Weekly column from Council Courier e-newsletter by CEO Greg Hallam, Friday 16 September 2016.
Twin themes this week as the Policy Executive’s annual conference agenda committee met on Tuesday to finalise motions to go before delegates.
Around the table there were three new elected member faces in the person of LGAQ Acting President and Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill, Brisbane City Council’s Matthew Bourke and the Mayor of Gladstone Matt Burnett. Present, too, was the indomitable Greg Hoffman at his 29th and last “motion mash” extravaganza.
This was not a case of “going through the motions” in the usual sense. It took the best part of four hours to complete the task. Why is it so, I hear you ask? Well, in many ways, annual conference is our window to the world. Other governments, the media, business and the broader public take notice of the motions we put and the debate we have on them. Those debates and outcomes are broadcast right around the State. Well-constructed, well-supported and well-argued motions are critical to our collective reputations.
The new brigade at work at the agenda committee meeting knew their stuff, discussing, shaping and, in some cases, so as to ensure a high quality debate at the Gold Coast. They also rejected a few. My mind flashed back to some of the greats of local government who have undertaken that task over the past 25 years, mainly older men (former President Margaret de Wit aside). No, here I was sitting with two thirty something male councillors and an acting female President who is a microbiologist. Times have changed.
Then there was Hoffy, legend that he is, commenting on and assisting the process one last time before he finishes up at the LGAQ at the end of October. His contribution to our sphere of government has been enormous and is borne out by his diligence and dedication to getting the motions just right and ensuring the LGAQ comment on each is spot on. Much of that work is done at night or weekends. He works politely and cooperatively with councils - especially CEOs - to polish the final product that goes to the agenda committee for consideration. The LGAQ will send motions to all members early next week.
The past and present are merging and another chapter in the LGAQ's 120 year history is being written.