32—\nomit, insert—\n32 Complaints management process\nThe complaints management process adopted by\nthe council under section 279 applies to a\ncompetitive neutrality complaint in relation to the\nbusiness entity.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\nClause 9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\nClause 15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n\nPage 41\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 32]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of City of Brisbane Regulation 2012\n32 Amendment of s 33 (Making a complaint)\n(1) Section 33(1), ‘or the competition authority’—\nomit.\n(2) Section 33(2)(b)(iii)—\nomit.\n(3) Section 33(3)—\nomit, insert—\n(3) Subsection (4) applies if—\n(a) the council makes a decision about the\ncomplaint; and\n(b) the complainant tells the council that the\ncomplainant is not satisfied with the\ndecision.\n(3A) The council must give the following to the\ncompetition authority as soon as practicable—\n(a) the complaint;\n(b) the council’s decision about the complaint\nand the reasons for the decision;\n(c) information obtained from any investigation\nof the complaint.\n(4) Section 33(3A) and (4)—\nrenumber as section 33(4) and (5).\n33 Amendment of s 36 (Competition authority refusing to\ninvestigate)\n(1) Section 36(1)(a)—\nomit.\n(2) Section 36(1)(b) to (d)—\nrenumber as section 36(1)(a) to (c).\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\nClause 23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n\nPage 42\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 34]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of City of Brisbane Regulation 2012\n34 Amendment of s 162 (Adoption and amendment of\nbudget)\n(1) Section 162, before subsection (1)—\ninsert—\n(1AA) The council must adopt its budget for a financial\nyear before—\n(a) 1 August in the financial year; or\n(b) a later day decided by the Minister.\n(2) Section 162(1AA) to (3)—\nrenumber as section 162(1) to (4).\n35 Amendment of s 178 (Councillors)\n(1) Section 178(1)(d), (e) and (f)(vii)—\nomit.\n(2) Section 178(1)(i)—\nomit.\n36 Amendment of s 179 (Administrative action complaints)\n(1) Section 179, heading, after ‘complaints’—\ninsert—\nand competitive neutrality complaints\n(2) Section 179(1)(a), after ‘complaints’—\ninsert—\nand competitive neutrality complaints\n(3) Section 179(2), after ‘must’—\ninsert—\n, for each type of complaint mentioned in\nsubsection (1),\n(4) Section 179(2)(a) and (b), ‘administrative action’—\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\nClause 11\n12\n13\n14\n15\nClause 16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n\nPage 43\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 37]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of City of Brisbane Regulation 2012\nomit.\n37 Amendment of s 242J (Closed meetings)\nSection 242J(3), after paragraph (a)—\ninsert—\n(aa) the appointment of a senior contract\nemployee;\n38 Insertion of new ch 10, pt 14\nChapter 10—\ninsert—\nPart 14 Transitional provisions\nfor Local Government\n(Empowering Councils)\nand Other Legislation\nAmendment Act 2025\n315 Budget for 2025–2026 financial year\nSection 162(1), as in force on the commencement,\ndoes not apply in relation to the budget for the\n2025–2026 financial year.\nDivision 3 Amendments commencing by\nproclamation\n39 Amendment of s 178 (Councillors)\n(1) Section 178(1)(f)(iv) to (vi)—\nomit.\n(2) Section 178(1)(g), (h), (j) and (k)—\n1\nClause 2\n3\n4\n5\n6\nClause 7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\nClause 21\n22\n23\n24\n\nPage 44\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 40]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of City of Brisbane Regulation 2012\nomit.\n(3) Section 178(1)(f)—\nrenumber as section 178(1)(d).\n40 Replacement of s 242AB (Ordinary business matters\nrelating to documents—Act, s 177C)\nSection 242AB—\nomit, insert—\n242AB Matters in relation to which the Act, ch 6, pt\n2, div 5A does not apply—Act, s 177A\nFor section 177A(1)(d) of the Act, the annual\noperational plan adopted by the council under\nsection 166 is prescribed.\n41 Amendment of s 242D (Public availability of agendas)\nSection 242D(6), definition related report, from\n‘meeting—’—\nomit, insert—\nmeeting, means a report or other document\nrelating to an item on the agenda for the meeting\nthat is made available to councillors or committee\nmembers for the purposes of the meeting.\n42 Amendment of s 242H (Recording of reasons for\nparticular decisions)\n(1) Section 242H(2)—\nomit.\n(2) Section 242H(3) and (4)—\nrenumber as section 242H(2) and (3).\n1\n2\n3\nClause 4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\nClause 13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\nClause 21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n\nPage 45\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 43]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of City of Brisbane Regulation 2012\n43 Amendment of s 242J (Closed meetings)\n(1) Section 242J(3)(j)—\nomit.\n(2) Section 242J(3)(aa) to (i)—\nrenumber as section 242J(3)(b) to (j).\n(3) Section 242J(4)—\nomit.\n(4) Section 242J(5) and (6)—\nrenumber as section 242J(4) and (5).\n44 Insertion of new s 316\nAfter section 315, as inserted by this Act—\ninsert—\n316 Investigation reports and council meetings\n(1) This section applies if, under the Local\nGovernment Act, section 366, an investigation\nreport about the conduct of a councillor is\nprepared and given to the council.\n(2) Former sections 242D, 242H and 242J continue to\napply in relation to the investigation report despite\nthe enactment of the Local Government\n(Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation\nAmendment Act 2025.\n(3) In this section—\nformer, in relation to a provision of this\nregulation, means the provision as in force\nimmediately before the commencement.\n45 Amendment of sch 3 (Financial and non-financial\nparticulars for registers of interests)\n(1) Schedule 3, section 1, definition conflict of interest—\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\nClause 10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\nClause 27\n28\n29\n\nPage 46\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 46]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of City of Brisbane Regulation 2012\nomit.\n(2) Schedule 3, section 1, definition reporting term, paragraph\n(a), from ‘relevant’—\nomit, insert—\ncouncillor’s term of office; or\n(3) Schedule 3, section 13(2)—\nomit.\n46 Replacement of sch 3A (Content of extracts of registers\nof interests of councillors)\nSchedule 3A—\nomit, insert—\nSchedule 3A Content of extracts of\nregisters of interests of\ncouncillors\nsection 273(3)\nColumn 1 Column 2\nInterest Period\na gift mentioned in schedule 3,\nsection 12(1)(a)\nthe financial year in which the gift is\nreceived\ngifts mentioned in schedule 3,\nsection 12(1)(b)\nthe financial year in which the gifts\nfirst total $500 or more\na sponsored travel or\naccommodation benefit mentioned\nin schedule 3, section 13\nthe financial year in which the\nsponsored travel or accommodation\nbenefit is received\na donation mentioned in schedule 3,\nsection 14B(1)(a)\nthe financial year in which the\ndonation is made\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\nClause 8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0005","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 5","content":"Page 47\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 47]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\n47 Amendment of sch 4 (Dictionary)\n(1) Schedule 4, definition conflict of interest—\nomit.\n(2) Schedule 4—\ninsert—\nsponsored travel or accommodation benefit has\nthe meaning given by section 177C(4) of the Act.\nPart 4 Amendment of Local\nGovernment Act 2009\nDivision 1 Preliminary\n48 Act amended\nThis part amends the Local Government Act 2009.\nNote—\nSee also the amendments in schedule 1, parts 1 and 2.\ndonations mentioned in schedule 3,\nsection 14B(1)(b)\nthe financial year in which the\ndonations made first total $500 or\nmore\nanother interest mentioned in\nschedule 3\nthe period for which the councillor\nholds the interest\nColumn 1 Column 2\nInterest Period\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\nClause 11\n12\n13\n14\n\nPage 48\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 49]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\nDivision 2 Amendments commencing on\nassent\n49 Amendment of s 12 (Responsibilities of councillors)\n(1) Section 12(4)(a), ‘at which the mayor is the chairperson,’—\nomit, insert—\nas chairperson, and any committee meetings for\nwhich the mayor is the chairperson,\n(2) Section 12(4)—\ninsert—\n(fa) being the official spokesperson of the local\ngovernment about local government\nmatters;\n(3) Section 12(4)(fa) and (g)—\nrenumber as section 12(4)(g) and (h).\n(4) Section 12—\ninsert—\n(5A) To remove any doubt, it is declared that\nsubsection (4)(g) does not prevent a councillor\nwho is not the mayor from communicating with\nthe community about local government matters\nother than as the official spokesperson of the local\ngovernment.\n(5) Section 12(5A) and (6)—\nrenumber as section 12(6) and (7).\n50 Amendment of s 16 (Review of divisions and councillors)\n(1) Section 16, from ‘A’ to ‘in the year’—\nomit, insert—\nFor each local government, the electoral\ncommission must, no later than 1 October in the\n1\n2\nClause 3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\nClause 25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n\nPage 49\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 51]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\nyear that is 2 years\n(2) Section 16(a), ‘its’—\nomit, insert—\nthe local government’s\n(3) Section 16(b), ‘electoral commissioner’—\nomit, insert—\nlocal government\n51 Amendment of s 46 (Assessing public benefit)\n(1) Section 46(8) and (10)—\nomit.\n(2) Section 46(9), from ‘the decision,’—\nomit, insert—\nthe decision—\n(a) conduct another public benefit assessment\nof the significant business activity; and\n(b) repeat the process relating to a report on the\npublic benefit assessment.\n(3) Section 46(9)—\nrenumber as section 46(8).\n52 Replacement of s 90B (Prohibition on major policy\ndecision in caretaker period)\nSection 90B—\nomit, insert—\n90B Prohibition on major policy decisions during\ncaretaker period\nA local government must not make a major policy\ndecision during a caretaker period for the local\ngovernment.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\nClause 8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\nClause 20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n\nPage 50\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 52]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\n90BA Approval to make major policy decisions in\nexceptional circumstances\n(1) This section applies if a local government\nconsiders that, because exceptional circumstances\nexist, it is necessary and in the public interest to\nmake a major policy decision during a caretaker\nperiod for the local government.\n(2) The local government may apply to the Minister\nfor approval to make the major policy decision\nduring the caretaker period.\n(3) The Minister may give the approval if the\nMinister is satisfied that, because exceptional\ncircumstances exist, it is necessary and in the\npublic interest for the local government to make\nthe major policy decision during the caretaker\nperiod.\n(4) The approval may be given on conditions with\nwhich the local government must comply.\n(5) Despite section 90B, the local government may\nmake the major policy decision in accordance\nwith the approval.\n90BB Approval to make major policy decisions\nrelated to disaster recovery funding\narrangements\n(1) This section applies if—\n(a) during a caretaker period for a local\ngovernment, the local government’s local\ngovernment area is eligible for assistance\nunder the disaster recovery funding\narrangements; and\n(b) the Minister considers it is necessary for the\nlocal government to make major policy\ndecisions during the caretaker period to\nachieve the objectives of the disaster\nrecovery funding arrangements.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n34\n35\n\nPage 51\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 53]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\n(2) The Minister may give approval to the local\ngovernment to make the major policy decisions.\n(3) The approval may state—\n(a) the types of major policy decisions that may\nbe made by the local government; and\n(b) that the decisions may be made by the local\ngovernment only in relation to a stated\nmatter.\n(4) The approval may be given on conditions with\nwhich the local government must comply.\n(5) Despite section 90B, the local government may\nmake major policy decisions in accordance with\nthe approval.\n(6) In this section—\ndisaster recovery funding arrangements means\nthe funding arrangements jointly administered by\nthe State and Commonwealth that are known as\nthe ‘Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements’.\n53 Amendment of s 94 (Power to levy rates and charges)\nSection 94(1), ‘Each’—\nomit, insert—\nSubject to section 94A, each\n54 Insertion of new s 94A\nAfter section 94—\ninsert—\n94A Limitation on power to levy rates for particular\nlocal governments\n(1) A regulation may prescribe any of the following\nlocal governments as a local government to which\nthis section applies—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\nClause 19\n20\n21\n22\nClause 23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n\nPage 52\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 55]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\n(a) Aurukun Shire Council;\n(b) Mornington Shire Council;\n(c) an indigenous local government.\n(2) A local government prescribed under subsection\n(1) must not levy general, special or separate\nrates.\n(3) The Minister may recommend to the Governor in\nCouncil the making of a regulation under\nsubsection (1) in relation to a local government\nonly if the Minister considers it would be\nimpracticable for the local government to levy\nrates on rateable land in the local government’s\narea.\n55 Amendment of s 138 (What this division is about)\nSection 138(3)(a), ‘employee’—\nomit, insert—\nagent\n56 Amendment of s 138AA (Notices for this division)\nSection 138AA(3)—\nomit, insert—\n(3) A reasonable entry notice is a notice about a\nproposed entry of a property that states—\n(a) who is to enter the property; and\n(b) the reason for entering the property; and\n(c) the days and times when the property is to\nbe entered.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\nClause 14\n15\n16\n17\nClause 18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n\nPage 53\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 57]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\n57 Amendment of s 140 (Entry by an owner, with reasonable\nentry notice, under a remedial notice)\n(1) Section 140(2), ‘After’—\nomit, insert—\nAt least 7 days after\n(2) Section 140(2)(a), from ‘at the times’—\nomit, insert—\n(other than a home on the property) on each day at\nthe times stated in the reasonable entry notice; and\n58 Amendment of s 142 (Entry by a local government\nworker, with reasonable entry notice, under a remedial\nnotice)\n(1) Section 142(1)(a), after ‘property’—\ninsert—\nwho is required to take the action stated in the\nremedial notice\n(2) Section 142(2), ‘After’—\nomit, insert—\nAt least 7 days after\n(3) Section 142(2)(a), after ‘occupier’—\ninsert—\non each day at the times stated in the reasonable\nentry notice\n59 Amendment of s 143 (Entry by a local government\nworker, with reasonable entry notice, to take materials)\n(1) Section 143(4), from ‘After’ to ‘may’—\nomit, insert—\nA local government worker may, after giving a\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\nClause 10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\nClause 24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n\nPage 54\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 60]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\nreasonable entry notice to the owner and the\noccupier of the relevant land within a reasonable\nperiod before the land is to be entered\n(2) Section 143(4)(a), after ‘of the land’—\ninsert—\non each day at the times stated in the reasonable\nentry notice\n(3) Section 143(4), example—\nomit.\n60 Amendment of s 150DD (Acting assessor)\n(1) Section 150DD(2)—\nomit.\n(2) Section 150DD(3)—\nrenumber as section 150DD(2).\n61 Amendment of s 150DY (Content of register—decisions)\nSection 150DY(3), before paragraph (a)—\ninsert—\n(aa) the decision relates to an order made against\nthe councillor for unsuitable meeting\nconduct; or\n62 Amendment of s 155 (Disqualification because of other\nhigh office)\n(1) Section 155, heading, from ‘because’—\nomit, insert—\nof government members and electoral\ncandidates\n(2) Section 155(1) and (3), after ‘member’—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\nClause 10\n11\n12\n13\n14\nClause 15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\nClause 21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n\nPage 55\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 63]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\ninsert—\nor electoral candidate\n(3) Section 155—\ninsert—\n(2A) A person is an electoral candidate if, under the\nElectoral Act, section 93(3), the person becomes\na candidate for an election of a member of the\nLegislative Assembly.\n(4) Section 155(2A) and (3)—\nrenumber as section 155(3) and (4).\n63 Amendment of ch 6, pt 2, div 2, hdg (Councillor’s term of\noffice)\nChapter 6, part 2, division 2, heading, after ‘office’—\ninsert—\nand entitlement to remuneration\n64 Replacement of s 160B (Compulsory leave without pay)\nSection 160B—\nomit, insert—\n160B Remuneration to be paid for term\nA councillor of a local government is entitled to\nremuneration for the period—\n(a) starting on the day the councillor’s term\nstarts under section 159; and\n(b) ending on the day the councillor’s term ends\nunder section 160.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\nClause 11\n12\n13\n14\n15\nClause 16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n\nPage 56\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 65]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\n65 Amendment of s 162 (When a councillor’s office becomes\nvacant)\n(1) Section 162(1)—\ninsert—\n(fa) is elected or appointed as mayor of the local\ngovernment; or\n(2) Section 162(1)(fa) to (h)—\nrenumber as section 162(1)(g) to (i).\n66 Amendment of s 169A (Councillor training)\n(1) Section 169A(1)—\nomit, insert—\n(1) A councillor must complete each approved\ntraining course unless the councillor has, at any\ntime, previously completed the approved training\ncourse.\n(2) Section 169A(4), (5) and (6)(a), ‘councillor training’—\nomit, insert—\ntraining course\n(3) Section 169A(6)(b) and (c), ‘training’—\nomit, insert—\ncourse\n(4) Section 169A(7)(b), ‘requirements about’—\nomit.\n(5) Section 169A(8)—\nomit, insert—\n(8) In this section—\napproved training course means a course of\ntraining approved by the department’s chief\nexecutive that—\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\nClause 9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n\nPage 57\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 67]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\n(a) is about a councillor’s responsibilities under\nsection 12; and\n(b) meets the requirements under subsection\n(7).\n67 Amendment of s 170A (Requests for assistance or\ninformation)\n(1) Section 170A(4)—\ninsert—\n(ba) that comprises proceedings in the Assembly\nunder the Parliament of Queensland Act\n2001, section 9; or\n(2) Section 170A(4)(ba) to (d)—\nrenumber as section 170A(4)(c) to (e).\n68 Insertion of new ch 6, pt 2, div 6\nChapter 6, part 2—\ninsert—\nDivision 6 Responsibilities during\nleave of absence\n175A Responsibilities of councillors during leave\nof absence\n(1) This section applies if a local government grants\na councillor a leave of absence for 1 or more\nordinary meetings of the local government.\n(2) To remove any doubt, it is declared that the\ncouncillor may perform any responsibility under\nsection 12 during the councillor’s leave of\nabsence.\n1\n2\n3\n4\nClause 5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\nClause 14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n\nPage 58\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 69]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\n69 Amendment of s 196 (Appointing other local government\nemployees)\n(1) Section 196(3), after ‘employees’—\ninsert—\n, other than senior executive employees\n(2) Section 196—\ninsert—\n(4) A panel constituted by the following persons\nappoints a senior executive employee—\n(a) the mayor;\n(b) the chief executive officer;\n(c) either—\n(i) if the senior executive employee is to\nreport to only 1 committee of the local\ngovernment—the chairperson of the\ncommittee; or\n(ii) otherwise—the deputy mayor.\n(5) Despite subsection (4)(c), if the deputy mayor or\nchairperson is unable to take part in the panel, the\nlocal government must appoint another councillor\nto replace the deputy mayor or chairperson in the\npanel.\nExample for subsection (5)—\nAnother councillor is appointed to replace the deputy\nmayor or chairperson of a committee in a panel because\nthe deputy mayor or chairperson is absent.\n70 Amendment of s 197D (Regulation may prescribe\nparticular matters relating to councillor advisors)\n(1) Section 197D(1)(c)—\nomit.\n(2) Section 197D(2), ‘(1)(a) or (b)’—\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\nClause 27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n\nPage 59\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 71]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\nomit, insert—\n(1)\n71 Insertion of new ch 9, pt 20\nChapter 9—\ninsert—\nPart 20 Transitional provisions\nfor Local Government\n(Empowering Councils)\nand Other Legislation\nAmendment Act 2025\nDivision 1 Preliminary\n360 Definitions for part\nIn this part—\namendment Act means the Local Government\n(Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation\nAmendment Act 2025.\nformer, in relation to a provision of this Act,\nmeans the provision as in force from time to time\nbefore the commencement of the transitional\nprovision in which the term is used.\nnew, in relation to a provision of this Act, means\nthe provision as in force from the commencement\nof the transitional provision in which the term is\nused.\ntransitional provision means a provision of this\npart.\n1\n2\nClause 3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n\nPage 60\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 71]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\nDivision 2 Provisions for\namendments commencing\non assent\n361 Councillors who were candidates immediately\nbefore commencement\n(1) This section applies if—\n(a) before the commencement, a councillor had\nbecome a candidate, under the Electoral\nAct, section 93(3), for an election of a\nmember of the Legislative Assembly; and\n(b) immediately before the commencement, the\nelection period for the election had not\nended under that Act.\n(2) Sections 155 and 160B as in force immediately\nbefore the commencement continue to apply to\nthe councillor, despite the enactment of the\namendment Act, until the election period ends.\n362 Application of s 150DD for existing acting\nassessor\n(1) This section applies in relation to a person who\nwas, immediately before the commencement,\nappointed as the acting assessor under section\n150DD.\n(2) New section 150DD applies in relation to any\nreappointment of the person.\n363 Councillor training\nTraining that was, immediately before the\ncommencement, approved councillor training for\na matter under section 169A as in force\nimmediately before the commencement is, from\nthe commencement, taken to be an approved\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n\nPage 61\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 72]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\ntraining course for the same matter under new\nsection 169A.\n364 Existing senior executive employees\n(1) This section applies to a person if, immediately\nbefore the commencement, the person—\n(a) held an appointment under section 196(3) as\nin force immediately before the\ncommencement; and\n(b) was classified as a senior executive\nemployee.\n(2) From the commencement—\n(a) the person’s contract and conditions of\nemployment continue; and\n(b) the person is taken to have been appointed\nas a senior executive employee under new\nsection 196(4).\nDivision 3 Amendments commencing by\nproclamation\n72 Amendment of s 150B (Overview of chapter)\n(1) Section 150B(1)(d), ‘a conduct breach or’—\nomit.\n(2) Section 150B(2)(d)—\nomit.\n(3) Section 150B(2)(e)(i), from ‘misconduct,’—\nomit, insert—\nmisconduct; and\n(4) Section 150B(2)(e)(ii), ‘or a conduct breach’—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\nClause 19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0006","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 6","content":"Page 62\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 73]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\nomit.\n(5) Section 150B(2)(e) and (f)—\nrenumber as section 150B(2)(d) and (e).\n73 Amendment of s 150C (Definitions for chapter)\nSection 150C, definitions conduct breach, investigation\npolicy, investigation report and referral notice—\nomit.\n74 Amendment of s 150F (Department’s chief executive to\nmake model procedures)\nSection 150F(2)(c)—\nomit.\n75 Amendment of s 150I (Chairperson may deal with\nunsuitable meeting conduct)\nSection 150I(2)(b)—\ninsert—\nNote—\nContravention of paragraph (b) is misconduct that could\nresult in disciplinary action being taken against a\ncouncillor. See sections 150L(1)(c)(v), 150AQ and\n150AR.\n76 Omission of s 150J (Unsuitable meeting conduct that\nbecomes a conduct breach)\nSection 150J—\nomit.\n1\n2\n3\nClause 4\n5\n6\n7\nClause 8\n9\n10\n11\nClause 12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\nClause 21\n22\n23\n24\n\nPage 63\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 77]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\n77 Amendment of ch 5A, pt 3, hdg (Dealing with conduct\nbreaches, misconduct and corrupt conduct)\nChapter 5A, part 3, heading, ‘conduct breaches,’—\nomit.\n78 Omission of s 150K (What is a conduct breach)\nSection 150K—\nomit.\n79 Amendment of s 150L (What is misconduct)\n(1) Section 150L(1)(b)—\ninsert—\n(iii) repeated unreasonable behaviour directed at\nanother person that causes a risk to the\nhealth or safety of the other person; or\n(iv) harassment of a sexual nature, including, for\nexample, unwelcome behaviour of a sexual\nnature and making a remark with a sexual\nconnotation; or\n(2) Section 150L(1)(c)(i), ‘the local government or’—\nomit.\n(3) Section 150L(1)(c)(iii), ‘150R(2), 150EK, 150EL, 150EPA,\n150EQ, 150EW, 150EZ’—\nomit, insert—\n150R(3), 150EI(2), 150EJ\n(4) Section 150L(1)(c)(iv), ‘177H, 177I, 177MA, 177N, 177T,\n177W’—\nomit, insert—\n177F(2), 177G\n(5) Section 150L(1)(c)—\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\nClause 5\n6\n7\nClause 8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n\nPage 64\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 80]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\ninsert—\n(v) an order of the chairperson of a local\ngovernment meeting for the councillor to\nleave and stay away from the place at which\nthe meeting is being held.\n(6) Section 150L(2) and (3)—\nomit.\n(7) Section 150L—\ninsert—\n(5) In this section—\nhealth, of a person, includes the person’s\nphysical, mental and psychological health.\n(8) Section 150L(4) and (5)—\nrenumber as section 150L(2) and (3).\n80 Amendment of s 150M (Dealing with particular conduct if\ncouncillor elected or appointed after vacating office)\n(1) Section 150M(1)(a)(ii), from ‘or a’—\nomit, insert—\n(the initial investigation) under division 4; or\n(2) Section 150M(1)(b)(ii), ‘or 5’—\nomit.\n(3) Section 150M(2)(b), from ‘or local’ to ‘or 5’—\nomit, insert—\nmust investigate the relevant conduct of the\ncouncillor under division 4\n(4) Section 150M(3), ‘or local government’—\nomit.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\nClause 15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n\nPage 65\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 81]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\n81 Amendment of s 150R (Local government official must\nnotify assessor about particular conduct)\n(1) Section 150R(1)—\nomit, insert—\n(1) This section applies if a local government official\nbecomes aware of information indicating a\ncouncillor may have engaged in conduct that\nwould be misconduct.\n(1A) However, this section does not apply if the local\ngovernment official is aware of the information\nbecause of a complaint to which section 150P\napplies.\n(2) Section 150R(2), note, ‘subsection (2)’—\nomit, insert—\nsubsection (3)\n(3) Section 150R(1A) to (3)—\nrenumber as section 150R(2) to (4).\n82 Omission s 150S (Local government must notify\nassessor about misconduct)\nSection 150S—\nomit.\n83 Amendment of s 150SA (Application of division)\nSection 150SA(c)—\nomit, insert—\n(c) the assessor decides under section 150SF to\nmake a preliminary assessment of\ninformation relating to the conduct of a\ncouncillor.\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\nClause 18\n19\n20\n21\nClause 22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n\nPage 66\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 84]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\n84 Amendment of s 150SC (Assessor may ask for\ninformation)\n(1) Section 150SC(2)(b), ‘the local government or’—\nomit.\n(2) Section 150SC(2)(c)—\nomit.\n85 Amendment of s 150SD (Preliminary assessment of\ncomplaints, notices or information)\n(1) Section 150SD(2)(c)(iii), ‘a conduct breach or’—\nomit.\n(2) Section 150SD(3)(d)—\nomit.\n(3) Section 150SD(3)(e)—\nrenumber as section 150SD(3)(d).\n(4) Section 150SD(4)(a)—\nomit.\n(5) Section 150SD(4)(b) and (c)—\nrenumber as section 150SD(4)(a) and (b).\n86 Amendment of s 150SE (Notice of preliminary\nassessment)\n(1) Section 150SE(1)(b), ‘section 150SD(4)(c)’—\nomit, insert—\nsection 150SD(4)(b)\n(2) Section 150SE(2)(b), ‘the local government or’—\nomit.\n(3) Section 150SE(2)(c)—\nomit.\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\nClause 7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\nClause 19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n\nPage 67\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 87]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\n(4) Section 150SE(2)(d), ‘section 150SD(4)(c)’—\nomit, insert—\nsection 150SD(4)(b)\n(5) Section 150SE(2)(d)—\nrenumber as section 150SE(2)(c).\n(6) Section 150SE(4)(d), ‘section 150SD(4)(c)’—\nomit, insert—\nsection 150SD(4)(b)\n87 Amendment of s 150SF (Assessor may make preliminary\nassessment on own initiative)\n(1) Section 150SF(1)(a), ‘a conduct breach or’—\nomit.\n(2) Section 150SF(1)(a), examples—\nomit, insert—\nExample—\nwhile investigating a councillor for alleged misconduct,\nthe assessor receives information that indicates another\ncouncillor has engaged in the same conduct\n88 Amendment of s 150T (Assessor must investigate\nconduct of councillor)\nSection 150T(1)(a), ‘section 150SD(4)(b)’—\nomit, insert—\nsection 150SD(4)(a)\n89 Amendment of s 150W (Decision about conduct)\n(1) Section 150W(b) and (d)—\nomit.\n(2) Section 150W(c) to (f)—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\nClause 9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\nClause 19\n20\n21\n22\n23\nClause 24\n25\n26\n27\n\nPage 68\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 90]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\nrenumber as section 150W(b) to (d).\n90 Amendment of s 150X (Decision to dismiss complaint)\nSection 150X(a)(ii), ‘a conduct breach or’—\nomit.\n91 Amendment of s 150Y (Decision to take no further action)\nSection 150Y(b)(i) and (ii), ‘a conduct breach or’—\nomit.\n92 Amendment of s 150AA (Notice and opportunity for\ncouncillor to respond)\nSection 150AA(2)(d), ‘a conduct breach or’—\nomit.\n93 Omission of ch 5A, pt 3, div 5 (Referral of conduct to local\ngovernment)\nChapter 5A, part 3, division 5—\nomit.\n94 Amendment of ch 5A, pt 3, div 6, hdg (Application to\nconduct tribunal about misconduct and connected\nconduct breach)\nChapter 5A, part 3, division 6, heading, from ‘and’—\nomit.\n95 Amendment of s 150AI (Application of division)\nSection 150AI, from ‘in—’—\nomit, insert—\nin misconduct.\n1\nClause 2\n3\n4\nClause 5\n6\n7\nClause 8\n9\n10\n11\nClause 12\n13\n14\n15\nClause 16\n17\n18\n19\n20\nClause 21\n22\n23\n24\n\nPage 69\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 96]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\n96 Amendment of s 150AJ (Application to conduct tribunal\nabout alleged misconduct)\n(1) Section 150AJ(1), from ‘in—’—\nomit, insert—\nin misconduct.\n(2) Section 150AJ(2)(b), ‘or conduct breach’—\nomit.\n(3) Section 150AJ(2)(c), from ‘in—’—\nomit, insert—\nin misconduct; and\n(4) Section 150AJ(3)—\nomit.\n97 Amendment of s 150AN (Role of the assessor)\nSection 150AN(2), from ‘in—’—\nomit, insert—\nin misconduct.\n98 Amendment of s 150AQ (Deciding about misconduct and\nconnected conduct breach)\n(1) Section 150AQ, heading, from ‘and’—\nomit.\n(2) Section 150AQ(1)(a), from ‘in—’—\nomit, insert—\nin misconduct; and\n(3) Section 150AQ(1)(b), ‘or a conduct breach’—\nomit.\n(4) Section 150AQ(2)(b)—\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\nClause 13\n14\n15\n16\nClause 17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n\nPage 70\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 99]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\nomit.\n(5) Section 150AQ(2)(c)—\nrenumber as section 150AQ(2)(b).\n99 Amendment of s 150AR (Disciplinary action against\ncouncillor)\n(1) Section 150AR(1)(b)(v), ‘or conduct breach (or both)’—\nomit.\n(2) Section 150AR(2) and (3)—\nomit.\n(3) Section 150AR(4)—\nrenumber as section 150AR(2).\n100 Amendment of s 150AS (Notices and publication of\ndecisions and orders)\n(1) Section 150AS(1)(a), ‘or a conduct breach (or both)’—\nomit.\n(2) Section 150AS(1)(b), ‘or conduct breach (or both)’—\nomit.\n(3) Section 150AS(6), from ‘in—’—\nomit, insert—\nin misconduct.\n101 Amendment of s 150AY (Functions of investigators)\n(1) Section 150AY(b), first dot point, ‘150R(3)’—\nomit, insert—\n150R(4)\n(2) Section 150AY(b), second dot point, ‘150EM(2), 150ES(5),\n150EY’—\n1\n2\n3\nClause 4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\nClause 12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\nClause 21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n\nPage 71\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 102]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\nomit, insert—\n150EI(3)\n(3) Section 150AY(b), fourth dot point, ‘177J(2), 177P(5),\n177V’—\nomit, insert—\n177F(3)\n102 Amendment of s 150CU (Functions)\n(1) Section 150CU(1)(a), ‘a conduct breach,’—\nomit.\n(2) Section 150CU(1)(b), ‘conduct breaches,’—\nomit.\n103 Amendment of s 150DU (Costs of conduct tribunal to be\nmet by local government)\nSection 150DU(1), ‘or conduct breach’—\nomit.\n104 Amendment of s 150DX (Local governments to keep and\npublish register)\n(1) Section 150DX(1)(b) and (c)—\nomit.\n(2) Section 150DX(1)(d), ‘or a conduct breach’—\nomit.\n(3) Section 150DX(1)(d)—\nrenumber as section 150DX(1)(b).\n105 Amendment of s 150DY (Content of register—decisions)\n(1) Section 150DY(1)(c) and (d)—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\nClause 7\n8\n9\n10\n11\nClause 12\n13\n14\n15\nClause 16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\nClause 24\n25\n\nPage 72\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 106]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\nomit.\n(2) Section 150DY(1)(e), ‘or conduct breach’—\nomit.\n(3) Section 150DY(1)(e)—\nrenumber as section 150DY(1)(c).\n(4) Section 150DY(3)(a), from ‘local’ to ‘breach or’—\nomit, insert—\nconduct tribunal decided the councillor engaged\nin\n(5) Section 150DY(3)(aa) to (b)—\nrenumber as section 150DY(3)(a) to (c).\n106 Amendment of s 150EB (Annual report)\n(1) Section 150EB(2)(a)(v) to (vii)—\nomit.\n(2) Section 150EB(2)(a)(ix), ‘or conduct breaches’—\nomit.\n(3) Section 150EB(2)(a)(viii) to (x)—\nrenumber as section 150EB(2)(a)(v) to (vii).\n107 Replacement of ch 5B (Councillors’ conflicts of interest)\nChapter 5B—\nomit, insert—\nChapter 5B Dealing with\npersonal interests of\ncouncillors\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\nClause 12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\nClause 19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n\nPage 73\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 107]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\n150ED Matters in relation to which chapter does\nnot apply\n(1) This chapter does not apply in relation to a\ncouncillor’s personal interest in a matter if the\nmatter—\n(a) is solely, or relates solely to, the making or\nlevying of rates and charges, or the fixing of\na cost-recovery fee, by the local\ngovernment; or\n(b) is solely, or relates solely to—\n(i) making a planning scheme that applies\nto the whole of the local government\narea; or\n(ii) amending a planning scheme, if the\namendment applies to the whole of the\nlocal government area; or\n(c) is solely, or relates solely to, the preparation,\nadoption or amendment of a budget for the\nlocal government; or\n(d) is solely, or relates solely to, preparing,\nadopting or amending a document\nprescribed by regulation that the local\ngovernment is required to prepare or adopt\nunder a Local Government Act; or\n(e) is solely, or relates solely to—\n(i) the making of a donation to a religious,\ncharitable or non-profit institution or\norganisation, unless a councillor, or an\nassociate or related party of a\ncouncillor, receives a benefit because\nof the donation that is more than\nmerely a benefit relating to reputation;\nor\n(ii) a councillor representing the local\ngovernment in an official capacity at an\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n34\n35\n\nPage 74\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 107]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\nevent held by a government agency or\nan entity that is wholly owned by the\nlocal government; or\n(f) is solely, or relates solely to,\nemployment-related or upgraded travel or\naccommodation undertaken or used by a\ncouncillor, or an associate or related party of\na councillor; or\n(g) is solely, or relates solely to—\n(i) the remuneration or reimbursement of\nexpenses of councillors or members of\na committee of the local government;\nor\n(ii) the provision of superannuation\nentitlements or insurance for\ncouncillors; or\n(iii) a matter of interest to the councillor\nsolely as a candidate for election or\nappointment as mayor, deputy mayor,\ncouncillor or member of a committee\nof the local government.\n(2) Also, this chapter does not apply in relation to a\ncouncillor’s interest in a matter if the interest of\nthe councillor, or an associate or related party of\nthe councillor, is no greater than the personal\ninterests in the matter of a significant proportion\nof persons in the local government area.\n(3) In addition, this chapter does not apply in relation\nto a councillor’s interest in a matter relating to a\ncorporation or association that arises solely\nbecause of a nomination or appointment of the\ncouncillor by the local government to be a\nmember of the board of the corporation or\nassociation.\n(4) In this section—\nemployment-related or upgraded travel or\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n34\n35\n36\n\nPage 75\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 107]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\naccommodation, for a person, means—\n(a) travel or accommodation undertaken or used\nby the person that is paid for by the State or\na local government; or\n(b) if the person is a councillor—travel or\naccommodation paid for by LGAQ Ltd for\nthe purpose of the councillor attending a\nmeeting of the policy executive established\nunder the constitution of LGAQ Ltd; or\n(c) travel or accommodation that is—\n(i) undertaken or used by the person in the\ncourse of the person’s employment;\nand\n(ii) contributed to, whether financially or\nnon-financially, by the person’s\nemployer; or\n(d) if the person is a director of a\ncorporation—travel or accommodation that\nis—\n(i) undertaken or used by the person in the\ncourse of carrying out the person’s\nduties as director; and\n(ii) contributed to, whether financially or\nnon-financially, by the corporation; or\n(e) if the travel is airline travel undertaken by\nthe person—an upgrade to the travel given\nby the provider of the travel for no charge;\nor\nExample—\na free air travel upgrade to business class\n(f) an upgrade to accommodation used by the\nperson that is given by the provider of the\naccommodation for no charge.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n\nPage 76\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 107]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\nExample—\na free accommodation upgrade to a larger room\ngovernment agency means—\n(a) the State, a government entity or another\nlocal government; or\n(b) another Australian government or an entity\nof another Australian government; or\n(c) a local government of another State.\n150EE What is a material personal interest\n(1) A councillor has a material personal interest in a\nmatter if the councillor or an associate of the\ncouncillor stands to gain a benefit or suffer a loss,\neither directly or indirectly, depending on the\noutcome of the consideration of the matter at a\nlocal government meeting.\n(2) However, a councillor has a material personal\ninterest under subsection (1) in relation to an\nassociate only if the councillor knows, or ought\nreasonably to know, about the associate’s\ninvolvement in the matter.\n150EF What is a conflict of interest\n(1) A conflict of interest is a conflict between a\ncouncillor’s personal interests, or the personal\ninterests of a related party of the councillor, and\nthe public interest that might lead to a decision\nthat is contrary to the public interest.\n(2) However, a councillor does not have a conflict of\ninterest in a matter if—\n(a) the conflict of interest arises solely\nbecause—\n(i) the councillor undertakes an\nengagement in the capacity of\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0007","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 7","content":"Page 77\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 107]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\ncouncillor for a community group,\nsporting club or similar organisation,\nand is not appointed as an executive\nofficer of the organisation; or\n(ii) the councillor, or a related party of the\ncouncillor, is a member or patron of a\ncommunity group, sporting club or\nsimilar organisation, and is not\nappointed as an executive officer of the\norganisation; or\n(iii) the councillor, or a related party of the\ncouncillor, is a member of a political\nparty; or\n(iv) the councillor, or a related party of the\ncouncillor, has an interest in an\neducational facility or provider of a\nchild care service as a student or\nformer student, or a parent or\ngrandparent of a student, of the facility\nor service; or\n(b) the conflict of interest arises solely because\nof the religious beliefs of the councillor or a\nrelated party of the councillor; or\n(c) the conflict of interest arises solely because\nthe councillor, or a related party of the\ncouncillor, receives a gift, loan or sponsored\ntravel or accommodation benefit from an\nentity during a financial year, if the total\ngifts, loans and benefits given by the entity\nto the councillor or related party total less\nthan $500 in the financial year; or\n(d) the conflict of interest relates to the\nappointment, discipline, termination,\nremuneration or other employment\nconditions of a councillor advisor for the\ncouncillor, if the conflict of interest arises\nsolely because the councillor advisor is a\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n34\n35\n36\n37\n\nPage 78\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 107]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\nrelated party, other than an associate, of the\ncouncillor; or\n(e) the conflict of interest arises solely\nbecause—\n(i) the councillor is, or has been, a\nmember of a group of candidates for an\nelection or a previous election with\nanother councillor; or\n(ii) the same political party endorsed the\ncandidature of the councillor and\nanother councillor for an election or a\nprevious election; or\n(iii) the councillor has been elected or\nappointed at the same time, or has held\noffice during the same period, as\nanother councillor.\n(3) Also, a councillor has a conflict of interest in a\nmatter in relation to a related party only if the\ncouncillor knows, or ought reasonably to know,\nabout the related party’s involvement in the\nmatter.\n(4) In this section—\npatron, of a community group, sporting club or\nsimilar organisation, means a person who, under a\nformal arrangement, provides public support to\nthe group, club or organisation as its ambassador\nor representative.\nsponsored travel or accommodation benefit,\nreceived by a person, means travel or\naccommodation undertaken or used by the person,\nother than employment-related or upgraded travel\nor accommodation under section 150ED(4), if—\n(a) another entity contributes, whether\nfinancially or non-financially, to the cost of\nthe travel or accommodation; and\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n34\n35\n\nPage 79\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 107]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\n(b) the other entity is not the person’s spouse,\nother family member or friend.\n150EG Who is an associate of a councillor\nEach of the following persons is an associate of a\ncouncillor—\n(a) a spouse of the councillor;\n(b) a parent, child or sibling of the councillor;\n(c) a person in a partnership with the councillor;\n(d) an employer, other than a government entity,\nof the councillor;\n(e) an entity, other than a government entity, of\nwhich the councillor is an executive officer\nor board member;\n(f) an entity in which the councillor or a person\nmentioned in paragraphs (a) to (e) for the\ncouncillor has an interest, other than an\ninterest of less than 5% in an entity that is a\nlisted corporation under the Corporations\nAct, section 9;\n(g) another person prescribed by regulation.\n150EH Who is a related party of a councillor\nA person is a related party of a councillor if the\nperson is any of the following—\n(a) an associate of the councillor, other than an\nentity mentioned in section 150EG(f);\n(b) a spouse of the councillor’s parent, child or\nsibling;\n(c) a grandparent, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece or\ngrandchild of the councillor or the\ncouncillor’s spouse;\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n\nPage 80\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 107]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\n(d) a parent, child or sibling of the councillor’s\nspouse;\n(e) a spouse of a person mentioned in paragraph\n(c) or (d);\n(f) an entity in which the councillor, or a person\nmentioned in paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d) or\n(e), has an interest.\n150EI Councillor’s material personal interest at a\nmeeting\n(1) This section applies if—\n(a) a matter is to be discussed at a local\ngovernment meeting; and\n(b) a councillor has a material personal interest\nin the matter.\n(2) The councillor must—\n(a) inform the meeting of the councillor’s\nmaterial personal interest in the matter; and\n(b) leave the place where the meeting is being\nheld, including any area set aside for the\npublic, and stay away from the place while\nthe matter is discussed and voted on.\nNote—\nContravention of this subsection is misconduct that\ncould result in disciplinary action being taken against a\ncouncillor. See section 150L(1)(c)(iii).\n(3) The councillor must not contravene subsection\n(2), including by voting on the matter, with an\nintention to gain a benefit or avoid a loss for the\ncouncillor or someone else.\nMaximum penalty—200 penalty units or 2 years\nimprisonment.\n(4) However, the councillor does not contravene\nsubsection (2) by taking part in the meeting, or\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n\nPage 81\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 107]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\nbeing at the place where the meeting is being held,\nif—\n(a) the councillor is a person to whom approval\nis given under subsection (5); and\n(b) the councillor complies with all conditions\non which the approval is given.\n(5) The Minister may, by signed notice, approve the\ncouncillor taking part in the meeting, or being at\nthe place where the meeting is being held, if—\n(a) because of the number of councillors subject\nto the obligation under this section, the\nholding of the meeting would be obstructed\nif the approval were not given; or\n(b) it appears to the Minister to be in the\ninterests of the local government area that\nthe approval be given.\n(6) The Minister may give the approval subject to\nconditions stated in the notice.\n(7) The following information must be recorded in\nthe minutes of the meeting or, if minutes are not\nrequired for the meeting, in another way\nprescribed by regulation—\n(a) the name of the councillor who has the\nmaterial personal interest, or possible\nmaterial personal interest, in a matter;\n(b) the nature of the material personal interest,\nor possible material personal interest, as\ndescribed by the councillor;\n(c) whether the councillor took part in the\nmeeting, or was at the place during the\nmeeting, under an approval under\nsubsection (5).\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n\nPage 82\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 107]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\n150EJ Councillor’s conflict of interest at a meeting\n(1) This section applies if—\n(a) a matter is to be discussed at a local\ngovernment meeting; and\n(b) a councillor at the meeting—\n(i) has a conflict of interest in the matter (a\nreal conflict); or\n(ii) could reasonably be taken to have a\nconflict of interest in the matter (a\nperceived conflict).\n(2) The councillor must deal with the real conflict or\nperceived conflict in a transparent and\naccountable way.\nNote—\nContravention of this section is misconduct that could\nresult in disciplinary action being taken against a\ncouncillor. See section 150L(1)(c)(iii).\n(3) Without limiting subsection (2), the councillor\nmust inform the meeting of—\n(a) the councillor’s personal interests in the\nmatter; and\n(b) if the councillor participates in the meeting\nin relation to the matter—how the councillor\nintends to deal with the real conflict or\nperceived conflict.\n(4) Subsection (5) applies if a quorum at the meeting\ncan not be formed because the councillor\nproposes to be excluded from the meeting to\ncomply with subsection (2).\n(5) The councillor does not contravene subsection (2)\nmerely by participating, including, for example,\nby voting, in the meeting in relation to the matter\nif—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n\nPage 83\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 108]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\n(a) the attendance of the councillor, together\nwith any other required number of\ncouncillors, forms a quorum for the\nmeeting; and\n(b) the councillor complies with subsection (3).\n(6) The following information must be recorded in\nthe minutes of the meeting or, if minutes are not\nrequired for the meeting, in another way\nprescribed by regulation—\n(a) the name of the councillor who has the real\nconflict or perceived conflict;\n(b) the nature of the personal interests, as\ndescribed by the councillor;\n(c) how the councillor dealt with the real\nconflict or perceived conflict;\n(d) if the councillor voted on the matter—how\nthe councillor voted on the matter;\n(e) how the majority of persons who were\nentitled to vote at the meeting voted on the\nmatter.\n(7) To remove any doubt, it is declared that\nnon-participation in the meeting is not the only\nway the councillor may appropriately deal with\nthe real conflict or perceived conflict in a\ntransparent and accountable way.\n108 Amendment of s 201D (Dishonest conduct of councillor\nor councillor advisor)\n(1) Section 201D(2), definition relevant integrity provision,\nparagraph (a)(i) to (v)—\nomit.\n(2) Section 201D(2), definition relevant integrity provision,\nparagraph (a)(vi) to (ix)—\nrenumber as paragraph (a)(i) to (iv).\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\nClause 26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n\nPage 84\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 109]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\n109 Amendment of s 257 (Delegation of local government\npowers)\n(1) Section 257(2)—\nomit.\n(2) Section 257(3) to (5)—\nrenumber as section 257(2) to (4).\n110 Insertion of new ch 9, pt 20, div 3\nChapter 9, part 20, as inserted by this Act—\ninsert—\nDivision 3 Provisions for\namendments commencing\nby proclamation\nSubdivision 1 Councillor conduct\n365 Existing matters about particular unsuitable\nmeeting conduct of councillor\n(1) This section applies if—\n(a) before the commencement, a local\ngovernment started to deal with unsuitable\nmeeting conduct of a councillor under\nformer sections 150J(b) and 150AG; and\n(b) immediately before the commencement, a\ndecision about the councillor’s conduct\nunder former section 150AG had not been\nmade.\n(2) From the commencement, the local government\nmust take no further action in relation to the\ncouncillor’s unsuitable meeting conduct.\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\nClause 7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n\nPage 85\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 110]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\n366 Preliminary assessment of conduct engaged\nin before commencement\n(1) This section applies if—\n(a) a councillor engaged in conduct before the\ncommencement; and\n(b) either—\n(i) a preliminary assessment of a\ncomplaint, notice or information about\nthe conduct was started but not finished\nbefore the commencement under\nformer chapter 5A, part 3, division 3A;\nor\n(ii) a preliminary assessment of a\ncomplaint, notice or information about\nthe conduct is started on or after the\ncommencement under new chapter 5A,\npart 3, division 3A.\n(2) New chapter 5A, part 3 applies in relation to the\ncouncillor’s conduct, including for the\ncompletion of the preliminary assessment.\n(3) For a preliminary assessment mentioned in\nsubsection (1)(b)(i), anything done under former\nchapter 5A, part 3, division 3A is taken to have\nbeen done under new chapter 5A, part 3, division\n3A.\n(4) Despite subsection (2), on the completion of the\npreliminary assessment, the assessor may dismiss\nthe complaint or decide to take no further action\nfor the notice or information if—\n(a) the assessor reasonably suspects the\ncouncillor has engaged in misconduct\nmentioned in new section 150L(1)(b)(iii) or\n(iv); and\n(b) the assessor is satisfied—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n34\n\nPage 86\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 110]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\n(i) at least 6 months have elapsed since the\ncouncillor’s conduct occurred; and\n(ii) it would not be in the public interest to\ntake further action under new chapter\n5A, part 3.\n(5) Also, after the completion of the preliminary\nassessment, subsection (6) applies if—\n(a) the assessor applies to the conduct tribunal\nunder new section 150AJ; and\n(b) the tribunal decides under new section\n150AQ that the councillor has engaged in\nmisconduct mentioned in new section\n150L(1)(b)(iii) or (iv).\n(6) Despite new section 150AR, the conduct tribunal\nmay make an order mentioned in section\n150AH(a) or (b) as in force immediately before\nthe commencement.\n(7) For subsection (6), section 150AH as in force\nimmediately before the commencement applies as\nif—\n(a) a reference in that section to the local\ngovernment were a reference to the conduct\ntribunal; and\n(b) a reference in that section to a conduct\nbreach were a reference to misconduct\nmentioned in new section 150L(1)(b)(iii) or\n(iv).\n(8) In addition, subsection (9) applies if, after\ncompleting the preliminary assessment, the\nassessor reasonably suspects the councillor’s\nconduct the subject of the complaint, notice or\ninformation is a combination of—\n(a) misconduct mentioned in new section 150L;\nand\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n34\n\nPage 87\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 110]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\n(b) other conduct that is a conduct breach\nwithin the meaning of former section 150K.\n(9) Despite new section 150SD, the assessor must\ndismiss the complaint, or decide to take no further\naction for the notice or information, to the extent\nit relates to the conduct mentioned in subsection\n(8)(b).\n367 Existing matters referred to local governments\n(1) This section applies if—\n(a) before the commencement, the assessor,\nunder former section 150SD(4)(a) or\n150W(b), referred a complaint, notice or\ninformation about the conduct of a\ncouncillor to a local government; and\n(b) immediately before the commencement, a\ndecision about the councillor’s conduct\nunder former section 150AG had not been\nmade by the local government.\n(2) Sections 150K, 150L and 150M and chapter 5A,\npart 3, division 5 as in force immediately before\nthe commencement continue to apply, despite the\nenactment of the amendment Act, in relation to\nthe conduct as if the conduct were a conduct\nbreach.\n368 Existing applications to conduct tribunal for\nparticular matters\n(1) This section applies if—\n(a) before the commencement, the assessor had\napplied to the conduct tribunal under former\nsection 150AJ(1)(b); and\n(b) immediately before the commencement, the\napplication had not been decided.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0008","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 8","content":"Page 88\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 110]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\n(2) The conduct tribunal may conduct, or continue to\nconduct, a hearing about the application under\nchapter 5A, part 3 as in force immediately before\nthe commencement despite the enactment of the\namendment Act.\n369 Existing reviews by QCAT of particular matters\n(1) This section applies in relation to a review started,\nbut not decided, under former section 150AT\nbefore the commencement that relates to an\napplication under former section 150AJ(1)(b).\n(2) QCAT may continue to hear and decide the\nreview under chapter 5A, part 3 as in force\nimmediately before the commencement despite\nthe enactment of the amendment Act.\n370 Existing review rights to QCAT for particular\nmatters\n(1) This section applies if, immediately before the\ncommencement—\n(a) a person could have but had not applied to\nQCAT for review of a decision under\nformer section 150AT for an application\nunder former section 150AJ(1)(b); and\n(b) the period within which the person could\napply for the review had not ended.\n(2) The person may apply for a review of the decision\nunder former section 150AT as if the amendment\nAct had not been enacted.\n(3) Also, QCAT may hear and decide the review\nunder chapter 5A, part 3 as in force immediately\nbefore the commencement as if the amendment\nAct had not been enacted.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n\nPage 89\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 110]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\nSubdivision 2 Dealing with personal\ninterests of councillors\n371 Proceedings for particular offences\n(1) This section applies in relation to an offence\nagainst any of the following provisions\ncommitted by a person before the\ncommencement—\n(a) former section 201D in relation to a\nprovision mentioned in former section\n201D(2), definition relevant integrity\nprovision, paragraph (a)(i) to (v);\n(b) former section 150EM(2);\n(c) former section 150ES(5);\n(d) former section 150EY.\n(2) Without limiting the Acts Interpretation Act 1954,\nsection 20, a proceeding for the offence may be\ncontinued or started, and the person may be\nconvicted of and punished for the offence, as if\nthe amendment Act, sections 107 and 108 had not\ncommenced.\n(3) Subsection (2) applies despite the Criminal Code,\nsection 11.\n372 Continued application of s 153 for former\nintegrity offences\n(1) This section applies if a person is convicted of an\noffence against former section 150EM(2) or\n150EY before or after the commencement.\n(2) The conviction is taken to be a conviction of an\nintegrity offence for section 153(1)(d).\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n\nPage 90\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 111]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Local Government Act 2009\n373 Application of this Act for contravention of\nformer COI provisions\n(1) This section applies if—\n(a) before the commencement, a person had\nmade a complaint to the assessor about the\nconduct of a councillor; and\n(b) the conduct related to a contravention of\nformer section 150EK, 150EL, 150EPA,\n150EQ, 150EW or 150EZ (the former COI\nprovisions); and\n(c) immediately before the commencement, the\ncomplaint had not been resolved.\n(2) Chapter 5A, as it applies under subdivision 1,\napplies in relation to the councillor’s conduct as\nif—\n(a) the former COI provisions had not been\nrepealed; and\n(b) contravention of a former COI provision\ncontinued to be misconduct within the\nmeaning of section 150L.\n(3) In this section—\nresolved, in relation to a complaint about a\ncouncillor’s conduct, means all proceedings or\nactions that are required or permitted to be taken\nunder chapter 5A in relation to the conduct are\ncomplete.\n111 Amendment of sch 1 (Serious integrity offences and\nintegrity offences)\n(1) Schedule 1, part 2, under heading ‘This Act’, entries for\nsections 150EM(2) and 150EY—\nomit.\n(2) Schedule 1, part 2, under heading ‘This Act’—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\nClause 27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n\nPage 91\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 112]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 5 Amendment of Local Government Regulation 2012\ninsert—\n112 Amendment of sch 4 (Dictionary)\n(1) Schedule 4, definitions close associate, declarable conflict of\ninterest, eligible councillor, employment-related or upgraded\ntravel or accommodation and prescribed conflict of interest—\nomit.\n(2) Schedule 4, definitions conduct breach, investigation policy,\ninvestigation report and referral notice—\nomit.\n(3) Schedule 4—\ninsert—\nassociate, of a councillor, see section 150EG.\nconflict of interest see section 150EF.\nmaterial personal interest see section 150EE.\n(4) Schedule 4, definition related party, ‘section 150EP’—\nomit, insert—\nsection 150EH\nPart 5 Amendment of Local\nGovernment Regulation 2012\nDivision 1 Preliminary\n113 Regulation amended\nThis part amends the Local Government Regulation 2012.\n150EI(3) Councillor’s material personal interest at a meeting\n1\nClause 2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\nClause 21\n22\n\nPage 92\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 114]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 5 Amendment of Local Government Regulation 2012\nNote—\nSee also the amendments in schedule 1, part 2.\nDivision 2 Amendments commencing on\nassent\n114 Replacement of s 44 (Minimum requirements for\ncomplaint process)\nSection 44—\nomit, insert—\n44 Complaints management process\nThe complaints management process adopted by\nthe relevant local government under section 306\napplies to a competitive neutrality complaint in\nrelation to the business entity.\n115 Amendment of s 45 (Making a complaint)\n(1) Section 45(1), ‘or the competition authority’—\nomit.\n(2) Section 45(2)(b)(iii)—\nomit.\n(3) Section 45(3)—\nomit, insert—\n(3) Subsection (4) applies if—\n(a) the relevant local government makes a\ndecision about the complaint; and\n(b) the complainant tells the local government\nthat the complainant is not satisfied with the\ndecision.\n(3A) The relevant local government must give the\nfollowing to the competition authority as soon as\n1\n2\n3\n4\nClause 5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\nClause 14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n\nPage 93\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 116]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 5 Amendment of Local Government Regulation 2012\npracticable—\n(a) the complaint;\n(b) the local government’s decision about the\ncomplaint and the reasons for the decision;\n(c) information obtained from any investigation\nof the complaint.\n(4) Section 45(3A) and (4)—\nrenumber as section 45(4) and (5).\n116 Amendment of s 48 (Competition authority refusing to\ninvestigate)\n(1) Section 48(1)(a)—\nomit.\n(2) Section 48(1)(b) to (d)—\nrenumber as section 48(1)(a) to (c).\n117 Amendment of s 71 (What ch 4 is about)\nSection 71(2)—\nomit.\n118 Amendment of ch 4, pt 2, hdg (Land exempt from rating)\nChapter 4, part 2, heading, after ‘rating’—\ninsert—\nand prescribed local governments\n119 Insertion of new s 73A\nAfter section 73—\ninsert—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\nClause 9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\nClause 15\n16\n17\nClause 18\n19\n20\n21\nClause 22\n23\n24\n\nPage 94\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 120]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 5 Amendment of Local Government Regulation 2012\n73A Local governments to which Act, s 94A applies\nFor section 94A(1) of the Act, the following local\ngovernments are prescribed—\n(a) Aurukun Shire Council;\n(b) Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council;\n(c) Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council;\n(d) Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council;\n(e) Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council;\n(f) Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council;\n(g) Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council;\n(h) Mornington Shire Council;\n(i) Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council;\n(j) Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council;\n(k) Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council;\n(l) Woorabinda Aboriginal Shire Council;\n(m) Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council;\n(n) Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council;\n(o) Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council;\n(p) Torres Strait Island Regional Council.\n120 Amendment of s 186 (Councillors)\n(1) Section 186(1)(d), (e) and (f)(vii)—\nomit.\n(2) Section 186(1)(i)—\nomit.\n121 Amendment of s 187 (Administrative action complaints)\n(1) Section 187, heading, after ‘complaints’—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\nClause 20\n21\n22\n23\n24\nClause 25\n26\n\nPage 95\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 122]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 5 Amendment of Local Government Regulation 2012\ninsert—\nand competitive neutrality complaints\n(2) Section 187(1)(a), after ‘complaints’—\ninsert—\nand competitive neutrality complaints\n(3) Section 187(2), after ‘must’—\ninsert—\n, for each type of complaint mentioned in\nsubsection (1),\n(4) Section 187(2)(a) and (b), ‘administrative action’—\nomit.\n122 Amendment of s 247 (Remuneration payable to\ncouncillors)\n(1) Section 247—\ninsert—\n(2A) However, a decision not to pay the maximum\namount of remuneration to a councillor must not\nbe made only because the councillor was absent,\nwith or without the local government’s leave, for\n1 or more ordinary meetings of the local\ngovernment.\n(2) Section 247(4), ‘subsection (3)’—\nomit, insert—\nsubsection (4)\n(3) Section 247(8), ‘Subsections (4), (5) and (6)’—\nomit, insert—\nSubsections (5), (6) and (7)\n(4) Section 247(2A) to (8)—\nrenumber as section 247(3) to (9).\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\nClause 12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n\nPage 96\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 123]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 5 Amendment of Local Government Regulation 2012\nDivision 3 Amendments commencing by\nproclamation\n123 Amendment of s 186 (Councillors)\n(1) Section 186(1)(f)(iii), ‘section 150R(2)’—\nomit, insert—\nsection 150R(3)\n(2) Section 186(1)(f)(iv) to (vi)—\nomit.\n(3) Section 186(1)(g), (h), (j) and (k)—\nomit.\n(4) Section 186(1)(f)—\nrenumber as section 186(1)(d).\n124 Omission of s 239C (When summary of investigation\nreport or investigation report must be made publicly\navailable)\nSection 239C—\nomit.\n125 Replacement of s 254AB (Ordinary business matters\nrelating to documents—Act, s 150EF)\nSection 254AB—\nomit, insert—\n254AB Matters in relation to which the Act, ch 5B\ndoes not apply—Act, s 150ED\nFor section 150ED(1)(d) of the Act, the annual\noperational plan adopted by a local government\nunder section 174 is prescribed.\n1\n2\nClause 3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\nClause 13\n14\n15\n16\n17\nClause 18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n\nPage 97\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 126]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 5 Amendment of Local Government Regulation 2012\n126 Amendment of s 254D (Public availability of agendas)\nSection 254D(5), definition related report, from\n‘meeting—’—\nomit, insert—\nmeeting, means a report or other document\nrelating to an item on the agenda for the meeting\nthat is made available to councillors or committee\nmembers for the purposes of the meeting.\n127 Amendment of s 254H (Recording of reasons for\nparticular decisions)\n(1) Section 254H(2)—\nomit.\n(2) Section 254H(3) and (4)—\nrenumber as section 254H(2) and (3).\n128 Amendment of s 254J (Closed meetings)\n(1) Section 254J(3)(j)—\nomit.\n(2) Section 254J(4)—\nomit.\n(3) Section 254J(5) and (6)—\nrenumber as section 254J(4) and (5).\n129 Insertion of new ch 27\nAfter chapter 26—\ninsert—\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\nClause 9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\nClause 15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\nClause 22\n23\n24\n\nPage 98\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 130]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 5 Amendment of Local Government Regulation 2012\nChapter 27 Transitional\nprovision for Local\nGovernment\n(Empowering\nCouncils) and Other\nLegislation\nAmendment Act\n2025\n382 Investigation reports and local government\nmeetings\n(1) This section applies if, under section 366 of the\nAct, an investigation report about the conduct of a\ncouncillor is prepared and given to a local\ngovernment.\n(2) Former sections 239C, 254D, 254H and 254J\ncontinue to apply in relation to the investigation\nreport despite the enactment of the Local\nGovernment (Empowering Councils) and Other\nLegislation Amendment Act 2025.\n(3) In this section—\nformer, in relation to a provision of this\nregulation, means the provision as in force\nimmediately before the commencement.\n130 Amendment of sch 5 (Financial and non-financial\nparticulars for registers of interests)\n(1) Schedule 5, section 1, definition conflict of interest—\nomit.\n(2) Schedule 5, section 1, definition reporting term, paragraph\n(a), from ‘relevant’—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\nClause 24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n\nPage 99\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 131]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 5 Amendment of Local Government Regulation 2012\nomit, insert—\ncouncillor’s term of office; or\n(3) Schedule 5, section 13(2)—\nomit.\n131 Replacement of sch 5A (Content of extracts of registers\nof interests of councillors)\nSchedule 5A—\nomit, insert—\nSchedule 5A Content of extracts of\nregisters of interests of\ncouncillors\nsection 295(3)\nColumn 1 Column 2\nInterest Period\na gift mentioned in schedule 5,\nsection 12(1)(a)\nthe financial year in which the gift is\nreceived\ngifts mentioned in schedule 5,\nsection 12(1)(b)\nthe financial year in which the gifts\nfirst total $500 or more\na sponsored travel or\naccommodation benefit mentioned\nin schedule 5, section 13\nthe financial year in which the\nsponsored travel or accommodation\nbenefit is received\na donation mentioned in schedule 5,\nsection 14B(1)(a)\nthe financial year in which the\ndonation is made\ndonations mentioned in schedule 5,\nsection 14B(1)(b)\nthe financial year in which the\ndonations made first total $500 or\nmore\n1\n2\n3\n4\nClause 5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n\nPage 100\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 132]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 6 Amendment of Local Government Electoral Act 2011\n132 Amendment of sch 8 (Dictionary)\n(1) Schedule 8, definition conflict of interest—\nomit.\n(2) Schedule 8—\ninsert—\nsponsored travel or accommodation benefit has\nthe meaning given by section 150EF(4) of the\nAct.\nPart 6 Amendment of Local\nGovernment Electoral Act 2011\n133 Act amended\nThis part amends the Local Government Electoral Act 2011.\n134 Amendment of s 26 (Who may be nominated)\nSection 26(2)—\nomit, insert—\n(2) Also, a person may be nominated as a candidate\nfor an election only if—\n(a) the person has, within 6 months before the\nnomination day for the election,\nsuccessfully completed a training course\napproved by the department’s chief\nexecutive about—\nanother interest mentioned in\nschedule 5\nthe period for which the councillor\nholds the interest\nColumn 1 Column 2\nInterest Period\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\nClause 11\n12\nClause 13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n\nPage 101\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 135]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 6 Amendment of Local Government Electoral Act 2011\n(i) the person’s obligations as a candidate,\nincluding the person’s obligations\nunder part 6; and\n(ii) the person’s obligations as a councillor,\nif the person is elected or appointed,\nincluding obligations under a Local\nGovernment Act within the meaning of\nthe Local Government Act 2009; or\n(b) the person is a councillor—\n(i) who has, at any time, successfully\ncompleted a training course mentioned\nin paragraph (a); and\n(ii) whose office has not, before the\nnomination day for the election,\nbecome vacant under the City of\nBrisbane Act 2010, section 162 or the\nLocal Government Act 2009, section\n162.\n135 Amendment of s 45AA (Application for direction that poll\nbe conducted by postal ballot)\n(1) Section 45AA, heading, ‘direction’—\nomit, insert—\nrecommendation\n(2) Section 45AA(1), ‘Minister for a poll to’—\nomit, insert—\nelectoral commissioner to make a written\nrecommendation to the Minister that a poll\n(3) Section 45AA(2)(a), ‘Minister’—\nomit, insert—\nelectoral commissioner\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\nClause 19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n\nPage 102\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 136]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 6 Amendment of Local Government Electoral Act 2011\n136 Amendment of s 45AB (Referral of application to\nelectoral commissioner for recommendation)\n(1) Section 45AB, heading—\nomit, insert—\n45AB Deciding application for recommendation\n(2) Section 45AB(1)—\nomit.\n(3) Section 45AB(2), ‘The’—\nomit, insert—\nFor an application by a local government under\nsection 45AA, the\n(4) Section 45AB(2), before paragraph (a)—\ninsert—\n(aa) as soon as practicable after the application is\nmade, give the Minister notice of the\napplication; and\n(5) Section 45AB(2)(b), from ‘give’ to ‘approved’—\nomit, insert—\nmake a written recommendation about whether\nthe poll should be conducted by postal ballot\n(6) Section 45AB(2)—\ninsert—\n(c) give the recommendation and reasons to the\nMinister.\n(7) Section 45AB(2)(aa) to (c)—\nrenumber as section 45AB(2)(a) to (d).\n(8) Section 45AB(2) to (4)—\nrenumber as section 45AB(1) to (3).\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0009","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 9","content":"Page 103\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 137]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 6 Amendment of Local Government Electoral Act 2011\n137 Amendment of s 45 (Direction that poll be conducted by\npostal ballot)\n(1) Section 45(1), from ‘about an application’—\nomit, insert—\nunder section 45AB, the Minister must consider\nthe recommendation and decide whether to give a\ndirection that the poll the subject of the\nrecommendation be conducted by postal ballot.\n(2) Section 45(2), ‘approve the application’—\nomit, insert—\ngive the direction\n(3) Section 45(2)(b), ‘section 45AB(4)’—\nomit, insert—\nsection 45AB(3)\n(4) Section 45(3) and (4), ‘approval’—\nomit, insert—\ndirection\n138 Amendment of s 177 (Author of election material must be\nnamed)\n(1) Section 177, heading ‘Author of’—\nomit, insert—\nPerson who authorised advertisement etc.\ncontaining\n(2) Section 177(2)—\nomit, insert—\n(2) The particulars are—\n(a) the name of the person who authorised the\nadvertisement, handbill, pamphlet or notice;\nand\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\nClause 18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n\nPage 104\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 139]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 6 Amendment of Local Government Electoral Act 2011\n(b) the person’s address, post office box or\nother address prescribed by regulation.\n139 Amendment of s 178 (Distribution of how-to-vote cards)\n(1) Section 178(2)—\nomit, insert—\n(2) A how-to-vote card must state—\n(a) the name of the person who authorised the\ncard; and\n(b) the person’s address, post office box or\nother address prescribed by regulation.\n(2) Section 178(4)—\nomit, insert—\n(4) For subsection (2), if the card is authorised for a\ngroup of candidates or for a candidate who is a\nmember of a group of candidates, the authorising\nperson must be a member of the group.\n140 Amendment of sch 1 (Other matters nomination must\ncontain)\nSchedule 1, section 7, from ‘that’—\nomit, insert—\nthat—\n(a) the candidate has, within 6 months before\nthe nomination day for the election,\nsuccessfully completed a training course\napproved under section 26(2) of the Act; or\n(b) the candidate is a councillor—\n(i) who has, at any time, successfully\ncompleted a training course approved\nunder section 26(2) of the Act; and\n1\n2\nClause 3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\nClause 17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n\nPage 105\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 141]\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 7 Minor and consequential amendments\n(ii) whose office has not, before the\nnomination day for the election,\nbecome vacant under the City of\nBrisbane Act 2010, section 162 or the\nLocal Government Act 2009, section\n162.\nPart 7 Minor and consequential\namendments\n141 Legislation amended\nSchedule 1 amends the legislation it mentions.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\nClause 9\n10\n\nSchedule 1\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 106\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nSchedule 1 Other amendments\nsection 141\nPart 1 Amendments commencing on\nassent\nCity of Brisbane Act 2010\n1 Section 92C(1)(a), ‘section 92B’—\nomit, insert—\nsection 92BA or 92BB\n2 Section 92C(1)(b), from ‘Minister’s’—\nomit, insert—\napproval under section 92BA(4) or 92BB(4).\n3 Section 252(2)(j), ‘sustainability’—\nomit, insert—\nplanning\n4 Schedule 1, parts 1 and 2, ‘Local Government Electoral\nAct’—\nomit, insert—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n\nSchedule 1\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 107\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nLocal Government Electoral Act 2011\nCity of Brisbane Regulation 2012\n1 Section 255H, ‘section 194C(1)(a)’—\nomit, insert—\nsection 194C(1)\nLocal Government Act 2009\n1 Section 83(3)(b), ‘indigenous regional council’—\nomit, insert—\nlocal government\n2 Section 90C(1)(a), ‘section 90B’—\nomit, insert—\nsection 90BA or 90BB\n3 Section 90C(1)(b), from ‘Minister’s’—\nomit, insert—\napproval under section 90BA(4) or 90BB(4).\n4 Section 90D(3), ‘Local Government Electoral Act 2011’—\nomit, insert—\nLocal Government Electoral Act\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n\nSchedule 1\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 108\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n5 Section 150AU(1), after ‘under section’—\ninsert—\n150SE or\n6 Section 152, ‘Local Government Electoral Act 2011’—\nomit, insert—\nLocal Government Electoral Act\n7 Section 170(2)(b), after ‘section 196(3)’—\ninsert—\nor (4)\nPart 2 Amendments commencing by\nproclamation\nCity of Brisbane Act 2010\n1 Section 194A(2)(a), ‘a close’—\nomit, insert—\nan\nCity of Brisbane Regulation 2012\n1 Section 242F(5)(b), ‘prescribed conflict of interest or\ndeclarable conflict of interest’—\nomit, insert—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n\nSchedule 1\nLocal Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 109\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nmaterial personal interest or conflict of interest\n2 Section 242G(2)(c), ‘section 177X(2) or (4)’—\nomit, insert—\nsection 177F(7) or 177G(6)\nLocal Government Act 2009\n1 Section 197A(2), ‘a close’—\nomit, insert—\nan\nLocal Government Regulation 2012\n1 Section 254F(5)(b), ‘prescribed conflict of interest or\ndeclarable conflict of interest’—\nomit, insert—\nmaterial personal interest or conflict of interest\n2 Section 254G(2)(c), ‘section 150FA(2) or (4)’—\nomit, insert—\nsection 150EI(7) or 150EJ(6)\n© State of Queensland 2025\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16","sortOrder":8}],"analysis":{"summary":{"status_summary":"The Local Government (Empowering Councils) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 has passed the Queensland Legislative Assembly and received royal assent, with some provisions commencing on assent and others to commence on a day to be fixed by proclamation.","complexity_score":8,"likely_questions":["When exactly will the proclamation commence the provisions that are not yet in effect?","How will the new conflict-of-interest rules affect councillors who are also business owners or property developers?","Which 16 councils are banned from levying rates under section 94A, and how will their services be funded instead?","What constitutes a 'major policy decision' during a caretaker period, and is there any guidance on what counts as 'exceptional circumstances'?","What does the mandatory candidate training course cover, and who approves it?","What happens if a councillor fails to complete an approved training course - is there a penalty or disqualification?","How does the removal of the 'conduct breach' process change how a resident can complain about a councillor's minor misbehaviour?","Can a councillor still be paid if they take leave of absence for several meetings under the new remuneration provisions?"],"complexity_factors":["Spans five separate pieces of legislation with numerous amendments","Two different commencement dates (on assent vs by proclamation) for different provisions","Overhauls the entire conflict-of-interest framework with new definitions and duties","Introduces a new criminal offence with imprisonment for material personal interest violations","Adds a new power for the state to prohibit certain councils from levying rates, with 16 prescribed councils","Changes the conduct regime by eliminating the intermediate 'conduct breach' category","Requires mandatory candidate training and modifies candidate nomination procedures","Includes extensive transitional provisions for existing matters under old rules"],"plain_english_summary":"This Act amends Queensland local government law to centralise state control and tighten integrity, staffing and election rules. It overhauls councillor conflict-of-interest rules (including new criminal penalties), removes local “conduct breach” handling in favour of state tribunals, creates mandatory candidate and councillor training, centralises senior appointments, and gives the state power to stop certain Aboriginal and island councils from levying rates. The changes shift funding and decision‑making toward the state, reduce local autonomy, and may increase compliance and dispute costs for councils and candidates."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":9,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Yes. The Bill goes beyond a narrow technical \"empowering councils\" package and substantially rewrites multiple substantive regimes: it replaces the conflicts-of-interest framework, reworks councillor conduct investigatory pathways, creates a new criminal offence exposure for interest non‑compliance, restricts rating powers for a set of Indigenous/remote councils, transfers some complaint-handling responsibilities away from external bodies, and imposes candidate training prerequisites. Those measures are not purely administrative refinements — they alter where decision‑making, enforcement and funding responsibilities sit and introduce new behavioural and fiscal effects for councils, candidates and the State."},"complexity_factors":["Amendments across multiple principal Acts and associated regulations (City of Brisbane Act 2010; Local Government Act 2009; Local Government Electoral Act 2011; City of Brisbane Regulation 2012; Local Government Regulation 2012) and related schedules","Large number of new defined terms and replacement of existing definitions (e.g. 'material personal interest', 'conflict of interest', 'associate', 'related party') introduced in multiple instruments","Replacement of whole chapters/divisions (e.g. conflicts-of-interest chapters and conduct framework) rather than incremental edits","Multiple conditional rules and approvals (Ministerial approvals for caretaker exceptions; approvals for councillors to participate despite interests) introducing discretionary branches","New criminal penalty (200 penalty units or 2 years imprisonment) tied to disclosure and participation rules, cross-referenced across Acts","Creation of new employment class ('senior contract employee') and parallel transitional staffing regimes across two Acts and regulations","Shifts of functions between bodies (competition authority ↔ councils; assessor/tribunal role changes), creating procedural re-mapping and multiple cross-references","Different commencement timetables (some provisions on assent, others by proclamation) and extensive transitional provisions to preserve prior processes — increasing implementation sequencing complexity","Amendments to electoral nomination eligibility and campaign-material rules that interact with local government candidate administration","Many renumberings, removals and reinsertions of sections (high internal cross-referencing burden) and replacement of schedules for registers/extracts"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this Bill does (mechanically)\n\n- Amends multiple local government laws and related regulations affecting Brisbane and all Queensland local governments, and changes parts of the local government electoral law. Key instruments amended are the City of Brisbane Act 2010, the Local Government Act 2009, the City of Brisbane and Local Government regulations, and the Local Government Electoral Act 2011 (see Parts 2–6).\n\n- Changes caretaker-period rules so councils normally cannot make \"major policy decisions\" during a caretaker period, but the Minister may approve such decisions in exceptional circumstances or where disaster-recovery funding objectives require it (City of Brisbane Act s 92B/92BA/92BB; Local Government Act s 90B/90BA/90BB).\n\n- Recasts councillors’ conflicts-of-interest rules across the City of Brisbane Act and the Local Government Act. The Bill replaces the old regime with a new, structured set of definitions and obligations: \"material personal interest\", \"conflict of interest\", definitions of \"associate\" and \"related party\", duties to disclose and, in some cases, to leave the meeting, and mandatory minute-recording requirements. It also creates an express criminal penalty where a councillor votes or participates after failing to comply with the material-personal-interest rules (see City of Brisbane Act ch 6 pt 2 div 5A, sections 177A–177G; Local Government Act ch 5B, sections 150ED–150EJ).\n\n- Reworks the councillor conduct framework by removing or consolidating the existing \"conduct breach\" processes and folding misconduct into a simpler investigative/tribunal pathway. The Bill removes several intermediate referral and review steps and adjusts the role of the assessor and the conduct tribunal (Local Government Act ch 5A amendments, multiple sections listed).\n\n- Changes administration and staffing arrangements: introduces the category \"senior contract employee\" for councils (City of Brisbane Act s 192 and related regs), confirms that council employees may be employed under relevant industrial instruments plus any other council-decided conditions (new s 193A), and prescribes appointment panels for senior executive employees in local governments (Local Government Act s 196(4)). It also inserts transitional protections for existing employees.\n\n- Moves some competitive-neutrality complaint handling from the State competition authority to the council (City of Brisbane Regulation s 32; Local Government Regulation s 44) and requires the council/local government to give the competition authority materials if the complainant is dissatisfied (regs s 33/45).\n\n- Prescribes a limit on the power to levy rates for a list of small/remote and many Indigenous local governments (new Local Government Act s 94A, and a regulation schedule prescribing councils) — those local governments must not levy general, special or separate rates.\n\n- Makes training mandatory for candidates: a person may only be nominated as a candidate if they have completed an approved training course within 6 months before nomination, or are an existing councillor who has already completed an approved course (Local Government Electoral Act s 26 and Schedule 1 amendments).\n\n- Clarifies councillor remuneration and leave: councillors are expressly entitled to remuneration for the whole statutory term (City of Brisbane Act s 160A; Local Government Act s 160B); the Bill also declares that councillors may still perform responsibilities while on granted leave of absence (new divisional provisions, e.g. City of Brisbane Act s 178; Local Government Act s 175A).\n\n- Tightens transparency and registers of interest rules: standardises the types of interests recorded, prescribes periods for which interests appear in extracts, and updates public-availability and minutes rules for investigations and agendas (regulation and schedule amendments — e.g. City of Brisbane Regulation sch 3A; Local Government Regulation sch 5A).\n\n- Amendments to election-material rules require the person who authorised campaign material or how-to-vote cards to be named and contact details provided (Local Government Electoral Act s 177–178).\n\n- Provides extensive transitional provisions preserving old procedures for matters already in train and protecting existing employees and acting appointees while the new law comes into effect (multiple transitional Parts and clauses).\n\n\nWho this affects\n\n- Councillors and candidates: new training requirements, new disclosure duties, new criminal penalty exposure where a councillor participates despite a material personal interest (see Local Government Act ch 5B / City of Brisbane Act div 5A). The remuneration and leave rules change how pay and absence interact (City of Brisbane Act s 160A; Local Government Act s 160B; s 247 Reg.).\n\n- Local governments and the City of Brisbane council: changes to complaint handling, senior employee appointments, registers, rates powers for certain Indigenous/remote councils (Local Government Act s 94A; regs sch prescribing councils), and caretaker-period processes that may require Ministerial approvals.\n\n- Senior council employees and senior contract employees: new definitions, appointment panels, and transitional protections (City of Brisbane Act s 192, s 193A; Local Government Act s 196).\n\n- Voters and communities in prescribed Indigenous and remote councils: those councils are prevented from levying ordinary rates (new s 94A) which changes how local services must be funded.\n\n- Electoral participants and campaigners: nomination rules and how-to-vote rules now require proof of training and named authorisers for materials (Local Government Electoral Act s 26, s 177–178).  \n\n\nWhy it matters (claimed purposes, and practical trade-offs)\n\n- Claimed purpose: the Bill identifies itself as \"empowering councils\" and streamlining local decision-making and integrity processes. It includes measures to clarify councillor duties, speed up or simplify conduct handling, give councils more staffing discretion, and adapt caretaker rules for urgent situations (see caretaker approvals s 92BA/90BA; staffing changes s 192/196).\n\n- Practical trade-offs and implementation issues:\n  - Ministerial discretion vs certainty: the caretaker-period carve-outs (Minister may approve major decisions in exceptional circumstances or for disaster recovery — City of Brisbane Act s 92BA/92BB; Local Government Act s 90BA/90BB) legally allow necessary action in emergencies but place a discretionary stop on an otherwise council-controlled prohibition. That centralises an important check with the Minister and creates a conditional approval pathway that councils must use (administrative cost and political visibility are concentrated on Minister decisions).\n  - Oversight and enforcement changes: the Bill removes or reduces some external referral and intermediate \"conduct breach\" processes, consolidating matters into a misconduct pathway (see multiple amendments to ch 5A). That simplifies the framework but reduces the number of distinct procedural stages and may shift investigatory and decision costs onto fewer bodies (assessor, tribunal) and onto councils where complaint handling is entrusted (regs s 32/44 and related). Where decisions are shifted from independent bodies to councils, there is an increased need for robust conflict-free procedures to avoid perception of capture.\n  - Compliance and criminal exposure: the material-personal-interest regime now includes a serious maximum penalty (200 penalty units or 2 years imprisonment) for contravening the duty to leave and not vote (City of Brisbane Act s 177F(3); Local Government Act s 150EI(3)). That raises compliance costs (training, legal advice, careful minute-taking) and increases risk for councillors who might misunderstand rules about associates or related parties.\n  - Administrative burden and policy changes for councils: new registers, prescribed content and extraction periods, updated minutes and public-availability rules, and requirements to provide complaint materials to the competition authority where complainants are dissatisfied (City of Brisbane and Local Govt regs s 33/45). Councils must revise procedures, staff training, and record systems.\n  - Financial effects and redistribution of costs: prescribing that some Indigenous/remote councils may not levy general rates (new Local Government Act s 94A and regulation list) reduces those councils’ local revenue-raising ability. The Bill allows a Ministerial recommendation for the regulation only where levying rates is impracticable, effectively shifting funding responsibility (or the need for State grants/alternatives) to other sources. This is a concrete fiscal trade-off for those communities.\n  - Candidate training requirement: requiring completion of an approved course within 6 months before nomination (Local Government Electoral Act s 26) raises the entry cost of standing for council and shifts responsibility to the department’s chief executive to approve course content. This can reduce uninformed candidatures but imposes a logistical barrier and administrative regime for certifying candidates.\n  - Staffing and political control: the appointment panel model for senior executive or \"senior contract\" employees (Local Government Act s 196(4)) formalises a small political panel (mayor, CEO and chair/deputy) — that concentrates appointment decision-making at elected-officer level rather than broader merit panels and may change incentives in senior recruitment.\n\n\nWho pays, who decides, and behavioural effects (plain terms)\n\n- Who decides: Ministers gain explicit discretion in caretaker exceptions (s 92BA/90BA/92BB/90BB). Councils retain many operational decisions (appointments, complaints handling) but must follow new publication, record-keeping and training rules. Departmental chief executives control approval of the candidate/councillor training courses (s 169A; Local Government Electoral Act s 26).\n\n- Who pays: Local governments bear compliance costs (policy rewriting, staff training, record-keeping), tribunal and assessor costs where applicable, and potentially the cost of conduct tribunal proceedings (some costs remain payable by local governments). Councils listed in s 94A lose the power to levy rates and thus will require alternate funding (likely a State funding implication).\n\n- Behavioural changes: candidates will seek approved training; councillors will more carefully disclose and avoid participation where material personal interests exist; councils will revise complaint-handling and recruitment processes; ministers may be asked to approve more caretaker-period actions, especially for disaster recovery.\n\n\nImplementation and risk\n\n- The Bill contains multiple start-dates (assent vs proclamation) and extensive transitional provisions that preserve existing processes for matters already underway. That reduces sudden disruption but increases the implementation complexity for administrative staff and lawyers (see transitional Parts in each Act/regulation).\n\n- Concentrated benefits vs diffuse costs: benefits (greater local hiring flexibility, clearer conduct framework for some types of misconduct, and caretaker exceptions for urgent action) are concentrated on councils and executive actors; costs (administrative burden, potential reductions in independent oversight, limits on revenue-raising in prescribed councils, and compliance/training costs) are spread across many councils, councillors and local communities.\n\n\nNotable sections to watch in implementation\n\n- Caretaker exceptions: City of Brisbane Act s 92BA/92BB; Local Government Act s 90BA/90BB.\n- New COI framework and criminal penalty: City of Brisbane Act ss 177A–177G; Local Government Act ss 150ED–150EJ (and the penalty in s 177F(3)/150EI(3)).\n- Rates limitation for prescribed councils: Local Government Act s 94A and the regulation list (Local Government Regulation s 73A).\n- Candidate training requirement: Local Government Electoral Act s 26 and Schedule 1 nomination content.\n- Senior contract employee category and appointment panels: City of Brisbane Act s 192 / new s 193A; Local Government Act s 196(4).\n\n(Where I mention a section number, that is the clause in this Bill that inserts or amends the existing Act or regulation.)"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/local-government-empowering-councils-and-other-legislation-amendment-bill-2025","history":"/api/acts/local-government-empowering-councils-and-other-legislation-amendment-bill-2025/history","analysis":"/api/acts/local-government-empowering-councils-and-other-legislation-amendment-bill-2025/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/local-government-empowering-councils-and-other-legislation-amendment-bill-2025/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/local-government-empowering-councils-and-other-legislation-amendment-bill-2025/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/local-government-empowering-councils-and-other-legislation-amendment-bill-2025/documents"}}