Event to spotlight council ethics, transparency

THE next event staged by Women in Local Democracy (WILD) will consider recent developments regarding good governance at the City of Greater Geelong.

To be held at City Hall, the free panel and Q&A session will discuss ethics, integrity, transparency and accountability in public life.

“Geelong’s recent record of the council’s dismissal, the appointment of adminstrators, the citizens’ jury, a return to democratic elections, and now the appointment of monitors to oversight the next CEO’s appointment means the issues of good governance and trust in council continue to be of major democratic importance to the people of Greater Geelong,” WILD convenor Jenny Wills said.

“Interested citizens and residents, committee members and executives from across Geelong’s diverse community organisations, current and aspiring councillors, and their campaign teams and supporters are urged not to miss this timely discussion on good local governance and trust in council.”

Speakers at the event will include:

• Dr Catherine Williams, research director at the Centre for Public Integrity
• Dr Adrian Evans, Emeritus Professor of Law at Monash University, and
• Sandra Wilson, former mayor and councillor at the City of Hobsons Bay and an executive member of the Victorian branch of the Australian Local Government Women’s Association (ALGWA Vic).

The Centre for Public Integrity is an independent thinktank dedicated to preventing corruption, protecting the integrity of Australia’s accountability institutions, reining in executive power, and eliminating undue influence of money in politics.

The centre collaborates with academic experts, legal practitioners and retired judges to conduct research on critical integrity reform.

Dr Evans has taught, practised law and consulted on legal education for 35 years at Latrobe and Monash Universities, and was was co-ordinator of Springvale Legal Service, the largest Australian clinical site, from 1988 to 2000.

He is both an academic and a legal practitioner, with teaching responsibilities in legal systems, legal ethics and clinical case supervision.

Ms Wilson was twice mayor during her eight years on the City of Hobsons Bay council, and has written many of ALGWA Vic’s key advocacy submissions.

Her research project “Women Stepping Out of Local Government” gathered reflections and experiences from female councillors who retired at the 2020 elections.

WILD has been promoting better civics and better candidates across the Geelong region and encouraging more women to stand for all levels of government for several years.

The free event will be held at Geelong City Hall (Little Malop Street entrance), Geelong, on March 2 from 5.30-7.30pm.

Bookings are essential by emailing [email protected]