Thursday 23 February 2012

Cairns Council to video and broadcast meetings live

Under new State legislation, Cairns Regional Council will be required to video and broadcast meetings over the internet from January next year.


It is expected the cost could be as much as $100,00, but some Council staff suggest it would be a ''great deal less.''

Amid accusations of ''Big Brother'' watching over councils and their meetings, the move is been welcomed by many in the community, along with Councillor Rob Pyne, an advocate for greater scrutiny of public decision-making.

The Queensland opposition has asked Labor to drop the compliance regulation that is being introduced by January 2013, without debate or consultation.

“Local councils should be allowed to decide, and at very least, to have this new regulation debated before another costly policy gets slapped on them,” David Gibson, LNP spokesperson for Local Government said.

“The plan to force councils to video record and internet broadcast all meetings would cost Queensland ratepayers many millions of dollars a year. At a time when Queenslanders are feeling real pain from cost of living increases, the last thing they need is more rate increases forced on them by the long-term Labor government.''

“Labor has caused a breakdown in the relationship between councils and the state government by forcing amalgamations, cutting grants and subsidies, shifting state costs on to councils, and meddling in local council elections,” David Gibson said.

Besides Cairns Regional Council, the following councils will also be mandated to introduce meeting recording and broadcast from January 2013:- Fraser Coast Regional Council; Gold Coast City Council; Ipswich City Council; Logan City Council; Mackay Regional Council; Moreton Bay Regional Council; Redland City Council; Rockhampton Regional Council; Sunshine Coast Regional Council; Toowoomba Regional Council; Townsville City Council. Brisbane City Council will have to broadcast meetings from July 1st this year.

Here's New Zealand Parliament that has been broadcasting debates live from the debating chamber for many years, and archiving them onto YouTube for the public to access...

12 comments:

Tanya Brooks-Cooper said...

This is a great thing! Politics should belong to the people.

Daphne Downs said...

and it improves accountability and engagement!

Alison Alloway said...

It will ensure Councillors attend meetings and not "have a lend" of their job and take off on holidays overseas whenever they want to.

Lisa Robbie said...

Oh really? Wow, I suggested that to them ages ago. Great to see it happening.
I threatened them with Noah in Chambers if they didn't LOL.
I've been part of the State Govt's People's Question Time and I think it's great. I can join in and keep the monsters occupied at the same time. LOL

Steve Grasso said...

One benefit could be that a certain current councillor may be inclined to stay awake during meetings more often.

Sky Allen said...

This should have been done a long time ago! With Closed Session Items will the videos just be posted at a later stage or will there be no video taping of closed items?

Jim Cavill, Greens candidate Mulgrave said...

me guessing closed is closed sky

Lisa Robbie said...

Yes Michael, I think it's a terrific thing. I would love to attend more meetings, but they are long, I have kids and housework :-( etc. As a webcast, I can let it play on-screen and when I hear an item I'm interested in crop up, I can listen in while I fold the washing, back to making beds & playing with Thomas the Tank & listening in again.
Poor Noah - nursery rhymes bumped for politics. LOL

Jenny Pyne said...

This is a great idea. It will make all councillors accountable for the things they say in chambers and the way they vote. They won't be able to hide. Sky Allen closed sessions debate things that the public only need to know the final outcome, so that information would remain closed except for the final decision that is made public after they come out of closed session.

Leigh Dall'Osto said...

Closed sessions are often reserved for issues where disclosure is regulated. The results are always publicly stated and in the minutes.

CBD Tarzan said...

About time !!
We pay for representation and we trust our representatives through the ballot box. So why shouldn't we see what really goes on in chambers?
Democracy works best when we all have an understanding of what is being decided on our behalf.
Great stuff.

KitchenSlut said...

Will Bob Manning be able to turn the Councillors on and off like Kevin Byrne did?