Current Situation
- Council decisions must always be made in the public interest and without bias to maintain community trust
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I stand in a number of different roles in the community including:
- President, Sorell Community Network (registered charity)
- Committee Member, Landcare Sorell
- Community Advocate
- Small Local Business Owner
- Candidate for Mayor and Councillor
- These multiple roles are common and can be a strength in local communities. However, they can also create potential conflicts of interest that must be carefully managed. It is essential that Council avoids both actual and perceived conflicts of interest
- Many people in our small community hold multiple roles and wear multiple hats and so it’s important to understand and appropriately manage conflicts of interest.
The Issue
- Elected representatives can sometimes benefit financially or reputationally from their position
- This may occur through business interests, public profile, or professional networks
- Even when no wrongdoing occurs, perceived conflicts of interest can undermine public trust
- Transparency and accountability are essential to maintaining confidence in Council
My Commitment
During the election campaign, and if I am elected as Mayor and Councillor, I will:
- Act in the best interests of the community at all times
- Follow the Councillor Code of Conduct in full and be a leader in Council integrity and transparency (link HERE)
- Fully declare and properly manage any conflicts of interest
- Not use my position for personal, business, or financial gain
- Clearly separate my personal, business, and elected representative roles in all communications. This includes maintaining separate Facebook pages, email accounts, and other platforms for each role
- Keep my business and Council responsibilities completely independent of each other
- Use Council resources only for official Council purposes
- Act transparently, honestly, and respectfully in all Council matters
- Protect and strengthen trust, integrity, and accountability in Council
Benefits of This Approach
- Strengthens public trust in Council decision-making
- Reduces risk of conflicts of interest influencing decisions
- Improves transparency and accountability in local government
- Ensures decisions are made in the community’s best interests
- Builds a culture of integrity and respect within Council
- Provides clear expectations for elected members
- Increases community confidence in Council processes