Audit report – ‘Publishing information about council meetings and discretionary funds ’
In Queensland there is a commitment to open and transparent government. Queensland’s Right to Information Act 2009 recognises that in a free and democratic society there should be open discussion of public affairs, government-held information is a public resource and the community should be kept informed of government’s operations. Openness in government enhances accountability and increases the participation of members of the community in democratic processes leading to better informed decision-making.
Further, the Local Government Act 2009 and Local Government Regulation 2012 prescribe information that local governments must make publicly available to promote openness, good government and meaningful community engagement, namely, ‘...transparent and effective processes, and decision-making in the public interest’. For example, local governments must make information publicly available about council meetings and about discretionary funds budgeted for councillor use.
As part of our audit and monitoring activity, we completed a desktop review of six local government websites and looked at whether they provide timely and easy access to up-to-date information about council meetings and discretionary funds for councillor use. Our observations and findings were reported to the Parliament’s Legal Affairs and Safety Committee in ‘Publishing information about council meetings and discretionary funds’. The Chair tabled the report in Parliament on 28 November 2023.
