Council keeps briefings open to general public

Residents can still attend Town of Port Hedland public briefing sessions ahead of each council meeting after a proposal to limit access to them was voted down.

Held each month, the briefings allow councillors to examine proposals to be voted on at each upcoming local government council meeting by questioning Town staff in an informal setting.

The briefings also allow residents to attend and ask multiple questions in a less formal way compared with council meetings.

However, under proposed changes detailed by Town co-ordinator of governance Grace Waugh in her report to council, staff recommended the agenda briefings only be open to members of the public for 30 minutes.

“The briefing will then be closed to members of the public to allow elected members to ask any questions on any of the items on the agenda,” she said.

Councillor Louise Newbery led opposition to the plan, which was voted down 5-2, saying she had been elected to promote open, transparent government. She said while few members of the public attended the meetings, they should always be free to do so.

Acting Mayor Camilo Blanco and councillor Lincoln Tavo supported the motion, arguing that closing the second part of the meetings to residents would allow staff to brief councillors openly without fear of saying the wrong thing in public.