WEBVTT

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Good evening everyone and welcome to the

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City of Ballarat excuse me council

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meeting for Wednesday the 27th of August

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2025. I open the meeting at 6:31 p.m.

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Councilors if you could stand for our

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opening declaration.

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We councilors of the City of Ballarat 

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declare that we will carry out our

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duties best interests of the community

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and through collective leadership to

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maintain the highest standards 

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of good governance.

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Thank you. Make take a seat.

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I would first like to acknowledge the

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traditional custodians of the land on

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which we meet the Wadawurrung People and

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recognize their continuing connection to

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the land and waterways. I pay my

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respects to their Elders past and

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present and extend this to all

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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

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people. This meeting is being broadcast

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on the internet and the recording of the

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meeting will be published on the Ballarat's

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 website. As a visitor in the

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public gallery, you may be filmed. By

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remaining in the public gallery, you

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consent to being filmed and for the

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recording of you to be made publicly

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available by the City of Ballarat. A

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copy of the City of Ballarat's

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broadcasting and recording of council

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meetings procedure is available in hard

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copy at this meeting and on the website.

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Please speak with one of our staff

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members if you have any questions.

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Before we commence the meeting, I would

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like to acknowledge and pay my respects

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to the two police officers who lost

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their lives this week in Porepunkah . 

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Senior Constable Vadam Diwat and

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detective leading Senior Constable Neil

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Thompson. I also acknowledge the officer

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who was injured and wish them a speedy

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recovery. I would like to extend my best

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wishes to the families and friends of

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these officers and to all of the

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officers who continue to work hard to

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protect the community in that area as

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the situation unfolds. The flags of the

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Ballarat Town Hall will remain at half

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mast throughout tomorrow in honour of the

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lives lost. That takes us to item two,

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which is apologies for absence. There

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are nil tonight.  I'll now call for a

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motion

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to accept the no apologies. Councelor

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Taylor, Councelor Lapkin, all those in

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favor? And that is carried.

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Disclosures of interest. Councilors, are

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there any matters on tonight's agenda

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that you would need to disclose an

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interest or conflict? As always, if

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something arises as we're going through,

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feel free to raise it. Again,  item

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number four, matters arising from the

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minutes. Are there any councilors would

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like to raise?

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In that case, we'll move on. Oh, no,

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sorry. We need to do a motion for

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to receive those minutes. Councelor

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Taylor to move. Councelor Lapkin to

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second. All those in favor?

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That is carried. That opens us up to

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public question time, which we will

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start

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at 6:34 p.m.

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Now, all the questions that have been

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submitted this evening have been

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reviewed for compliance with the City of

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Ballarat's governance rules. A number

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have been disallowed in accordance with

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rules 3.7.1

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as they relate to subjects already

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answered are defamatory or objectionable

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in language are aimed at embarrassing

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counselors or council staff and or are

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outside the powers duties and functions

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of council. I would also like to just

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remind submitters of the governance

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rules which are rules which are the

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rules we abide by during council

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meetings and that they are anyone is

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more than welcome to ask questions at

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any other time during the month. 

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you're welcome to contact your

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counselors or the City of Ballarat directly

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if you need to discuss those matters

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further. Our first question comes from

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Mr. Sha Bickley who is not attending and

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that will be read out.

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Thank you and and through you madame

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mayor.

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for me.

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Um

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I note that there's two questions that

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have been grouped together for this

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item. Um they were considered

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um in accordance with the governance

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rules and a single response being

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provided. Question one is last November

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the United Nations special repertoire on

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contemporary forms of slavery professor

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Tomia Ubakarta visited Australia and

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classified Australian disability

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enterprises as modern slavery

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recommending they be abolished. Yet the

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Ballarat's procurement policy preferences

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purchases from ADEs despite recognition

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that they engage in modern slavery. Will

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the proposed report be inclusive of

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cities of the council's procurement from

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adees and other entities that engage in

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modern slavery with disabled people? And

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will this policy protect disabled

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people? The second question,

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Anti-Slavery Australia's 2024 report

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notes that private prison labor and

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contracts violate article 2C of the

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International Labor Organization

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Convention 29 on forced labor. The

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forced labor of disproportional

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incarcerated groups such as First

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Nations and Disabled  people violates

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article 173 of the United Nations

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Declarations on Rights of Indigenous

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People and Article 272 of the United

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Nations Convention on the Rights of

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Persons with Disabilities. Will the

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proposed report be inclusive of

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council's current and possible future

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contracts with prison labor and ensure

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council's compliance with international

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law, enforced and compulsory labor?

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Director Hoiser, are you able to answer

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that please?

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Um, thank you madame mayor through you

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and thank you Mr. um Bickley for the

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question. The response for both

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questions is the same. , the City of

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Ballarat procurement's policy specifies the

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modern slavery act as being important

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and relevant consideration when

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procuring goods and services for goods

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and services and works that council

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procures. There are either provisions

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within council contracts that providers

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specifically comply with modern slavery

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legislation or requirements on our

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purchase orders that providers comply

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with all relevant acts, regulations,

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rules, codes, orders, industry awards,

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andor agreements, bylaws, local laws,

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and other legislation. So, Madame May,

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the reliance is back on the supplier to

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make sure that they're compliant with

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any of those um laws that may be

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applicable. Thank you, Madame Mayor.

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Thank you, director Hoa. Our next

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question is from Sirani McNeel, and she

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is not attending, so her questions will

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be read out.

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Thank you. And through you, Madame Mayor.

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The question is as follows. How is value

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for money objectively measured and

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balanced between price, social, and

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environmental criteria.

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Director Hausler again, please.

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 you madame mayor, and thank you,

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Miss McNeil, for the question. Um, as

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per council's procurement policy, value

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for money in procurement is about

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selecting the supply of goods, services,

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and works, taking into account both cost

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and non-cost factors, including the

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contribution to the advancement of the

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City of Ballarat's priorities, including

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support of local business, performance

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against factors such as fit for purpose,

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quality, service and support, social

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benefit including support of a

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Torres Strait Islander people and

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environmentally sustainable practices as

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is appropriate to for the goods and

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services and works being procured and

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also price. Value for money will not

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necessarily always equate to the lowest

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price. The City of Ballarat considers the

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total cost of ownership ownership over

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the procurement's life consistent with

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acceptable quality, reliability,

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deliverable, social and environmental

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considerations specific to that

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procurement. Thank you, Madame May.

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Great. Question two.

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Question two is as follows. In emergency

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procurement, is there a requirement for

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later council or committee ratification?

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Director Hoist, please.

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, thank you, Madam May. Um, emergency

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procurement can occur in line with the

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circumstances outlined in the

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procurement policy. At the moment, there

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is no written requirement within the

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policy for later council or committee

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ratification. Based on the current

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financial thresholds within the policy,

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this currently would only need to occur

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if the emergency procurement exceeded

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500,000 in expenditure, including GST.

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As a matter of practice, officers would

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brief counselors in such a situation,

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and reporting would also occur through

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to the audit and risk committee. Thank

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you, Madame Mayor.

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Thank you, Director Holer.  Ellie 

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Jones is our next question, and she's

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not attending, so will be read out.

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Thank you. And three, Madame Mayor, the

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question is as follows. Does the City of

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Ballarat have rules about what councils

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can post on their council social media

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pages? And is the council actually

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checking to make sure those posts,

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especially when not related to council

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business, don't include offensive or

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harmful content? And if they do, what

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steps are taken to deal with it?

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Director Hoistlab.

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 through you, Madame Mayor, and

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thank you  Miss Jones for the

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question. Um the council communication

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and information policy adopted by

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council on 28th of August 2024 provides

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a framework for councilors when

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interacting with media and using social

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media at clause 3.4 which can be found

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on the City of Ballarat website. The

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City of Ballarat does not manage

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councelor social media pages other than

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those associated with the mayor of Ballarat

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and as such any moderation of these

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pages is the responsibility of the

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individual counselor. Failure to comply

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with the policy may constitute a breach

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of the model councelor code of conduct.

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Thank you madame may

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and question two.

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Are councils allowed to attend and speak

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at external events with all expenses

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paid without that travel and engagement

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being brought to a council meeting for

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discussion and approval given that other

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activities such as overseas arts events

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have required formal motions and public

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approval. Director Hoistler again

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please.

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 through you madam mayor and thank you

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miss Jose for the second question. Um

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section 3.5 of the council expense and

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support policy adopted by council on

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23rd July 2025 stipulates that all

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international travel that is undertaken

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on behalf of council must be approved

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through a resolution of council.

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Interstate travel does not require

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approval through a resolution. The

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counselor gift policy also applies where

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counselors receive invitations of

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hospitality in their official capaBallarat

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representing the council. Councilors are

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not prohibited from choosing to travel

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for purposes other than as an official

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representative of the City of Ballarat.

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Thank you, Madame May.

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Thank you. Our next question comes from

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Mr. Ben Nunam who is here. Mr. Nunam, if

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you'd like to come forward. I think

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you've been through this before.

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 Ben Nangquam Lucas.  so the

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foreshadowed motion tonight at item 9.2

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 requests a report into section 3.4 of

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the councelor media interactions and

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support policy. Um  from the sorry

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from the councelor communication

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information policy  what risks and

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recourse for council reputation are

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available if the communication policy is

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loosened as this motion proposes.

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Director Hoistler again please.

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Thank you madam mayor and thank you Mr.

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Dro for the question. Um the policy

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provides a framework to support

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councilors to comply with their

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obligations under the local government

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act 2020 and the model councelor code of

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conduct. The motion tonight seeks a

00:11:26.079 --> 00:11:27.576
report to council on options for

00:11:27.600 --> 00:11:30.296
amendments which if passed will take

00:11:30.320 --> 00:11:32.935
into consideration any risks associated

00:11:32.959 --> 00:11:35.959
with these options. Thank you madame.

00:11:36.160 --> 00:11:39.160
Thank you Mr. Nang.

00:11:40.990 --> 00:11:42.216
[Music]

00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:45.240
Sorry your microphone's not on.

00:11:45.920 --> 00:11:47.736
And we may have to take the question on

00:11:47.760 --> 00:11:49.495
notice. We'll see.

00:11:49.519 --> 00:11:52.519
Yep. Okay. Um, so just a question

00:11:52.959 --> 00:11:55.959
related to the travel policy? Yeah. Um,

00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:59.000
so based on the communication policy at

00:11:59.680 --> 00:12:02.680
section 3.4 again, has the mayor

00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:06.296
authorized councilors to speak on cancel

00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:09.016
business at the combat anti-semitism

00:12:09.040 --> 00:12:10.935
movement summit in September?

00:12:10.959 --> 00:12:13.255
Has the Has the mayor what? Sorry. 

00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:15.976
authorized councilors to speak on

00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:17.416
council business.

00:12:17.440 --> 00:12:20.055
No, there's no need to. It's not

00:12:20.079 --> 00:12:21.336
required.

00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:21.815
Yeah.

00:12:21.839 --> 00:12:24.375
Thank you.

00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:27.399
That takes us to our next question which

00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:30.536
is Mr. Mark Jones who is not attending

00:12:30.560 --> 00:12:33.560
and will be read out.

00:12:34.320 --> 00:12:37.016
Thank you, Madame Mayor. Um I note that

00:12:37.040 --> 00:12:38.456
there is two questions that are

00:12:38.480 --> 00:12:39.656
considered able to be grouped together

00:12:39.680 --> 00:12:41.576
in accordance with  the governance

00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:43.656
rule 3.7.1I

00:12:43.680 --> 00:12:45.495
 with a single response provided and

00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:47.336
these questions come from Mark Jones and

00:12:47.360 --> 00:12:49.656
Heidi Johnson. The question is as

00:12:49.680 --> 00:12:52.055
follows. Why have Brown Hill residents

00:12:52.079 --> 00:12:53.896
been denied democratic process for

00:12:53.920 --> 00:12:55.416
significance concerns around the

00:12:55.440 --> 00:12:57.096
proposed subdivision and removal of

00:12:57.120 --> 00:12:59.896
vegetation in a key wildlife passage at

00:12:59.920 --> 00:13:02.055
76 Spring Road, Brown Hill, where

00:13:02.079 --> 00:13:04.055
planning where planning signs were not

00:13:04.079 --> 00:13:06.776
publicly displayed and the proposal was

00:13:06.800 --> 00:13:09.096
missing from the online objection system

00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:10.536
preventing anyone from submitting

00:13:10.560 --> 00:13:12.935
objections during the public submission

00:13:12.959 --> 00:13:13.896
period.

00:13:13.920 --> 00:13:15.336
Director Robertson, if you're able to

00:13:15.360 --> 00:13:16.296
answer that one, please.

00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:18.375
Through you, Madame Mayor. And um thank

00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:20.615
you for the question. The application

00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:23.639
for planning application PLP

00:13:24.160 --> 00:13:27.160
20  202178

00:13:27.600 --> 00:13:30.136
which is 76 Springs Road Hill has not

00:13:30.160 --> 00:13:32.296
been determined. Following initial

00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:34.536
lodgement in November 2021, the

00:13:34.560 --> 00:13:36.776
application was advertised in October

00:13:36.800 --> 00:13:39.800
2022 and again in August 2024. Both

00:13:40.880 --> 00:13:42.935
times letters were sent to adjoining

00:13:42.959 --> 00:13:45.096
owners and occupiers and a yellow sign

00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:47.096
was placed on the land that is in

00:13:47.120 --> 00:13:48.456
accordance with the public notice

00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:50.136
provisions under the planning and

00:13:50.160 --> 00:13:52.055
environment act. The applicant was

00:13:52.079 --> 00:13:54.615
provided a copy of objections which were

00:13:54.639 --> 00:13:56.776
redacted and referral authority

00:13:56.800 --> 00:13:59.576
responses for consideration.

00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:01.495
Pardon me. The applicant is currently

00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:03.495
working through changes. Once changes

00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:05.815
are made and formally lodged, further

00:14:05.839 --> 00:14:08.216
public notice will be undertaken. Thank

00:14:08.240 --> 00:14:08.776
you.

00:14:08.800 --> 00:14:10.456
Thank you, Director Robertson. Question

00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:12.136
two, please.

00:14:12.160 --> 00:14:13.175
Thank you, madam mayor. The question is

00:14:13.199 --> 00:14:15.896
as follows. Brown Hill has seen a large

00:14:15.920 --> 00:14:18.216
number of new street street tree

00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:20.136
plantings. And while trees provide

00:14:20.160 --> 00:14:22.296
benefits, concerns remain about whether

00:14:22.320 --> 00:14:24.055
consideration was given to future

00:14:24.079 --> 00:14:26.615
footpaths will cause cracks and trip

00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:28.696
hazards as they grow. Meanwhile,

00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:31.016
bushland trees most valued by Brown Hill

00:14:31.040 --> 00:14:33.416
residents and wildlife are being lost to

00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:36.136
overdevelopment. My question is, were

00:14:36.160 --> 00:14:37.976
these new plantings made with proper

00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:39.976
consideration of future footpaths,

00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:42.776
safety, and community consultation or

00:14:42.800 --> 00:14:43.976
priorities?

00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:45.736
Director Weatherroll, please, if you

00:14:45.760 --> 00:14:47.976
can. Thank you, Madame Mayor, and thank

00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:50.456
you for the question. City of Ballarat

00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:52.776
staff andor contractors plant around

00:14:52.800 --> 00:14:55.175
1,800 street trees per year to help

00:14:55.199 --> 00:14:57.576
deliver on our 40% tree canopy cover

00:14:57.600 --> 00:15:00.216
goal identified as an action within the

00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:03.096
urban forest action plan. Planting trees

00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:04.696
in nature strips takes into

00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:06.615
consideration all future potential

00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:09.016
assets such as new footpaths and also

00:15:09.040 --> 00:15:10.935
takes into consideration the species of

00:15:10.959 --> 00:15:13.959
tree to avoid impact on existing assets

00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:16.456
due to the volume of trees planted each

00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:18.456
year. Community consultation on street

00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:20.935
trees is not undertaken. Thank you.

00:15:20.959 --> 00:15:23.016
Thank you director Weatherall. Our next

00:15:23.040 --> 00:15:25.255
questions come from Heidi Johnson who is

00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:26.536
not attending and will be read out

00:15:26.560 --> 00:15:27.016
please.

00:15:27.040 --> 00:15:28.375
Thank you madam mayor. The question is

00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:30.536
as follows. Will Ballarat of Berac commit to

00:15:30.560 --> 00:15:32.375
caring for country by protecting our

00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:34.536
unique and endangered biodiversity and

00:15:34.560 --> 00:15:36.935
follow the excellent examples set by

00:15:36.959 --> 00:15:39.416
neighboring SH by taking steps to reduce

00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:42.136
the wildlife road toll and protect koala

00:15:42.160 --> 00:15:44.136
corridors and areas of significant

00:15:44.160 --> 00:15:45.976
biodiversity from inappropriate land

00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:48.296
clearing and destruction of tree canopy.

00:15:48.320 --> 00:15:49.976
Thus showing Ballarat of Bellarat is willing

00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:52.296
to speak up for the voiceless whose very

00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:54.296
survival is at risk.

00:15:54.320 --> 00:15:56.216
Director Robertson please. to you,

00:15:56.240 --> 00:15:57.576
Madame Mayor, and thank you, Miss

00:15:57.600 --> 00:15:59.976
Johnson, for the question. As previously

00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:02.456
stated, this planning application um is

00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:05.480
yet to be determined. Until such time 

00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:08.216
as a decision is made in this matter,

00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:10.216
you may yourself lodge a submission, and

00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:12.055
I encourage you to do so in order to be

00:16:12.079 --> 00:16:14.615
joined as a party to this proceeding. I

00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:16.536
will actually outline for Miss Johnson

00:16:16.560 --> 00:16:18.296
when we write to her just how she can do

00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:20.296
that and access documentation. Thank

00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:21.255
you, Madame May.

00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:23.735
Thank you, Director Robertson. Next we

00:16:23.759 --> 00:16:25.976
have Annie Trolaw who is not not

00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:28.456
attending and will be read out please.

00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:30.055
Thank you madam mayor. The question is

00:16:30.079 --> 00:16:32.136
as follows. On behalf of the Ballarat

00:16:32.160 --> 00:16:33.976
residents and rate payers association

00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:35.896
will Ballarat Ballarat council reconsider

00:16:35.920 --> 00:16:38.615
implementing a curbside hard rubbish

00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:40.696
collection service either through an

00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:42.776
annual scheduled pickup or via resident

00:16:42.800 --> 00:16:45.096
request system. If not why not?

00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:46.776
Especially given the growing community

00:16:46.800 --> 00:16:48.935
interest in such a service, the rapid

00:16:48.959 --> 00:16:50.696
expansion of our Ballarat and the fact that

00:16:50.720 --> 00:16:52.696
similar services are offered by many

00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:54.615
other councils in Victoria.

00:16:54.639 --> 00:16:57.416
Direct director Weatherall, please. So

00:16:57.440 --> 00:16:58.776
you madame mayor and thank you for the

00:16:58.800 --> 00:17:01.175
question, Mr. Trolor. An action outlined

00:17:01.199 --> 00:17:02.935
in the City of Ballarat's waste as a

00:17:02.959 --> 00:17:05.015
resource  our circular economy

00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:08.039
strategy  in 2025 was to undertake a

00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:09.736
hard waste collection options

00:17:09.760 --> 00:17:12.136
assessment. An overview of the draft

00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:14.055
options assessment will be presented to

00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:15.976
councilors for discussion  very

00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:18.295
shortly at an upcoming briefing as well

00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:20.136
as presenting an overview of delivery

00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:21.895
options for a potential hard waste

00:17:21.919 --> 00:17:23.736
collection service. This briefing will

00:17:23.760 --> 00:17:25.655
also provide indicative community

00:17:25.679 --> 00:17:27.256
engagement plans, resourcing

00:17:27.280 --> 00:17:29.496
requirements and assessment of the costs

00:17:29.520 --> 00:17:31.976
to rate payers and implementation time

00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:33.336
frames. Thank you.

00:17:33.360 --> 00:17:35.416
Thank you director Weatherall. That

00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:37.736
takes us to the end of question time.

00:17:37.760 --> 00:17:40.616
We'll move into item seven. our CEO

00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:43.015
report. Councilors, did you have any

00:17:43.039 --> 00:17:43.256
questions?

00:17:43.280 --> 00:17:45.655
Sorry, Madame Mayor. Um, just  I

00:17:45.679 --> 00:17:47.736
noticed that we do have a submission to

00:17:47.760 --> 00:17:49.015
one of the items tonight on whether

00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:52.039
that's appropriate to bring  the items

00:17:52.080 --> 00:17:54.056
forward. We're not into that yet. Should

00:17:54.080 --> 00:17:56.136
I drop to wait to officers report?

00:17:56.160 --> 00:17:57.736
Sorry, Mr. Covenant.

00:17:57.760 --> 00:17:59.176
Can we come back to you after the CEO

00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:00.296
report, please?

00:18:00.320 --> 00:18:02.056
Can I advise? It's in it's in writing,

00:18:02.080 --> 00:18:03.416
not in person. So therefore, it doesn't

00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:04.936
need to be put before.

00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:05.576
Sure.

00:18:05.600 --> 00:18:08.600
Yeah. There's no person presenting.

00:18:09.360 --> 00:18:12.136
Okay. Can we just do the CI report first

00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:13.576
while I have a think about it for a

00:18:13.600 --> 00:18:15.576
second? Um, councilors, you have the

00:18:15.600 --> 00:18:17.496
offic's recommendations before you. Do

00:18:17.520 --> 00:18:18.616
you have any questions? Councelor

00:18:18.640 --> 00:18:19.655
Macintosh.

00:18:19.679 --> 00:18:21.496
, just to move the recommendation if I

00:18:21.520 --> 00:18:22.616
get a second, please.

00:18:22.640 --> 00:18:24.616
Councelor Hudson to second. Councelor

00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:25.736
Mintosh.

00:18:25.760 --> 00:18:27.976
Thanks very much, Madame Mayor. Um, the

00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:30.696
CEO's report is always a really great

00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:32.775
summary and a very important summary of

00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:35.336
the work that's happened  with our

00:18:35.360 --> 00:18:37.256
council over the last since the last

00:18:37.280 --> 00:18:39.736
council meeting. It's been a very busy

00:18:39.760 --> 00:18:42.760
year and it's also been one that I think

00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:44.136
the community have been really

00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:47.160
interested to hear from. As many people

00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:49.496
in our community know, our council did

00:18:49.520 --> 00:18:52.520
support a 0% average rate increase. Some

00:18:53.280 --> 00:18:54.616
people still find that a little bit

00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:57.256
difficult, but um I think people are

00:18:57.280 --> 00:18:59.336
getting to understand more so what that

00:18:59.360 --> 00:19:01.416
actually means. So different residential

00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:04.056
properties see different figures but the

00:19:04.080 --> 00:19:06.696
CEO's report does cover cover off on

00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:09.720
that  partic particular policy and

00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:13.240
movement of our council. Um he also

00:19:13.520 --> 00:19:15.576
covers off on the opportunity for those

00:19:15.600 --> 00:19:18.056
that are having difficulty in 

00:19:18.080 --> 00:19:19.655
addressing their rates at the moment to

00:19:19.679 --> 00:19:21.895
be able to make contact with council 

00:19:21.919 --> 00:19:24.616
to have a payment plan or option put

00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:26.376
forward. So, there's a lot of people in

00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:28.056
our community that I think we're really

00:19:28.080 --> 00:19:30.376
considering at the moment. Um, the

00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:32.936
silver award for the 2025 Victorian

00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:35.960
tourism um was a spotlight on Ballarat and

00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:38.616
the great successes in our tourism

00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:40.936
industry. I think it's wonderful to see

00:19:40.960 --> 00:19:43.736
Ballarat stand up and shine and to gain

00:19:43.760 --> 00:19:46.136
a silver is something that I believe we

00:19:46.160 --> 00:19:47.816
all should be very proud of and I was

00:19:47.840 --> 00:19:50.696
chuffed to see that the CEO had included

00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:53.256
that in his report. Many people would be

00:19:53.280 --> 00:19:55.015
very aware of our Stodd art collection

00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:57.256
dating back to 1884 and know the

00:19:57.280 --> 00:19:59.816
significance of it. Um they are probably

00:19:59.840 --> 00:20:02.056
also aware that recently 12 white marble

00:20:02.080 --> 00:20:05.080
statues were um funded through a gift

00:20:05.919 --> 00:20:08.919
from Mr. Rick Teague of $240,000.

00:20:09.360 --> 00:20:11.176
Again, it's another really important

00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:13.176
piece of works that our council's been

00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:15.976
focused on. I know the CEO's report is a

00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:18.616
summary of many many many projects and

00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:20.535
um all sorts of opportunities but these

00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:22.696
really are significant ones that have

00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:24.856
been focused on  in our recent times

00:20:24.880 --> 00:20:27.256
as a group of council laws being 

00:20:27.280 --> 00:20:30.280
supported through the council office and

00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:33.720
operations by our CEO.  we've all

00:20:33.760 --> 00:20:35.736
heard the concerns around child safety

00:20:35.760 --> 00:20:37.655
and well-being as well. And knowing that

00:20:37.679 --> 00:20:40.535
our Ballarat wrote to um all of families

00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:42.775
that would would be impacted was a

00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:44.616
really important message to our

00:20:44.640 --> 00:20:46.696
community um about our care,

00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:49.720
understanding and absolute um view over

00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:52.056
this area to make sure that we're

00:20:52.080 --> 00:20:55.080
providing the best safest um and

00:20:55.200 --> 00:20:57.895
healthiest way forward. There's also

00:20:57.919 --> 00:20:59.576
some great work that's been happening

00:20:59.600 --> 00:21:01.816
out at Sebastapole. I know councelor

00:21:01.840 --> 00:21:04.840
Hudson as all of us council laws are

00:21:05.280 --> 00:21:07.976
really interested to make sure that this

00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:10.296
community hub continues delivering to

00:21:10.320 --> 00:21:12.856
many people across our community. It's a

00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:14.616
great step forward. It's one that 

00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:16.456
many previous terms of council have

00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:19.015
focused on. Winter festival many parts

00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:22.039
of it were a sellout. 14,427

00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:25.015
people attended the popup icing. And we

00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:26.936
also know that NADOK week in its 50

00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:29.096
years in honoring and elevating that

00:21:29.120 --> 00:21:30.456
community is a really important

00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:33.480
approach. The CEO's report um I

00:21:33.600 --> 00:21:35.816
absolutely endorse and congratulate the

00:21:35.840 --> 00:21:37.655
CEO and his staff for delivering to such

00:21:37.679 --> 00:21:40.456
a diverse  group of policies and

00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:41.895
requirements that come through from our

00:21:41.919 --> 00:21:44.535
council chamber. Thank you.

00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:46.616
Councelor Hudson as the second. Would

00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:48.456
you like to speak?

00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:50.216
Yeah, thank you Madame May. Not a great

00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:52.376
deal left to say, but I just did want to

00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:55.256
um  reh highlight and follow on from

00:21:55.280 --> 00:21:57.096
councelor Mintosh in relation to the

00:21:57.120 --> 00:22:00.120
donation for the start statues.  Rick

00:22:00.320 --> 00:22:03.320
Thie, a very humble

00:22:03.360 --> 00:22:06.360
um nondescript person who just goes

00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:10.039
about life. Um formerly a bus driver at

00:22:10.559 --> 00:22:12.775
Sebastic and had thiege coaches before

00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:15.336
they became gold bus and then on to

00:22:15.360 --> 00:22:18.360
Christians. But what a very generous

00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:21.480
donation as a legacy to leave for future

00:22:21.919 --> 00:22:24.919
generations. So um I think the fact that

00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:27.256
this donation came out it was not

00:22:27.280 --> 00:22:29.576
something we sought. He approached us in

00:22:29.600 --> 00:22:31.576
terms of what could he do to leave a

00:22:31.600 --> 00:22:33.176
legacy and I think that is the profound

00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:35.576
generosity of a person who just

00:22:35.600 --> 00:22:37.655
absolutely loves our community and has

00:22:37.679 --> 00:22:39.655
sought to give back. So just want to

00:22:39.679 --> 00:22:41.256
reinforce that bit of Rick Thieves.

00:22:41.280 --> 00:22:43.015
Thank you very much for the for the

00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:44.936
generous donation and I'm sure the

00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:46.775
sought out statues will be there for

00:22:46.799 --> 00:22:48.696
generations to come.

00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:49.976
Thank you. Would any other councilors

00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:52.535
like to speak for or against the motion?

00:22:52.559 --> 00:22:54.216
I'll put it to a vote. All those in

00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:57.240
favor and that is passed. Now, councelor

00:22:57.919 --> 00:22:59.336
Taylor, I'm coming back to you. I think

00:22:59.360 --> 00:23:01.256
you had a procedural motion you wanted

00:23:01.280 --> 00:23:01.976
to flag.

00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:04.296
 thank you, Madame Mayor, and if you

00:23:04.320 --> 00:23:05.816
indulge me, just wondering if if

00:23:05.840 --> 00:23:07.895
councilors were willing to move forward.

00:23:07.919 --> 00:23:09.736
 we do have even though they're not in

00:23:09.760 --> 00:23:11.816
person um an item where there is a

00:23:11.840 --> 00:23:13.496
presentation on which is the notice of

00:23:13.520 --> 00:23:14.696
motion whether we bring the notice of

00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:17.720
motions forward um which were items 9

00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:19.736
point and I've just lost the page now

00:23:19.760 --> 00:23:22.760
sorry  9.1 and 9.2 too if if I have a

00:23:23.520 --> 00:23:24.296
second.

00:23:24.320 --> 00:23:25.895
I think councelor Hudson was first. All

00:23:25.919 --> 00:23:27.496
those in favor of moving those items

00:23:27.520 --> 00:23:29.096
forward, thank you. That is passed. So

00:23:29.120 --> 00:23:32.120
that will take us now to item

00:23:33.760 --> 00:23:36.760
what was it? 9.1.

00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:43.400
So we have one submission for item 9.1

00:23:43.840 --> 00:23:46.216
which is Mr. Sha Bickley representing

00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:48.296
our fair go. He's not attending and our

00:23:48.320 --> 00:23:49.816
governance officer will read that out

00:23:49.840 --> 00:23:51.736
now. Please. Thank you and through you

00:23:51.760 --> 00:23:53.576
madame mayor. The presentation is as

00:23:53.600 --> 00:23:56.135
follows. I'm the president of our fair

00:23:56.159 --> 00:23:58.216
go a national disabled people's

00:23:58.240 --> 00:24:01.240
organization DPO focused on fair pay and

00:24:01.600 --> 00:24:03.256
opposing modern slavery for disabled

00:24:03.280 --> 00:24:05.256
people. We wanted to raise the council's

00:24:05.280 --> 00:24:06.775
current procurement policies preferences

00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:08.936
purchasing from Australian disability

00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:11.096
enterprises which are regarded as a form

00:24:11.120 --> 00:24:13.096
of modern slavery. The UN special

00:24:13.120 --> 00:24:14.856
repertoire on contemporary forms of

00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:17.880
slavery, Professor Tomier Abayata, 

00:24:18.159 --> 00:24:20.056
conducted an official visit to Australia

00:24:20.080 --> 00:24:22.535
in November 2024 and classified

00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:24.135
segregated employment for disabled

00:24:24.159 --> 00:24:26.535
people, especially ADEs, as a form of

00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:28.296
modern slavery, and recommended that

00:24:28.320 --> 00:24:30.456
they be abolished. In his report on his

00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:32.056
official visit to Australia, he noted

00:24:32.080 --> 00:24:34.616
that people in ADEs engage in manual

00:24:34.640 --> 00:24:36.535
labor work, sometimes against their

00:24:36.559 --> 00:24:38.936
will, are paid as little as $3 an hour

00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:40.296
and are at a heightened risk of

00:24:40.320 --> 00:24:41.976
violence, abuse, neglect, and

00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:43.655
exploitation. And that despite the fact

00:24:43.679 --> 00:24:45.655
that ADEs are supposed to be

00:24:45.679 --> 00:24:47.416
transitional arrangements into the open

00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:49.655
market, many are stuck with segregated

00:24:49.679 --> 00:24:51.816
employment for a long time. People with

00:24:51.840 --> 00:24:53.816
Disability Australia, the Peakorg for

00:24:53.840 --> 00:24:56.135
Disability in Australia, has also made

00:24:56.159 --> 00:24:58.135
submissions to the UN working group on

00:24:58.159 --> 00:24:59.895
arbitrary detention about the risk that

00:24:59.919 --> 00:25:02.056
the segregated disability employment

00:25:02.080 --> 00:25:04.456
poses on as modern slavery, noting that

00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:06.616
in some cases it legally constitutes

00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:09.255
forced labor and servitude.

00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:10.856
Individuals are hidden from the wider

00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:12.535
community, may not choose to work in

00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:14.535
these settings, may be under coercion,

00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:16.376
and can be subject to restrictive

00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:18.856
practices. Linda Steele, faculty of law

00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:21.015
at University of New South Wales, has

00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:22.775
conducted the only legal studies of

00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:25.336
adees in modern slavery in Australia.

00:25:25.360 --> 00:25:27.336
She notes that disability segregated

00:25:27.360 --> 00:25:30.296
employment and sub um subminimum wages

00:25:30.320 --> 00:25:32.535
can be understood as modern slavery.

00:25:32.559 --> 00:25:34.616
Disabled people are exploited. They have

00:25:34.640 --> 00:25:36.535
little choice about their work and are

00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:38.696
often given misleading information about

00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:41.655
their options. Anti-slavery Australia

00:25:41.679 --> 00:25:44.216
has stated in their 2024 report to the

00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:45.976
United Nations Human Rights Office of

00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:48.296
the High Commissioner that while article

00:25:48.320 --> 00:25:49.816
2C of the International Labor

00:25:49.840 --> 00:25:52.775
Organization Convention 29 on forced

00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:55.799
labor convention 29 allows forced prison

00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:58.856
labor provided that said work or said

00:25:58.880 --> 00:26:00.296
service is carried out under the

00:26:00.320 --> 00:26:02.135
supervision and control of a public

00:26:02.159 --> 00:26:04.056
authority and that the said person is

00:26:04.080 --> 00:26:06.296
not hired to or placed at the disposal

00:26:06.320 --> 00:26:08.296
of private individuals, companies or

00:26:08.320 --> 00:26:09.655
associations.

00:26:09.679 --> 00:26:11.416
This exemption does not extend to

00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:12.936
private prisoners or contracts with

00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:14.616
private entities. Additionally, the

00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:16.535
forced labor of disproportionately

00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:18.616
incarcerated groups such as such as

00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:21.576
disabled people and first nations people

00:26:21.600 --> 00:26:24.135
violates article 272 of the UN

00:26:24.159 --> 00:26:25.736
conventions on the rights of persons

00:26:25.760 --> 00:26:28.056
with disabilities.

00:26:28.080 --> 00:26:30.216
that states parties shall ensure that

00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:31.816
persons with disabilities are not held

00:26:31.840 --> 00:26:34.135
in slavery or in servitude and are

00:26:34.159 --> 00:26:36.696
protected on an equal basis with other

00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:39.720
form forced or compulsory labor. And

00:26:39.919 --> 00:26:42.919
article 173 of the UN declaration on the

00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:45.576
rights of indigenous people in 

00:26:45.600 --> 00:26:47.416
individuals have the right not to be

00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:49.736
subjected to discriminative conditions

00:26:49.760 --> 00:26:52.535
of labor and interalia employment or

00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:55.176
salary. Australia is a signary to all of

00:26:55.200 --> 00:26:57.416
these treaties.

00:26:57.440 --> 00:26:59.496
Thank you councilors. You have the

00:26:59.520 --> 00:27:01.255
offic's recommendation before you. Do

00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:02.456
you have any questions? Councelor

00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:03.655
Taylor.

00:27:03.679 --> 00:27:06.056
Thanks, Madame Mayor. Um through you, if

00:27:06.080 --> 00:27:08.936
I can in relation to um I think it was

00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:10.216
mentioned before that by the director

00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:11.895
around our current procurement policy. I

00:27:11.919 --> 00:27:14.856
was just curious to see what  what and

00:27:14.880 --> 00:27:17.880
how modern slavery is then um worked

00:27:17.919 --> 00:27:18.856
through as part of our current

00:27:18.880 --> 00:27:20.376
procurement policy.

00:27:20.400 --> 00:27:22.616
Is that a director hoister?

00:27:22.640 --> 00:27:24.056
Three, Madame Mayor. And thank you

00:27:24.080 --> 00:27:25.895
councelor Taylor for the question. Um so

00:27:25.919 --> 00:27:27.416
the revised procurement policy adopted

00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:30.440
by council on 23rd July 2025 included a

00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:33.176
new requirement regarding modern slavery

00:27:33.200 --> 00:27:34.376
with the addition of the following

00:27:34.400 --> 00:27:36.696
paragraph to section 3.16 sustainable

00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:39.416
procurement considerations. It is also

00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:41.416
compulsory to consider modern slavery

00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:43.096
risks in the supply chain of goods

00:27:43.120 --> 00:27:46.120
services and works to be procured and if

00:27:46.159 --> 00:27:48.456
appropriate to seek clarification in the

00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:50.535
tender submission process regarding

00:27:50.559 --> 00:27:52.775
these practices. More broadly in terms

00:27:52.799 --> 00:27:54.856
of our current, I guess, tendering

00:27:54.880 --> 00:27:57.496
process, council's invitation to supply

00:27:57.520 --> 00:27:59.816
already includes provisions relating to

00:27:59.840 --> 00:28:02.216
modern slavery. Schedule 2, part seven

00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:04.375
of the invitation to supply requires

00:28:04.399 --> 00:28:05.976
suppliers to acknowledge and commit to

00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:08.135
the state government's supply code of

00:28:08.159 --> 00:28:10.936
conduct. In particular, the IT requires

00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:12.616
biders to acknowledge that the code

00:28:12.640 --> 00:28:14.535
describes the minimum expectations of

00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:16.696
conduct of suppliers in relation to

00:28:16.720 --> 00:28:18.856
labor and human rights. provide a

00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:20.456
commitment to periodically check for

00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:22.696
updates and amendments to the code and

00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:25.096
aspire to meet the expectations set out

00:28:25.120 --> 00:28:27.096
in the code. If within the code, the

00:28:27.120 --> 00:28:30.120
code specifically states that um

00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:33.736
in its section on labor and human

00:28:33.760 --> 00:28:36.760
rights, suppliers must act against human

00:28:37.200 --> 00:28:39.096
rights exploitations and make all

00:28:39.120 --> 00:28:41.096
reasonable efforts to actively support

00:28:41.120 --> 00:28:43.336
the elimination of modern slavery by

00:28:43.360 --> 00:28:45.176
identifying and mitigating modern

00:28:45.200 --> 00:28:47.655
slavery risks along the supply chain.

00:28:47.679 --> 00:28:49.895
So, so we ask all our tenderers to sign

00:28:49.919 --> 00:28:52.296
up to this in making a submission

00:28:52.320 --> 00:28:53.895
through to council. More broadly, then

00:28:53.919 --> 00:28:55.496
when we actually have a contract with

00:28:55.520 --> 00:28:57.416
someone for the provision of services,

00:28:57.440 --> 00:28:59.255
we have modern slavery provisions within

00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:01.576
our contract and the contractor

00:29:01.600 --> 00:29:03.496
acknowledges and agree within our

00:29:03.520 --> 00:29:05.336
contracts that the contractor must

00:29:05.360 --> 00:29:06.696
comply with the modern slavery

00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:08.375
legislation to the extent that such

00:29:08.399 --> 00:29:10.216
legislation is applicable to the

00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:12.216
contractor. Assist council to comply

00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:13.976
with modern slavery legislation by

00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:16.296
providing information as may reasonably

00:29:16.320 --> 00:29:18.375
requested by council concerning the risk

00:29:18.399 --> 00:29:20.696
of modern slavery practices affecting

00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:22.456
the contractor's operations and supply

00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:24.296
chain and the actions taken by the

00:29:24.320 --> 00:29:26.775
contractor to address such risks within

00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:28.696
not more than 20 days if we request it.

00:29:28.720 --> 00:29:30.456
Um and ensure that the information

00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:32.775
provided to us is accurate and complete.

00:29:32.799 --> 00:29:35.255
Um, more broadly, following council's

00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:38.279
decision to um include within  the

00:29:39.200 --> 00:29:40.775
procurement policy, which is our

00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:42.775
direction as officers, the requirement

00:29:42.799 --> 00:29:44.616
to look at modern slaver slavery, we're

00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:46.216
currently working through a procedure or

00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:47.655
additions to our procedure to make sure

00:29:47.679 --> 00:29:50.135
it's clear for officers in terms of how

00:29:50.159 --> 00:29:52.535
they'll actually do this evaluation. Um,

00:29:52.559 --> 00:29:54.456
and from the the the work that we're

00:29:54.480 --> 00:29:55.736
doing at the moment, it it's all about

00:29:55.760 --> 00:29:57.015
making sure that we've got a reasonable

00:29:57.039 --> 00:29:59.895
balance in terms of how we assess and

00:29:59.919 --> 00:30:02.296
who might be most appropriate to provide

00:30:02.320 --> 00:30:03.976
any information to us in regards to

00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:05.895
modern slavery and then how we ask

00:30:05.919 --> 00:30:07.976
questions and how we evaluate tenderers

00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:10.135
in regards to where we may identify that

00:30:10.159 --> 00:30:11.816
modern slavery provisions are

00:30:11.840 --> 00:30:13.416
appropriate. Thank you, Madam May.

00:30:13.440 --> 00:30:15.096
Another question, Councelor Taylor.

00:30:15.120 --> 00:30:16.456
Thank you. There's a lot to take in on

00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:18.056
that, so I might even try to break it

00:30:18.080 --> 00:30:20.216
down to get it into my mind. So probably

00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:22.775
from a council point of view is what

00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:25.736
does that mean when it comes to our

00:30:25.760 --> 00:30:26.856
procurement because our procurement

00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:28.135
deals with the different levels of

00:30:28.159 --> 00:30:29.655
whether it's the data data operations

00:30:29.679 --> 00:30:31.895
whether it's  under delegation 

00:30:31.919 --> 00:30:34.919
three quotes and then the tender how

00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:37.255
where does that fit currently and in

00:30:37.279 --> 00:30:38.936
relation to this policy would that um

00:30:38.960 --> 00:30:41.960
how would that then be how would I say

00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:44.456
managed or understood in how do you then

00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:47.176
provide I don't know how do you actually

00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:50.200
then trying to enforce it or or abide by

00:30:50.720 --> 00:30:51.416
it.

00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:52.456
Director Hoistlab.

00:30:52.480 --> 00:30:54.056
Yeah. Through you, Madame May.

00:30:54.080 --> 00:30:55.655
Currently, um like in terms of

00:30:55.679 --> 00:30:57.655
tendering, we're working through an

00:30:57.679 --> 00:30:59.416
approach that first of all looks and

00:30:59.440 --> 00:31:01.336
identifies the types of goods and

00:31:01.360 --> 00:31:04.135
services that may actually um have

00:31:04.159 --> 00:31:06.216
modern slavery implications. And 

00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:09.096
there's a list of top 15 um I guess

00:31:09.120 --> 00:31:11.015
products or services that we we've we've

00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:12.216
looked at from the Comwalth government

00:31:12.240 --> 00:31:13.496
to go through and say there's probably

00:31:13.520 --> 00:31:15.816
six out of that list um including solar

00:31:15.840 --> 00:31:18.135
panels, clothing, textiles, etc., which

00:31:18.159 --> 00:31:20.135
we think in terms of our assessment

00:31:20.159 --> 00:31:21.816
framework will be the most appropriate

00:31:21.840 --> 00:31:24.840
things to then ask officers to consider

00:31:25.120 --> 00:31:28.120
to put into our um evaluation or not

00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:31.015
evaluation to put into our um tender

00:31:31.039 --> 00:31:33.895
requirements for um organizations that

00:31:33.919 --> 00:31:35.496
tender with us to provide some more

00:31:35.520 --> 00:31:37.976
detail. current currently all we ask for

00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:39.895
in terms of our invitation to supply our

00:31:39.919 --> 00:31:42.919
tender documents is that um tenderers

00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:44.775
sign up to the state government code

00:31:44.799 --> 00:31:46.056
which as I said has got all those

00:31:46.080 --> 00:31:47.655
requirements already in regards to

00:31:47.679 --> 00:31:50.679
modern slavery expectations um for um

00:31:51.679 --> 00:31:53.895
people that do business with us  more

00:31:53.919 --> 00:31:56.696
broadly in terms of then how we might

00:31:56.720 --> 00:31:59.720
evaluate what is um going to be I guess

00:32:00.320 --> 00:32:02.616
the questions that we have  if you

00:32:02.640 --> 00:32:04.375
look at the the code that's referenced

00:32:04.399 --> 00:32:06.216
in the resolution

00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:08.216
 or the sorry the motion by um

00:32:08.240 --> 00:32:09.895
councelor Lapkin there's a number of

00:32:09.919 --> 00:32:11.416
things that that are currently assessed

00:32:11.440 --> 00:32:13.416
things like policies and procedures

00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:14.936
things like training things like

00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:17.816
response plans  things like  supply

00:32:17.840 --> 00:32:19.576
chain assessment so there's a number of

00:32:19.600 --> 00:32:21.576
things within that guide which we may

00:32:21.600 --> 00:32:24.135
choose to say  for our assessment if

00:32:24.159 --> 00:32:25.416
we've identified that it might be

00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:27.336
appropriate to consider that that we

00:32:27.360 --> 00:32:30.056
might use in our internal procedure and

00:32:30.080 --> 00:32:31.576
and that's as I said now the council's

00:32:31.600 --> 00:32:33.895
given us that direction to consider

00:32:33.919 --> 00:32:36.456
modern slavery in our tender ing we we

00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:38.056
make sure that goes in there more

00:32:38.080 --> 00:32:40.216
broadly. Um then it will come down to

00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:42.135
how we evaluate it and once we've got

00:32:42.159 --> 00:32:43.736
information from it how how we check

00:32:43.760 --> 00:32:45.255
things and we are conscious at the

00:32:45.279 --> 00:32:48.279
moment of how do how do we um respond to

00:32:48.399 --> 00:32:49.655
that requirement in council's

00:32:49.679 --> 00:32:51.976
procurement policy in a way that allows

00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:54.216
us to reasonably test and and I guess

00:32:54.240 --> 00:32:56.856
track or confirm that  as I as I

00:32:56.880 --> 00:32:59.096
indicated the the toolkit or the guide

00:32:59.120 --> 00:33:01.655
has got a large number of  ideas and

00:33:01.679 --> 00:33:04.216
areas for us to have a look at um for

00:33:04.240 --> 00:33:05.895
for officers we want to make sure that

00:33:05.919 --> 00:33:08.919
whatever we ask of  tender ers um we

00:33:09.679 --> 00:33:12.296
if if if in checking that that we can

00:33:12.320 --> 00:33:13.816
actually give some assessment process

00:33:13.840 --> 00:33:15.655
around it and confer it. So so that's

00:33:15.679 --> 00:33:17.336
one thing we are working through as I

00:33:17.360 --> 00:33:20.360
said this um toolkit reference in the in

00:33:20.640 --> 00:33:21.895
the motion is something that we have

00:33:21.919 --> 00:33:22.856
been looking at and something we're

00:33:22.880 --> 00:33:24.456
considering to to follow through on

00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:26.696
council's direction.  more broadly in

00:33:26.720 --> 00:33:29.655
terms of if you do um do any work with

00:33:29.679 --> 00:33:31.096
us, as I said in responding to one of

00:33:31.120 --> 00:33:32.856
the earlier question time questions,

00:33:32.880 --> 00:33:34.856
that we put the requirement back on the

00:33:34.880 --> 00:33:36.936
supplier to make sure the supplier is

00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:39.096
actually complying with all acts, all

00:33:39.120 --> 00:33:41.015
requirements, all legislation, and that

00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:43.655
would include modern slavery. Um I hope

00:33:43.679 --> 00:33:44.936
that helps, Madame Mayor, but that's

00:33:44.960 --> 00:33:46.375
generally how we manage things at the

00:33:46.399 --> 00:33:47.976
moment and and the plans that we have to

00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:49.976
implement council's direction.

00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:52.216
Councelor Morgan, you have a question.

00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:54.696
Thank you, Madame Mayor.

00:33:54.720 --> 00:33:57.416
Um that response went to the risk

00:33:57.440 --> 00:33:59.816
management around particular kinds of

00:33:59.840 --> 00:34:02.296
products and I appreciate hearing what

00:34:02.320 --> 00:34:04.936
policies and practices we have in place.

00:34:04.960 --> 00:34:07.176
Um questions and members of the

00:34:07.200 --> 00:34:09.016
community tonight have raised risks

00:34:09.040 --> 00:34:12.040
around particular groups. So, um, ,

00:34:12.960 --> 00:34:15.815
prison labor, people with disabilities

00:34:15.839 --> 00:34:18.839
potentially being, um, , facing, um,

00:34:20.720 --> 00:34:22.375
these risks as well as

00:34:22.399 --> 00:34:24.855
disproportionately First Nations groups.

00:34:24.879 --> 00:34:26.696
Are you able to speak a little bit more

00:34:26.720 --> 00:34:29.016
about how our risk approach and our

00:34:29.040 --> 00:34:31.895
current policies would also

00:34:31.919 --> 00:34:34.536
um, address heightened risk of

00:34:34.560 --> 00:34:36.615
procurement that might impact those

00:34:36.639 --> 00:34:39.335
particular groups?

00:34:39.359 --> 00:34:40.776
three. Madame May and Council Morman,

00:34:40.800 --> 00:34:42.296
thank you for the question. Um, I guess

00:34:42.320 --> 00:34:44.296
in the first instance, there would have

00:34:44.320 --> 00:34:47.176
to be a breach of the law or a breach of

00:34:47.200 --> 00:34:49.815
legislation in regards to that company

00:34:49.839 --> 00:34:52.375
that is using those types of services.

00:34:52.399 --> 00:34:53.976
So, that would be the first thing that

00:34:54.000 --> 00:34:56.936
would actually have to occur and um we

00:34:56.960 --> 00:34:59.960
have some views except tonight um on how

00:35:01.280 --> 00:35:03.575
those industries may be affected in a in

00:35:03.599 --> 00:35:06.216
an adverse way in regards to the work

00:35:06.240 --> 00:35:07.815
they do and the services they provide.

00:35:07.839 --> 00:35:09.976
So, first of all, there'd have to be um

00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:13.000
an actual breach because we ask in our

00:35:13.599 --> 00:35:16.599
um I guess um workings with third party

00:35:17.280 --> 00:35:18.936
suppliers. We ask that they comply with

00:35:18.960 --> 00:35:20.936
every law and legislation that's out

00:35:20.960 --> 00:35:22.616
there. So, that's an expectation that we

00:35:22.640 --> 00:35:24.536
have in our contract documents. It's an

00:35:24.560 --> 00:35:26.055
expectation that we have in our purchase

00:35:26.079 --> 00:35:28.136
orders for supply. So, so we put the

00:35:28.160 --> 00:35:31.160
onus back on um the provider to make

00:35:31.680 --> 00:35:33.016
sure they're compliant with all the

00:35:33.040 --> 00:35:35.095
relevant laws in Australia that that you

00:35:35.119 --> 00:35:37.416
must do. Now, if someone did actually

00:35:37.440 --> 00:35:39.496
have an incidence of non-compliance and

00:35:39.520 --> 00:35:41.416
it was brought to our attention, , and

00:35:41.440 --> 00:35:43.176
we're doing, I guess, , works with

00:35:43.200 --> 00:35:44.536
them, we've got the ability to query

00:35:44.560 --> 00:35:46.216
them about them about that and find out

00:35:46.240 --> 00:35:48.055
more information in regards to what has

00:35:48.079 --> 00:35:49.736
actually occurred. And if we were to

00:35:49.760 --> 00:35:52.055
identify an instance that looked like

00:35:52.079 --> 00:35:53.815
modern slavery, then there's ways and

00:35:53.839 --> 00:35:55.575
guides on how we report that as well,

00:35:55.599 --> 00:35:58.599
too. So, it it would have to actually

00:35:59.359 --> 00:36:01.256
have an incidence of that occurring.

00:36:01.280 --> 00:36:02.696
What's been highlighted tonight is

00:36:02.720 --> 00:36:04.936
really important. Um but at the same

00:36:04.960 --> 00:36:07.256
time  there'd have to be a breach of a

00:36:07.280 --> 00:36:10.280
law or regulation within Australia um

00:36:10.320 --> 00:36:11.896
for for there to be something that we

00:36:11.920 --> 00:36:13.815
could act on and for us to address.

00:36:13.839 --> 00:36:16.376
Otherwise, it's it's really not not our

00:36:16.400 --> 00:36:18.616
business to be stepping into how someone

00:36:18.640 --> 00:36:19.896
else runs their business if they're

00:36:19.920 --> 00:36:21.095
compliant with all the laws and

00:36:21.119 --> 00:36:23.256
regulations that apply to businesses in

00:36:23.280 --> 00:36:24.856
Australia.

00:36:24.880 --> 00:36:26.616
Councelor Hudson, do you have a question

00:36:26.640 --> 00:36:29.016
there?

00:36:29.040 --> 00:36:32.040
Did you have a question? I'm not

00:36:32.400 --> 00:36:34.136
um Yes. Thank you, Madame Mayor. And I

00:36:34.160 --> 00:36:37.160
guess a a follow-up question to the

00:36:37.440 --> 00:36:39.896
director. So,

00:36:39.920 --> 00:36:42.920
other than taking on face value that a

00:36:43.119 --> 00:36:45.335
tender ticks the box and says, "Yes, we

00:36:45.359 --> 00:36:47.335
comply."

00:36:47.359 --> 00:36:49.016
And then if they're found to be

00:36:49.040 --> 00:36:51.976
non-compliant, they've breached a law

00:36:52.000 --> 00:36:54.136
that's already in existence, which is

00:36:54.160 --> 00:36:56.856
presumably prosecuted in some other

00:36:56.880 --> 00:36:58.936
place without any action from us. Is

00:36:58.960 --> 00:37:00.136
that correct?

00:37:00.160 --> 00:37:01.496
Correct. Three, amen. and we but we'd

00:37:01.520 --> 00:37:02.936
report that. We if we had actually

00:37:02.960 --> 00:37:04.296
identified it, we'd have an obligation

00:37:04.320 --> 00:37:06.055
to report that and there's processes

00:37:06.079 --> 00:37:09.079
that we can follow to do that.

00:37:09.839 --> 00:37:12.839
I have a question. Um would a policy

00:37:14.079 --> 00:37:17.079
like this um how would that I'm thinking

00:37:17.119 --> 00:37:19.496
bigger businesses probably wouldn't have

00:37:19.520 --> 00:37:22.520
as much um trouble you know with with

00:37:23.359 --> 00:37:25.095
that policy when they're tendering but

00:37:25.119 --> 00:37:27.976
would it be um I'm just thinking of

00:37:28.000 --> 00:37:29.896
smaller businesses more ownorous and

00:37:29.920 --> 00:37:32.536
harder for them to satisfy that

00:37:32.560 --> 00:37:34.696
requirement to be able to prove there's

00:37:34.720 --> 00:37:37.720
no slavery in their supply chain

00:37:38.800 --> 00:37:41.496
um through you madame mayor correct

00:37:41.520 --> 00:37:44.520
that um the types of I guess um

00:37:45.119 --> 00:37:47.335
components that the the toolkit is

00:37:47.359 --> 00:37:49.575
looking for is it's not only policies,

00:37:49.599 --> 00:37:51.095
it's also resources that you have

00:37:51.119 --> 00:37:52.616
specifically dedicated to modern

00:37:52.640 --> 00:37:55.575
slavery. It is assessments that you need

00:37:55.599 --> 00:37:57.176
to do of your supply chain to work out

00:37:57.200 --> 00:37:58.776
whether there are any modern slavery

00:37:58.800 --> 00:38:01.095
risks. Um it's training that you have to

00:38:01.119 --> 00:38:03.815
do for your staff. So generally these

00:38:03.839 --> 00:38:06.136
type of components that the toolkit

00:38:06.160 --> 00:38:08.216
looks for generally larger businesses

00:38:08.240 --> 00:38:09.896
would be able to put those things in

00:38:09.920 --> 00:38:11.736
place more easily than than what smaller

00:38:11.760 --> 00:38:13.496
businesses would and as I said we're

00:38:13.520 --> 00:38:15.815
currently working through a procedure

00:38:15.839 --> 00:38:17.256
that we're trying to get the balance

00:38:17.280 --> 00:38:19.416
right um to implement council's

00:38:19.440 --> 00:38:22.440
direction around practical assessment um

00:38:23.040 --> 00:38:25.575
identification for the right types of um

00:38:25.599 --> 00:38:27.736
procurements that we're following up on

00:38:27.760 --> 00:38:28.936
and then something that we can

00:38:28.960 --> 00:38:30.776
reasonably check and test against

00:38:30.800 --> 00:38:32.776
tenderers when we identify we may have a

00:38:32.800 --> 00:38:34.456
high-risisk procurement.

00:38:34.480 --> 00:38:36.696
And just another question, in putting

00:38:36.720 --> 00:38:38.776
together a report of this type, I'm

00:38:38.800 --> 00:38:41.800
assuming would take um one officer to

00:38:42.800 --> 00:38:45.016
research, to put together, to bring to a

00:38:45.040 --> 00:38:48.040
briefing first and then back to

00:38:48.560 --> 00:38:51.416
chambers. Is that I mean, it's hard to

00:38:51.440 --> 00:38:53.416
guess I I suppose until you start doing

00:38:53.440 --> 00:38:55.256
the work, but is that reasonable to say

00:38:55.280 --> 00:38:58.280
there'd be a few thousand or so in time?

00:38:59.040 --> 00:39:00.616
I don't know if you can answer that

00:39:00.640 --> 00:39:02.456
really. Oh, three m how about I try with

00:39:02.480 --> 00:39:04.536
time like probably a week's time to take

00:39:04.560 --> 00:39:07.176
the this the to complete the research to

00:39:07.200 --> 00:39:09.496
write the report up to to make sure

00:39:09.520 --> 00:39:11.416
we've checked it, we've assessed it etc.

00:39:11.440 --> 00:39:13.335
So probably at least a week's time of an

00:39:13.359 --> 00:39:16.296
officer to do um as I said at the moment

00:39:16.320 --> 00:39:18.376
we are looking at this toolkit. We are

00:39:18.400 --> 00:39:20.776
trying to use it to follow through on

00:39:20.800 --> 00:39:22.216
council's direction that they've given

00:39:22.240 --> 00:39:25.240
us. Um the toolkit is not mandatory as

00:39:25.280 --> 00:39:26.456
well too. That's the other thing. The

00:39:26.480 --> 00:39:28.376
toolkit's actually optional for people

00:39:28.400 --> 00:39:30.456
within the Commonwealth government. Um

00:39:30.480 --> 00:39:32.296
we we have a compulsory requirement in

00:39:32.320 --> 00:39:33.736
our procurement policy already through

00:39:33.760 --> 00:39:35.416
council's direction to consider this

00:39:35.440 --> 00:39:37.416
which I think is a great step. Um and

00:39:37.440 --> 00:39:38.936
we're just trying to build the right

00:39:38.960 --> 00:39:40.616
framework within a procedure within an

00:39:40.640 --> 00:39:42.376
operational procedure at the moment so

00:39:42.400 --> 00:39:43.736
we can guide officers in its

00:39:43.760 --> 00:39:45.575
consideration.

00:39:45.599 --> 00:39:48.296
Sure. Just one more sorry to dumb this

00:39:48.320 --> 00:39:50.936
right down. So it would I mean a new

00:39:50.960 --> 00:39:53.960
policy a standalone policy would propose

00:39:54.480 --> 00:39:57.480
um an extra framework that would be need

00:39:58.320 --> 00:40:00.776
that would people tendering would have

00:40:00.800 --> 00:40:03.800
to be across or fulfill or whatever that

00:40:04.400 --> 00:40:07.400
that looks like and then we're not

00:40:07.920 --> 00:40:09.256
really monitoring we wouldn't

00:40:09.280 --> 00:40:11.176
necessarily be monitoring it or checking

00:40:11.200 --> 00:40:14.200
up or um you know going to check out

00:40:14.240 --> 00:40:16.856
factories and where things come from.

00:40:16.880 --> 00:40:18.296
Yeah, I'm sorry. I don't know if that's

00:40:18.320 --> 00:40:20.616
a really clear question, but it's um

00:40:20.640 --> 00:40:23.575
it's adding an extra layer and it's it's

00:40:23.599 --> 00:40:25.496
going to have cost implications, I

00:40:25.520 --> 00:40:27.335
guess, for us as well.

00:40:27.359 --> 00:40:29.335
Correct. Um and like I said, we we have

00:40:29.359 --> 00:40:30.536
got a direction of council and we're

00:40:30.560 --> 00:40:31.815
trying to work through how to build that

00:40:31.839 --> 00:40:33.896
as most reasonly as possible. A policy

00:40:33.920 --> 00:40:35.656
would be another step. A policy through

00:40:35.680 --> 00:40:37.736
council would then be another step and a

00:40:37.760 --> 00:40:39.656
another level of effort. If it's left at

00:40:39.680 --> 00:40:41.095
an operational procedure level,

00:40:41.119 --> 00:40:42.616
obviously counselors don't get to see

00:40:42.640 --> 00:40:44.776
it. it's handed over to officers to make

00:40:44.800 --> 00:40:46.456
sure that we follow through on your

00:40:46.480 --> 00:40:47.896
direction and you can quiz us and ask

00:40:47.920 --> 00:40:49.575
about that, but we don't then bring it

00:40:49.599 --> 00:40:51.335
back through the chamber as I think this

00:40:51.359 --> 00:40:53.256
 motion calls for in terms of an

00:40:53.280 --> 00:40:55.335
actual formal policy. Um so we we've

00:40:55.359 --> 00:40:57.016
still got work to do. This would be an

00:40:57.040 --> 00:40:58.696
extra level of work for the organization

00:40:58.720 --> 00:41:00.295
to go through and actually produce this

00:41:00.319 --> 00:41:01.736
policy and bring it through council.

00:41:01.760 --> 00:41:03.976
Okay. Thank you. Was there another

00:41:04.000 --> 00:41:06.856
question over councelor Raldi?

00:41:06.880 --> 00:41:09.016
 thank you madame mayor.  my

00:41:09.040 --> 00:41:12.040
question is  to ascertain the truth

00:41:12.880 --> 00:41:15.880
um in the policy and the procedure 

00:41:17.280 --> 00:41:20.136
and the checking of the truth. How do we

00:41:20.160 --> 00:41:22.055
do that? It's hard enough in this

00:41:22.079 --> 00:41:24.456
country with looking at a different

00:41:24.480 --> 00:41:27.095
country here. I just want to understand

00:41:27.119 --> 00:41:29.016
how we can get to the truth or the

00:41:29.040 --> 00:41:31.016
facts.

00:41:31.040 --> 00:41:32.055
Director Hoista

00:41:32.079 --> 00:41:33.016
through you madam mayor and thank you

00:41:33.040 --> 00:41:34.136
councelor for the question. It's a

00:41:34.160 --> 00:41:35.656
really good question. Generally the the

00:41:35.680 --> 00:41:38.136
toolkit um and probably what we will do

00:41:38.160 --> 00:41:39.896
as well too looks to assess an

00:41:39.920 --> 00:41:42.456
organization's capability to manage

00:41:42.480 --> 00:41:44.616
modern slavery and that is provide a

00:41:44.640 --> 00:41:47.016
provide a policy that you can show us

00:41:47.040 --> 00:41:49.496
that covers off  modern slavery risk.

00:41:49.520 --> 00:41:51.176
Provide the resources within your

00:41:51.200 --> 00:41:52.936
organization that are specifically

00:41:52.960 --> 00:41:55.416
allocated to dealing with managing

00:41:55.440 --> 00:41:57.896
modern slavery. Um confir you've

00:41:57.920 --> 00:42:00.295
actually completed training in modern

00:42:00.319 --> 00:42:02.696
training  for your organization.

00:42:02.720 --> 00:42:05.176
confirm what your defense systems are or

00:42:05.200 --> 00:42:07.016
your reporting processes are if you do

00:42:07.040 --> 00:42:09.016
identify modern slavery in your supply

00:42:09.040 --> 00:42:11.256
chain. So it doesn't actually from my

00:42:11.280 --> 00:42:13.256
perspective actually prevent it from

00:42:13.280 --> 00:42:16.055
occurring but it does give a system to

00:42:16.079 --> 00:42:18.536
educate to train to have policies for

00:42:18.560 --> 00:42:20.616
people to follow and what to do in an

00:42:20.640 --> 00:42:22.456
instance of identification. That's

00:42:22.480 --> 00:42:24.696
broadly the the focus of the tool

00:42:24.720 --> 00:42:26.456
toolkit. It it does it doesn't

00:42:26.480 --> 00:42:27.896
necessarily guarantee from my

00:42:27.920 --> 00:42:29.496
perspective that it won't be occurring,

00:42:29.520 --> 00:42:32.055
but it expects that organizations

00:42:32.079 --> 00:42:34.856
consider it, evaluate it, and have a way

00:42:34.880 --> 00:42:36.536
effectively to deal with it if it does

00:42:36.560 --> 00:42:38.776
arise. Thank you, Madam Mayor.

00:42:38.800 --> 00:42:41.256
Council, is there any other questions in

00:42:41.280 --> 00:42:42.936
that case? Councelor Lapkin, would you

00:42:42.960 --> 00:42:45.656
like just a short little bit of time to

00:42:45.680 --> 00:42:47.896
tell us about the intent of the notice

00:42:47.920 --> 00:42:50.295
of motion before moving it? If you I'm

00:42:50.319 --> 00:42:51.575
assuming you want to move it, but you've

00:42:51.599 --> 00:42:53.256
got an opportunity to do that first if

00:42:53.280 --> 00:42:55.496
you like.  thank you, Madam Mayor.

00:42:55.520 --> 00:42:57.575
Yeah. Um

00:42:57.599 --> 00:43:00.599
the um

00:43:00.800 --> 00:43:03.575
 council officers

00:43:03.599 --> 00:43:06.055
 because we've evinced an interest in

00:43:06.079 --> 00:43:09.079
this issue have already started

00:43:09.280 --> 00:43:11.976
preliminary steps in drawing together 

00:43:12.000 --> 00:43:15.000
a series of processes that address this

00:43:16.560 --> 00:43:19.560
 issue. Um it  I think that if we

00:43:20.640 --> 00:43:23.640
had a standalone policy that would fold

00:43:24.560 --> 00:43:27.560
all of these efforts into one, it would

00:43:27.599 --> 00:43:30.599
be out there. It would be like um  the

00:43:30.800 --> 00:43:33.800
modern the modern the modern slavery act

00:43:34.079 --> 00:43:37.079
 imposes on private sector companies

00:43:37.599 --> 00:43:39.815
that have I think revenue of over $100

00:43:39.839 --> 00:43:42.839
million. They are mandated doing a 

00:43:43.440 --> 00:43:46.440
developing a modern slavery policy and

00:43:46.480 --> 00:43:49.480
 putting out  in   in

00:43:50.880 --> 00:43:52.616
conjunction with their annual report a

00:43:52.640 --> 00:43:55.640
modern slavery statement. Um we spend

00:43:57.119 --> 00:43:59.656
close to $200 million on infrastructure

00:43:59.680 --> 00:44:02.680
goods and services. I think to take all

00:44:02.800 --> 00:44:05.416
of these disperate

00:44:05.440 --> 00:44:08.440
 processes that are already in place

00:44:09.040 --> 00:44:10.776
because we have incenced interest in

00:44:10.800 --> 00:44:13.800
this  over the preceding months. I

00:44:13.839 --> 00:44:15.335
think to just put it into one

00:44:15.359 --> 00:44:18.359
coordinated hole, I think that would 

00:44:19.040 --> 00:44:21.976
send a message um instead of having it

00:44:22.000 --> 00:44:25.000
in disperate  separate policies. Thank

00:44:25.200 --> 00:44:25.976
you.

00:44:26.000 --> 00:44:27.896
Thank you. I'll on that note I'll put it

00:44:27.920 --> 00:44:30.920
to a call for a motion. Councelor moved

00:44:32.000 --> 00:44:33.656
by councelor Lapkin looking for a

00:44:33.680 --> 00:44:34.856
seconder.

00:44:34.880 --> 00:44:37.880
Councelor Saunders. Councelor Lapkin.

00:44:37.920 --> 00:44:40.920
I'll read the motion. Council calls

00:44:41.920 --> 00:44:43.976
sorry.

00:44:44.000 --> 00:44:45.976
 that council calls for a report that

00:44:46.000 --> 00:44:47.496
considers the establishment of a

00:44:47.520 --> 00:44:49.575
standalone modern slavery policy to be

00:44:49.599 --> 00:44:51.896
brought before council that establishes

00:44:51.920 --> 00:44:54.055
a procure procurement procedures

00:44:54.079 --> 00:44:56.136
designed to avoid the direct or indirect

00:44:56.160 --> 00:44:58.776
subsidization of modern slavery and

00:44:58.800 --> 00:45:00.696
cites the Australian anti-slavery

00:45:00.720 --> 00:45:02.936
commissioner's modern slavery toolkit

00:45:02.960 --> 00:45:05.256
for government procurement officers and

00:45:05.280 --> 00:45:07.976
the modern slavery act 2018 commonwealth

00:45:08.000 --> 00:45:10.776
as resources for the development of the

00:45:10.800 --> 00:45:12.936
City of Ballarat's modern slavery

00:45:12.960 --> 00:45:15.960
policy. See

00:45:17.200 --> 00:45:18.856
that was just you are already speaking

00:45:18.880 --> 00:45:21.095
to it after second it you've time has

00:45:21.119 --> 00:45:22.055
already started.

00:45:22.079 --> 00:45:23.815
All right. Thank you madame mayor.  on

00:45:23.839 --> 00:45:26.839
the 12th of May 1789 William Wilberforce

00:45:27.839 --> 00:45:29.496
rose in the House of Commons to deliver

00:45:29.520 --> 00:45:32.055
a milestone in the history of human

00:45:32.079 --> 00:45:34.856
dignity and decency. quote, "Once I

00:45:34.880 --> 00:45:36.856
arrived at my investigation of the slave

00:45:36.880 --> 00:45:39.335
trade, so enormous, so dreadful, so

00:45:39.359 --> 00:45:42.055
irrediable, did its wickedness appear

00:45:42.079 --> 00:45:44.696
that my own mind was completely made up

00:45:44.720 --> 00:45:47.416
for its abolition." These words served

00:45:47.440 --> 00:45:49.815
as the opening salvo in a long political

00:45:49.839 --> 00:45:52.055
struggle that culminated in the slavery

00:45:52.079 --> 00:45:54.856
abolition act of 1833, ending this

00:45:54.880 --> 00:45:56.616
obscene institution throughout Britain

00:45:56.640 --> 00:45:58.856
and her dominions. Madame Mayor, I call

00:45:58.880 --> 00:46:00.616
upon you and my fellow counselors to

00:46:00.640 --> 00:46:03.640
join us in continuing this tradition

00:46:04.000 --> 00:46:06.616
today. Like many human evils, slavery is

00:46:06.640 --> 00:46:08.936
a proteian scourge shape-shifting

00:46:08.960 --> 00:46:10.376
through different forms at different

00:46:10.400 --> 00:46:12.456
times and in different places. It

00:46:12.480 --> 00:46:14.216
persists today in a framework that might

00:46:14.240 --> 00:46:17.016
not that might be less obvious, but is

00:46:17.040 --> 00:46:19.575
no less nefarious. Modern slavery may be

00:46:19.599 --> 00:46:22.456
out of sight, but we must not let it be

00:46:22.480 --> 00:46:24.776
out of mind. As we speak, millions of

00:46:24.800 --> 00:46:26.936
children are mining gold, tin, and

00:46:26.960 --> 00:46:29.416
tungsten, harvesting palm tree oils for

00:46:29.440 --> 00:46:32.440
oil, or molding bricks in open air kils.

00:46:33.040 --> 00:46:35.016
There are open slave markets in Libya,

00:46:35.040 --> 00:46:36.776
where human beings are bought and sold

00:46:36.800 --> 00:46:39.416
in a manner identical to the warside

00:46:39.440 --> 00:46:41.095
auctions of New Orleans before the

00:46:41.119 --> 00:46:43.736
American Civil War. The explanatory

00:46:43.760 --> 00:46:45.496
memorandum to the Commonwealth Modern

00:46:45.520 --> 00:46:47.656
Slavery Act gives a comprehensive

00:46:47.680 --> 00:46:49.095
definition to help us get our heads

00:46:49.119 --> 00:46:51.095
around this blight. quote, "Modern

00:46:51.119 --> 00:46:53.335
slavery practices include trafficking in

00:46:53.359 --> 00:46:56.359
persons. Slavery like practices

00:46:56.480 --> 00:46:58.055
including forced labor and forced

00:46:58.079 --> 00:47:00.456
marriage and the worst forms of child

00:47:00.480 --> 00:47:03.480
labor   for hazardous workers. So

00:47:03.760 --> 00:47:06.295
where do we come in?" Quoting again from

00:47:06.319 --> 00:47:09.095
the axe explanatory memorandum, there is

00:47:09.119 --> 00:47:10.936
high risk that Australian businesses are

00:47:10.960 --> 00:47:12.776
exposed to modern slavery and that

00:47:12.800 --> 00:47:14.295
Australian goods and services are

00:47:14.319 --> 00:47:16.936
tainted by modern slavery. This risk may

00:47:16.960 --> 00:47:18.856
be high heightened for large companies

00:47:18.880 --> 00:47:21.095
and other entities with extensive

00:47:21.119 --> 00:47:24.119
complex or global supply chains. Our 98

00:47:24.880 --> 00:47:27.335
million in capital expenditure and 91

00:47:27.359 --> 00:47:29.976
million in spending on materials and

00:47:30.000 --> 00:47:31.815
services must surely meet that

00:47:31.839 --> 00:47:34.456
definition of extensive complex and/or

00:47:34.480 --> 00:47:37.480
global. And while the modern slavery act

00:47:37.520 --> 00:47:39.496
exempts local government from mandatory

00:47:39.520 --> 00:47:41.416
compliance, it's my belief we should

00:47:41.440 --> 00:47:43.256
commit to doing so in our own of our own

00:47:43.280 --> 00:47:45.176
valition. Again, we're talking about

00:47:45.200 --> 00:47:47.176
human trafficking, slave and child

00:47:47.200 --> 00:47:49.256
labor. If there's any issue that

00:47:49.280 --> 00:47:51.976
justifies going above and beyond, surely

00:47:52.000 --> 00:47:54.376
modern slavery would be it. Now, I'm

00:47:54.400 --> 00:47:57.095
sure everyone knows here that I'm not a

00:47:57.119 --> 00:47:59.256
fan of government regulation, but if

00:47:59.280 --> 00:48:01.335
there's any issue that justifies an

00:48:01.359 --> 00:48:04.136
exception to that rule, surely modern

00:48:04.160 --> 00:48:06.856
slavery would be it. We can look to the

00:48:06.880 --> 00:48:08.696
United Kingdom for inspiration. This

00:48:08.720 --> 00:48:10.936
past April, the Starharma government

00:48:10.960 --> 00:48:12.696
banned Britain's stateowned energy

00:48:12.720 --> 00:48:14.696
company from investing in projects that

00:48:14.720 --> 00:48:17.256
use solar panels manufactured by slave

00:48:17.280 --> 00:48:19.256
labor. And in fact, it was that decision

00:48:19.280 --> 00:48:22.280
that piqued my interest in this issue.

00:48:23.040 --> 00:48:24.936
Um

00:48:24.960 --> 00:48:27.095
 just in reference to certain qualms

00:48:27.119 --> 00:48:28.376
that have been voiced by certain

00:48:28.400 --> 00:48:30.535
elements of the community.  it should

00:48:30.559 --> 00:48:32.376
be self-evident that there's a world of

00:48:32.400 --> 00:48:34.376
ethical difference between a universal

00:48:34.400 --> 00:48:36.456
measure designed to combat child labor

00:48:36.480 --> 00:48:39.335
wherever it is and a transparent effort

00:48:39.359 --> 00:48:41.656
to demonize a particular nation state

00:48:41.680 --> 00:48:44.055
linked to a particular ethnic group. But

00:48:44.079 --> 00:48:46.376
back to the matter at hand. As I've said

00:48:46.400 --> 00:48:48.696
before in this chamber, the money we

00:48:48.720 --> 00:48:50.535
exact from our residents through the

00:48:50.559 --> 00:48:53.176
coercive power of government should be

00:48:53.200 --> 00:48:55.815
seen as a sacred trust. Not only what

00:48:55.839 --> 00:48:58.376
must we spend those dollars soberly, but

00:48:58.400 --> 00:49:00.696
also morally. And in addition to

00:49:00.720 --> 00:49:02.535
practicing fiscal restraint, we should

00:49:02.559 --> 00:49:04.856
also act in good faith to minimize the

00:49:04.880 --> 00:49:06.456
likelihood of acquiring goods and

00:49:06.480 --> 00:49:09.256
services from tainted supply chains. For

00:49:09.280 --> 00:49:11.575
this, we need a standalone policy that

00:49:11.599 --> 00:49:13.335
will attach to our procurement

00:49:13.359 --> 00:49:15.496
practices. This motion calls for a

00:49:15.520 --> 00:49:17.575
report from officers that assesses the

00:49:17.599 --> 00:49:20.456
feasibility and cost of such a policy. I

00:49:20.480 --> 00:49:22.055
hope you share the view that this is a

00:49:22.079 --> 00:49:23.656
no-brainer.

00:49:23.680 --> 00:49:26.136
 please join me in kickstarting this

00:49:26.160 --> 00:49:27.815
process into motion. It's the right

00:49:27.839 --> 00:49:29.896
thing to do. Thank you very much.

00:49:29.920 --> 00:49:31.815
Councelor Saunders, as the second, would

00:49:31.839 --> 00:49:34.216
you like to speak? Councilors, is there

00:49:34.240 --> 00:49:35.575
anyone wishing to speak against the

00:49:35.599 --> 00:49:37.256
motion?

00:49:37.280 --> 00:49:38.616
Councelor Taylor.

00:49:38.640 --> 00:49:41.640
Thanks, Madame Mayor. um 

00:49:43.359 --> 00:49:44.856
been in this chamber a lot when it comes

00:49:44.880 --> 00:49:47.880
to different items that that may  may

00:49:48.640 --> 00:49:51.016
have a broader impact and in this case

00:49:51.040 --> 00:49:52.936
tonight we actually are dealing with a

00:49:52.960 --> 00:49:55.736
broader impact which is it's not local

00:49:55.760 --> 00:49:57.815
government it's already been regulated

00:49:57.839 --> 00:50:00.376
by state and federal government um and

00:50:00.400 --> 00:50:02.216
it's it's actually not enforceable by

00:50:02.240 --> 00:50:03.815
council it's enforceable by state and

00:50:03.839 --> 00:50:06.055
federal government this is about matters

00:50:06.079 --> 00:50:07.815
of  things that happen in other

00:50:07.839 --> 00:50:09.496
countries I keep saying we need to be

00:50:09.520 --> 00:50:11.335
focusing on local government. This is

00:50:11.359 --> 00:50:13.256
not local government. This is not local.

00:50:13.280 --> 00:50:14.616
We've heard tonight from the director

00:50:14.640 --> 00:50:17.335
there already is um mechanisms within

00:50:17.359 --> 00:50:18.936
the current policy that can deal with

00:50:18.960 --> 00:50:21.575
this. Having a specific policy will be

00:50:21.599 --> 00:50:24.456
in my view constraining constraining

00:50:24.480 --> 00:50:25.736
what requirements are needed by

00:50:25.760 --> 00:50:27.815
tenderers. So they then have to do the

00:50:27.839 --> 00:50:29.736
work which adds a layer of red tape and

00:50:29.760 --> 00:50:30.936
that's what we're trying to do in this

00:50:30.960 --> 00:50:32.776
council is remove some red tape so we

00:50:32.800 --> 00:50:34.616
can actually get business open. It also

00:50:34.640 --> 00:50:36.055
actually adds a layer for officers to

00:50:36.079 --> 00:50:37.736
deal with when it comes to time and

00:50:37.760 --> 00:50:39.575
resources. And where do you actually

00:50:39.599 --> 00:50:41.896
apply that time? Do you apply it to

00:50:41.920 --> 00:50:44.616
buying a pen? Do you apply it to buying

00:50:44.640 --> 00:50:46.295
services over a million dollars? Do you

00:50:46.319 --> 00:50:48.216
apply it to a whole lot of areas? Do we

00:50:48.240 --> 00:50:50.055
need an officer to actually deal with

00:50:50.079 --> 00:50:51.736
the modern slavery policy that actually

00:50:51.760 --> 00:50:53.416
has to assess every single purchase we

00:50:53.440 --> 00:50:54.856
make? Whether it's a tender, whether

00:50:54.880 --> 00:50:56.216
it's a three quote, whether it's

00:50:56.240 --> 00:50:58.376
something else. It's just unneeded when

00:50:58.400 --> 00:51:00.535
we already have some safeguards in

00:51:00.559 --> 00:51:02.535
place. But we're not I don't see the

00:51:02.559 --> 00:51:04.856
point in going further because it is

00:51:04.880 --> 00:51:06.616
government regulated already. It's not

00:51:06.640 --> 00:51:08.295
our requirement local government to step

00:51:08.319 --> 00:51:11.319
into that space.  in my view this also

00:51:11.680 --> 00:51:13.656
opens up a pretty big slippery slope

00:51:13.680 --> 00:51:15.256
into what else comes into play when it

00:51:15.280 --> 00:51:17.095
comes to policies around procurement.

00:51:17.119 --> 00:51:18.936
And we have had that request before to

00:51:18.960 --> 00:51:21.095
council around other requirements when

00:51:21.119 --> 00:51:23.176
it comes to procurement and whether we

00:51:23.200 --> 00:51:25.416
should be looking at other areas where

00:51:25.440 --> 00:51:27.176
we should or shouldn't procure from

00:51:27.200 --> 00:51:29.335
whether it's national, international or

00:51:29.359 --> 00:51:31.335
certain areas. and and again the

00:51:31.359 --> 00:51:32.936
presentation tonight is actually a valid

00:51:32.960 --> 00:51:34.856
presentation but is that an area do we

00:51:34.880 --> 00:51:36.535
step into when it comes to disability

00:51:36.559 --> 00:51:38.616
people organizations and around that

00:51:38.640 --> 00:51:40.456
Australian disability enterprises where

00:51:40.480 --> 00:51:42.456
they see that it fits in relation to

00:51:42.480 --> 00:51:45.480
modern slavery again slippery slope it's

00:51:45.920 --> 00:51:47.656
not local government it's not our place

00:51:47.680 --> 00:51:49.335
we shouldn't be in it therefore I can't

00:51:49.359 --> 00:51:50.856
support it

00:51:50.880 --> 00:51:52.535
councelor Morrison were you wishing to

00:51:52.559 --> 00:51:55.256
speak for or against the motion

00:51:55.280 --> 00:51:56.856
against the motion

00:51:56.880 --> 00:51:59.256
yes you can go then

00:51:59.280 --> 00:52:01.575
thank Um, I speak in opposition of the

00:52:01.599 --> 00:52:03.815
motion, though, let me be absolutely

00:52:03.839 --> 00:52:06.456
clear. Modern slavery is a serious and

00:52:06.480 --> 00:52:09.016
abhorrent violation of human rights. And

00:52:09.040 --> 00:52:10.616
I believe that we all share a commitment

00:52:10.640 --> 00:52:13.016
to ensuring that our council does not in

00:52:13.040 --> 00:52:15.095
any way contribute to or enable

00:52:15.119 --> 00:52:17.176
practices through our community 

00:52:17.200 --> 00:52:20.136
through our procurement activities. I do

00:52:20.160 --> 00:52:21.575
want to push back on the narrative that

00:52:21.599 --> 00:52:23.335
I've seen circulating on social media

00:52:23.359 --> 00:52:25.095
that opposing this motion somehow

00:52:25.119 --> 00:52:27.815
equates to supporting childhood slavery.

00:52:27.839 --> 00:52:29.656
That kind of framing is not only

00:52:29.680 --> 00:52:32.680
unhelpful, it's also deeply unfair. Um,

00:52:33.040 --> 00:52:34.616
we can all agree on the importance of

00:52:34.640 --> 00:52:36.535
addressing modern slavery without

00:52:36.559 --> 00:52:38.776
agreeing that this particular motion is

00:52:38.800 --> 00:52:40.856
the right or the most effective way to

00:52:40.880 --> 00:52:43.656
do that. Robust debate and scrutiny of

00:52:43.680 --> 00:52:45.896
policy proposals should never be reduced

00:52:45.920 --> 00:52:48.920
to moral binaries. The practical reality

00:52:49.200 --> 00:52:51.256
is that this motion is simply

00:52:51.280 --> 00:52:53.736
unnecessary. Um, just last month, this

00:52:53.760 --> 00:52:55.416
council adopted a comprehensive

00:52:55.440 --> 00:52:57.896
procurement policy that supported local

00:52:57.920 --> 00:53:00.616
jobs and businesses and already embedded

00:53:00.640 --> 00:53:02.936
a requirement to consider risks of

00:53:02.960 --> 00:53:05.496
modern slavery in our supply chains.

00:53:05.520 --> 00:53:07.256
That procurement policy was the result

00:53:07.280 --> 00:53:09.575
of extensive consultation, careful

00:53:09.599 --> 00:53:11.815
drafting, and a clear intent to balance

00:53:11.839 --> 00:53:13.416
ethical responsibility with

00:53:13.440 --> 00:53:15.976
administrative practicality. To now

00:53:16.000 --> 00:53:17.815
propose a separate standalone modern

00:53:17.839 --> 00:53:20.295
slavery policy is not only redundant,

00:53:20.319 --> 00:53:22.216
it's counterproductive. It would

00:53:22.240 --> 00:53:24.055
duplicate existing work that's already

00:53:24.079 --> 00:53:26.776
being done, adding unnecessary costs on

00:53:26.800 --> 00:53:29.176
rateayers. It would impose additional

00:53:29.200 --> 00:53:31.496
administrative burdens on our officers,

00:53:31.520 --> 00:53:33.176
diverting resources away from

00:53:33.200 --> 00:53:35.256
implementation of our current policy,

00:53:35.280 --> 00:53:38.055
which we only passed last month. Um, and

00:53:38.079 --> 00:53:39.815
it would also undermine the integrity of

00:53:39.839 --> 00:53:42.839
our existing procurement policy. So it's

00:53:43.440 --> 00:53:45.575
also worth reflecting on the fact that

00:53:45.599 --> 00:53:47.656
the broader policy direction that that

00:53:47.680 --> 00:53:49.815
we've taken as a council. So not long

00:53:49.839 --> 00:53:51.815
ago there was strong advocacy to remove

00:53:51.839 --> 00:53:54.136
social procurement criteria from our

00:53:54.160 --> 00:53:56.216
procurement framework with concerns

00:53:56.240 --> 00:53:58.136
raised about virtue signaling,

00:53:58.160 --> 00:54:00.696
redundancy, ability to monitor it and

00:54:00.720 --> 00:54:03.095
the administrative and cost burdens to

00:54:03.119 --> 00:54:05.656
council and those tendering. Now we're

00:54:05.680 --> 00:54:07.256
being asked to reintroduce similar

00:54:07.280 --> 00:54:08.696
requirements through a separate

00:54:08.720 --> 00:54:11.095
standalone policy. If we were to create

00:54:11.119 --> 00:54:13.016
a standalone policy for every human

00:54:13.040 --> 00:54:15.335
rights concern that matters to us, we'd

00:54:15.359 --> 00:54:17.016
soon be drafting separate procurement

00:54:17.040 --> 00:54:19.335
policies on child labor, gender

00:54:19.359 --> 00:54:21.736
discrimination, freedom of association,

00:54:21.760 --> 00:54:24.760
apartheid, genocide, etc. At some point,

00:54:25.520 --> 00:54:27.496
we have to ask, are we building a

00:54:27.520 --> 00:54:29.736
practical procurement policy framework

00:54:29.760 --> 00:54:32.055
suitable for the Ballarat of Balorat or a

00:54:32.079 --> 00:54:34.136
library of good intentions? Our

00:54:34.160 --> 00:54:36.376
procurement policy is there to guide our

00:54:36.400 --> 00:54:38.776
procurement policies and be a practical

00:54:38.800 --> 00:54:41.800
tool that supports our values, but not a

00:54:42.000 --> 00:54:45.000
catalog of every global injustice. Any

00:54:45.040 --> 00:54:47.416
shift now requires careful consideration

00:54:47.440 --> 00:54:49.976
of the possible practical impacts on

00:54:50.000 --> 00:54:51.736
both council operations.

00:54:51.760 --> 00:54:52.856
Just 30 seconds

00:54:52.880 --> 00:54:54.696
and our suppliers.

00:54:54.720 --> 00:54:57.256
So furthermore, this is an area of

00:54:57.280 --> 00:54:59.256
primary responsibility lies with the

00:54:59.280 --> 00:55:01.256
state and federal governments. My own

00:55:01.280 --> 00:55:02.776
research into this issue has shown that

00:55:02.800 --> 00:55:04.456
the Commonwealth government is actively

00:55:04.480 --> 00:55:06.456
working to address modern slavery,

00:55:06.480 --> 00:55:07.896
particularly at the borders through

00:55:07.920 --> 00:55:09.896
customs and import controls where the

00:55:09.920 --> 00:55:12.920
greatest risks often lie. Council, local

00:55:13.280 --> 00:55:15.256
councils simply do not have the capaBallarat

00:55:15.280 --> 00:55:18.055
or jurisdiction to manage these risks.

00:55:18.079 --> 00:55:19.896
So I believe our council officers should

00:55:19.920 --> 00:55:21.575
be focused on implementation of our

00:55:21.599 --> 00:55:24.216
current policy um making sure that our

00:55:24.240 --> 00:55:26.696
local suppliers are supported um and

00:55:26.720 --> 00:55:28.295
supporting local businesses in a manner

00:55:28.319 --> 00:55:30.295
that's in a manner that supports more

00:55:30.319 --> 00:55:31.176
local jobs.

00:55:31.200 --> 00:55:33.416
And that's time. Thank you.

00:55:33.440 --> 00:55:34.616
Thank you

00:55:34.640 --> 00:55:36.136
councilors. Is there anyone wishing to

00:55:36.160 --> 00:55:38.616
speak for the motion

00:55:38.640 --> 00:55:41.176
against the motion?

00:55:41.200 --> 00:55:44.055
I'll speak briefly against it myself. Um

00:55:44.079 --> 00:55:46.535
it's really to to echo a lot of the

00:55:46.559 --> 00:55:47.896
things that have already been said. I

00:55:47.920 --> 00:55:50.775
think we can all agree that um any form

00:55:50.799 --> 00:55:53.095
of slavery is absolutely aarent and we

00:55:53.119 --> 00:55:55.095
don't support that in any way, shape or

00:55:55.119 --> 00:55:58.119
form. Um, but given that, um,

00:56:01.280 --> 00:56:03.976
looking at the reality, I guess, of our

00:56:04.000 --> 00:56:06.376
ability to affect modern slavery through

00:56:06.400 --> 00:56:09.256
a standalone policy, I'm not convinced

00:56:09.280 --> 00:56:11.095
that the value is there, especially

00:56:11.119 --> 00:56:13.416
given that we already do, as others have

00:56:13.440 --> 00:56:15.335
said, um, consider this within our

00:56:15.359 --> 00:56:17.416
procurement framework already. I had a

00:56:17.440 --> 00:56:19.416
really quick look at the the toolkit

00:56:19.440 --> 00:56:22.216
sited and it's 70 plus pages long, very

00:56:22.240 --> 00:56:23.815
complex, designed for federal

00:56:23.839 --> 00:56:26.616
procurement worth between 40 to 70

00:56:26.640 --> 00:56:29.335
billion a year. Um I can see that it

00:56:29.359 --> 00:56:31.016
could be still used at local government

00:56:31.040 --> 00:56:33.976
level but I'm not um I'm just not

00:56:34.000 --> 00:56:36.456
convinced that this policy is the way to

00:56:36.480 --> 00:56:39.095
go for us. I know that um council can't

00:56:39.119 --> 00:56:41.095
realistically police global supply

00:56:41.119 --> 00:56:43.016
chains. Even things like iPhones,

00:56:43.040 --> 00:56:45.176
laptops, co cobalt for batteries and

00:56:45.200 --> 00:56:47.656
uniforms come from high-risisk sectors.

00:56:47.680 --> 00:56:49.815
Um, if Apple and Microsoft can't certify

00:56:49.839 --> 00:56:52.295
a slaveryfree supply chain, then I'm not

00:56:52.319 --> 00:56:54.616
convinced that Ballarat Council can either.

00:56:54.640 --> 00:56:57.640
Um, another point raised already is yes,

00:56:58.079 --> 00:56:59.815
the act's definition of modern slavery

00:56:59.839 --> 00:57:01.416
does include forced marriage, debt

00:57:01.440 --> 00:57:04.055
bondage, deceptive recruiting, and child

00:57:04.079 --> 00:57:06.055
labor. Um, how do we consider all of

00:57:06.079 --> 00:57:07.496
these things? Do they need their own

00:57:07.520 --> 00:57:10.136
policy each? And where does that end up?

00:57:10.160 --> 00:57:12.456
Um our core responsibility here in Ballarat

00:57:12.480 --> 00:57:14.535
is to focus on residents priorities.

00:57:14.559 --> 00:57:16.775
We're always hearing it nearly every day

00:57:16.799 --> 00:57:19.799
roads race rates and rubbish. Um I have

00:57:20.079 --> 00:57:23.016
been consistent in my  past in voting

00:57:23.040 --> 00:57:25.496
you know for things that are um just for

00:57:25.520 --> 00:57:27.416
us to be doing at the local level and

00:57:27.440 --> 00:57:29.896
for those reasons I can't support the

00:57:29.920 --> 00:57:32.216
motion.  I'm looking over councelor

00:57:32.240 --> 00:57:34.616
Raldi if you're wanting to speak for or

00:57:34.640 --> 00:57:36.696
against.

00:57:36.720 --> 00:57:37.496
Against.

00:57:37.520 --> 00:57:40.520
Against. Sure. with reservation.

00:57:40.799 --> 00:57:42.936
 councelor Morrison and you've

00:57:42.960 --> 00:57:45.416
mentioned something um very interesting

00:57:45.440 --> 00:57:48.440
with  state and federal government. My

00:57:49.040 --> 00:57:50.856
question is is the state and federal

00:57:50.880 --> 00:57:52.535
government doing their job in these

00:57:52.559 --> 00:57:55.416
areas. It is disgusting

00:57:55.440 --> 00:57:57.416
that we even have to bring this up and I

00:57:57.440 --> 00:58:00.440
support TED in kind but I can't support

00:58:01.760 --> 00:58:04.760
that fully. state and federal government

00:58:06.480 --> 00:58:09.335
are not being accountable for the what

00:58:09.359 --> 00:58:12.216
they've been elected to do.

00:58:12.240 --> 00:58:15.240
We've got into this  council  we're

00:58:15.920 --> 00:58:18.920
elected on local local

00:58:19.359 --> 00:58:21.335
and I support Ben and what he's saying

00:58:21.359 --> 00:58:23.815
as well. We didn't get into the

00:58:23.839 --> 00:58:26.839
worldwide of politics. Having said that,

00:58:27.760 --> 00:58:30.136
what is happening with our state and

00:58:30.160 --> 00:58:33.160
federal government? Why aren't we

00:58:33.200 --> 00:58:36.136
sending letters to them saying what are

00:58:36.160 --> 00:58:38.696
you doing? Because this is it's rife

00:58:38.720 --> 00:58:41.256
everywhere and I understand the

00:58:41.280 --> 00:58:43.416
implications of the the financial cost

00:58:43.440 --> 00:58:45.976
to our Ballarat. We we

00:58:46.000 --> 00:58:49.000
so what do we do? I'm voting against the

00:58:49.920 --> 00:58:52.920
motion but very with lot of reservation

00:58:54.240 --> 00:58:57.240
because it is not right.

00:58:57.599 --> 00:58:59.176
Councilors, was there anyone wishing to

00:58:59.200 --> 00:59:01.736
speak for the motion against the motion?

00:59:01.760 --> 00:59:03.656
Council Hudson.

00:59:03.680 --> 00:59:06.535
Yeah, thank you, Madame Mayor. I to

00:59:06.559 --> 00:59:09.559
rise and speak against the the motion.

00:59:10.720 --> 00:59:13.176
And not that I disagree with the intent

00:59:13.200 --> 00:59:16.200
that council Lepkin has put forward, but

00:59:17.760 --> 00:59:19.176
it's for the reasons that have

00:59:19.200 --> 00:59:20.856
previously been spoken about by the

00:59:20.880 --> 00:59:23.880
councilors in terms of what is our role

00:59:23.920 --> 00:59:26.055
and council naldi, I'm not sure. I don't

00:59:26.079 --> 00:59:27.575
have enough information to know whether

00:59:27.599 --> 00:59:30.295
state or federal government is or isn't

00:59:30.319 --> 00:59:32.376
active in this space, which I just don't

00:59:32.400 --> 00:59:34.216
know. I don't know if you're privy to

00:59:34.240 --> 00:59:35.896
any other information that says they are

00:59:35.920 --> 00:59:38.055
or or they're deliBallarately not. But I

00:59:38.079 --> 00:59:40.295
think a throwaway line that says they're

00:59:40.319 --> 00:59:41.815
not doing anything. Well, I I just don't

00:59:41.839 --> 00:59:44.535
know. But what I'm comfortable in the

00:59:44.559 --> 00:59:47.559
fact of what director Hoer has said is

00:59:47.920 --> 00:59:49.575
that there are provisions within the

00:59:49.599 --> 00:59:52.599
current policy that tries to address the

00:59:53.200 --> 00:59:56.200
issue of modern slavery and to try and

00:59:56.480 --> 00:59:58.936
force tenderers to be able to adhere to

00:59:58.960 --> 01:00:01.960
a code of practice via the toolbox.

01:00:02.160 --> 01:00:04.775
also hearing that there's really very

01:00:04.799 --> 01:00:07.799
little enforcable action we can take and

01:00:08.559 --> 01:00:11.016
if we do find out that someone has

01:00:11.040 --> 01:00:13.815
breached the code or the actions it's

01:00:13.839 --> 01:00:15.896
really not even for us to then prosecute

01:00:15.920 --> 01:00:18.920
it. It sits entirely somewhere else.

01:00:20.160 --> 01:00:22.775
Councilors that have sat around this

01:00:22.799 --> 01:00:24.775
chamber for a while will recall a number

01:00:24.799 --> 01:00:26.856
of different policies that have been

01:00:26.880 --> 01:00:29.880
implemented over time that had the very

01:00:30.240 --> 01:00:33.240
best of intention but caused us um more

01:00:34.960 --> 01:00:37.575
grief in the practical enforcement of

01:00:37.599 --> 01:00:39.976
those policies that made it really

01:00:40.000 --> 01:00:43.000
difficult on officers to be able to act.

01:00:43.440 --> 01:00:46.440
So I think when we are considering

01:00:46.960 --> 01:00:48.936
changes of policy, new policy,

01:00:48.960 --> 01:00:51.095
amendments, we've got to think of the

01:00:51.119 --> 01:00:53.176
practical aspect. We are asking an

01:00:53.200 --> 01:00:56.200
officer or officers to be able to go and

01:00:56.480 --> 01:00:59.016
carry out the intent of that policy. And

01:00:59.040 --> 01:01:01.736
if they can't do that, I think it's a

01:01:01.760 --> 01:01:03.976
case of what's the point? And I agree

01:01:04.000 --> 01:01:05.656
with Council Morrison who said none of

01:01:05.680 --> 01:01:08.680
us subscribe to thinking that modern

01:01:09.119 --> 01:01:11.496
slavery is okay in any way, shape, or

01:01:11.520 --> 01:01:14.520
form. But our ability to change the

01:01:15.040 --> 01:01:17.896
course of history with it I think is

01:01:17.920 --> 01:01:20.295
really limited. So I think our focus is

01:01:20.319 --> 01:01:22.856
on other local issues where we can have

01:01:22.880 --> 01:01:24.616
an impact where we can create

01:01:24.640 --> 01:01:26.696
opportunities.

01:01:26.720 --> 01:01:29.016
And  as I said at the start I I

01:01:29.040 --> 01:01:30.775
commend Council Lapkin for the intent of

01:01:30.799 --> 01:01:33.799
it but I just don't think it is

01:01:33.839 --> 01:01:36.535
something that we can realistically

01:01:36.559 --> 01:01:39.559
implement and then force the outcomes

01:01:39.680 --> 01:01:41.496
that are probably desired within the

01:01:41.520 --> 01:01:43.575
policy.

01:01:43.599 --> 01:01:46.599
Councelor Morgan.

01:01:47.119 --> 01:01:49.095
Thank you, Madame Mayor. I'm only

01:01:49.119 --> 01:01:51.575
standing to briefly um also speak

01:01:51.599 --> 01:01:54.599
against the motion. Again, not because

01:01:54.640 --> 01:01:56.696
there is any doubt that we do not

01:01:56.720 --> 01:01:58.216
support everything that could possibly

01:01:58.240 --> 01:02:01.240
be done um against modern slavery, but

01:02:01.680 --> 01:02:04.456
rather because it I haven't seen enough

01:02:04.480 --> 01:02:07.480
evidence that doing this work would have

01:02:08.640 --> 01:02:11.416
an  a significant enough impact. and

01:02:11.440 --> 01:02:13.496
that does unfortunately relate to the

01:02:13.520 --> 01:02:16.520
role um that local council has.

01:02:17.920 --> 01:02:19.976
Councelor Mintosh.

01:02:20.000 --> 01:02:23.000
 thanks Madame Mayor. I stand to not

01:02:23.920 --> 01:02:25.656
support the recommendation as it's

01:02:25.680 --> 01:02:28.680
written um with a great deal of 

01:02:29.040 --> 01:02:31.095
trepidation as well. Similar to

01:02:31.119 --> 01:02:33.095
councelor Eneld's

01:02:33.119 --> 01:02:36.119
 com conversation or presentation in

01:02:36.400 --> 01:02:39.400
the chamber. I've listened  to our

01:02:39.760 --> 01:02:42.760
offic's response and what they are

01:02:43.280 --> 01:02:46.055
currently doing and listening to Mr.

01:02:46.079 --> 01:02:49.079
Haller talk about the toolkit and the

01:02:49.440 --> 01:02:50.775
next steps and the fact that the

01:02:50.799 --> 01:02:53.176
officers are already working down this

01:02:53.200 --> 01:02:56.200
pathway. I feel that we can see there's

01:02:56.559 --> 01:02:58.136
a great deal of work happening. I think

01:02:58.160 --> 01:03:00.216
that we need to be responsible as well

01:03:00.240 --> 01:03:02.696
from the rateayers perspective. They do

01:03:02.720 --> 01:03:04.616
expect us to be focused on roads rates

01:03:04.640 --> 01:03:06.696
and rubbish. I think we all know in this

01:03:06.720 --> 01:03:08.376
chamber that our job is much greater

01:03:08.400 --> 01:03:11.095
than that and there's an issue here that

01:03:11.119 --> 01:03:12.856
concerns all of us and listening to

01:03:12.880 --> 01:03:15.095
everyone around the table in this room.

01:03:15.119 --> 01:03:18.119
I think we can all see the intent 

01:03:18.319 --> 01:03:20.535
from councelor Lapkin and the motion

01:03:20.559 --> 01:03:22.216
that is put forward and we can see the

01:03:22.240 --> 01:03:25.240
sense in it. Equally we can see all of

01:03:25.280 --> 01:03:27.896
the other complications that come 

01:03:27.920 --> 01:03:29.736
with this piece of work, the time

01:03:29.760 --> 01:03:32.055
involved um that we heard from Mr. PS

01:03:32.079 --> 01:03:34.456
are as well in  moving through this

01:03:34.480 --> 01:03:36.775
pathway just simply to initially bring a

01:03:36.799 --> 01:03:39.015
report back to us. It's a big piece of

01:03:39.039 --> 01:03:42.039
work.  we know how important this is.

01:03:42.079 --> 01:03:44.136
We know how significant the issue is

01:03:44.160 --> 01:03:46.936
that  councelor Lapkin has put to us.

01:03:46.960 --> 01:03:48.696
But equally we know the expectations

01:03:48.720 --> 01:03:50.295
that come from our broader community as

01:03:50.319 --> 01:03:51.976
well. And I think as council is looking

01:03:52.000 --> 01:03:54.696
from a local perspective  for those

01:03:54.720 --> 01:03:56.696
reasons I'm not supporting this 

01:03:56.720 --> 01:03:59.575
recommendation even though I understand

01:03:59.599 --> 01:04:01.976
and see the need and the reason for it

01:04:02.000 --> 01:04:04.856
being presented to us.

01:04:04.880 --> 01:04:06.376
Councilors if there's no one else

01:04:06.400 --> 01:04:08.775
wishing to speak for or against

01:04:08.799 --> 01:04:10.376
councelor Lapkin would you like to sum

01:04:10.400 --> 01:04:12.696
up?

01:04:12.720 --> 01:04:14.856
 yeah thank you madame mayor. Um the

01:04:14.880 --> 01:04:17.880
issue isn't about

01:04:18.160 --> 01:04:21.160
 changing the world. The issue is

01:04:22.240 --> 01:04:25.176
about the money that we are spending.

01:04:25.200 --> 01:04:27.256
We're spending close to $200 million a

01:04:27.280 --> 01:04:29.815
year, as I said before, on goods and

01:04:29.839 --> 01:04:32.456
services and infrastructure.

01:04:32.480 --> 01:04:35.480
This is something over which we have

01:04:35.760 --> 01:04:38.136
direct impact

01:04:38.160 --> 01:04:40.775
and we can make a decision. in response

01:04:40.799 --> 01:04:43.799
to councelor Hudson's comment about lack

01:04:44.400 --> 01:04:46.456
of enforcement. No, we don't have police

01:04:46.480 --> 01:04:48.696
powers, you know, team America, world

01:04:48.720 --> 01:04:51.720
police. Um, but in the event that we

01:04:52.960 --> 01:04:55.960
discover that our rateayers money is

01:04:56.799 --> 01:04:59.799
inadvertently indirectly subsidizing

01:05:02.000 --> 01:05:04.616
child labor, we can take that money and

01:05:04.640 --> 01:05:06.696
we can go elsewhere. That is the power

01:05:06.720 --> 01:05:09.720
of the purse is the whole object of this

01:05:10.000 --> 01:05:13.000
motion. And again, we're talking about

01:05:13.680 --> 01:05:15.896
our money, the money of our rateayers,

01:05:15.920 --> 01:05:18.920
and we decide how to spend it. And all

01:05:19.440 --> 01:05:22.295
that I am suggesting is that we enter

01:05:22.319 --> 01:05:24.616
this factor

01:05:24.640 --> 01:05:27.176
 beyond above and beyond the the

01:05:27.200 --> 01:05:29.815
disperate policies that that director

01:05:29.839 --> 01:05:32.839
Howler so   aptly described that we

01:05:34.480 --> 01:05:37.416
put it in one coherent form.

01:05:37.440 --> 01:05:40.440
 and  that I think in and of itself

01:05:40.640 --> 01:05:43.640
will send a message the way um the

01:05:44.960 --> 01:05:47.656
modern slavery policies and statements

01:05:47.680 --> 01:05:50.295
 adopted by  large companies in

01:05:50.319 --> 01:05:53.319
Australia that are mandated by um the

01:05:53.680 --> 01:05:56.680
modern slavery act. Um I think it will

01:05:57.280 --> 01:06:00.280
do a lot to  project to tenderers

01:06:02.400 --> 01:06:04.696
that how we spend our money will be

01:06:04.720 --> 01:06:07.256
affected like  by this. So again, it's

01:06:07.280 --> 01:06:10.280
not changing the world. It's not holding

01:06:10.319 --> 01:06:11.736
hands around the campfire and singing

01:06:11.760 --> 01:06:14.055
kumbaya. It's about how we spend our

01:06:14.079 --> 01:06:17.079
rateayers money in a moral and ethical

01:06:17.520 --> 01:06:19.896
manner. And that is something over which

01:06:19.920 --> 01:06:22.920
we do have control. Thank you very much

01:06:23.119 --> 01:06:24.696
councilors. I will now put that to a

01:06:24.720 --> 01:06:27.656
vote. All those in favor,

01:06:27.680 --> 01:06:30.376
all those against. And that is not

01:06:30.400 --> 01:06:32.136
carried.

01:06:32.160 --> 01:06:35.160
That would take us back in our agenda.

01:06:35.200 --> 01:06:36.856
Madame Mayor, can I call for a division?

01:06:36.880 --> 01:06:39.736
Yep. All those four.

01:06:39.760 --> 01:06:42.055
All those against. Oh, sorry. That was

01:06:42.079 --> 01:06:43.496
just councelor Lapkin and councelor

01:06:43.520 --> 01:06:46.520
Saunders. All those against. Councelor

01:06:46.640 --> 01:06:48.535
Morrison, Councelor Taylor, Councelor

01:06:48.559 --> 01:06:50.055
Raldi, Councelor Morgan, Councelor

01:06:50.079 --> 01:06:51.815
Mintosh, Councelor Hudson, and myself,

01:06:51.839 --> 01:06:54.616
Councelor Hargraves.

01:06:54.640 --> 01:06:56.216
Now, that will take us back in our

01:06:56.240 --> 01:06:59.240
agenda to item 8.1.

01:07:00.799 --> 01:07:02.376
Did we vote to bring both motions

01:07:02.400 --> 01:07:04.616
forward? Okay, sorry. Apologies. That

01:07:04.640 --> 01:07:07.015
will take us to item 9.2

01:07:07.039 --> 01:07:09.896
which is the councelor communication and

01:07:09.920 --> 01:07:11.976
information policy. Councilors, you have

01:07:12.000 --> 01:07:13.896
the recommendations before you. Do you

01:07:13.920 --> 01:07:16.920
have any questions for our officers?

01:07:19.520 --> 01:07:22.520
No. In that case, councelor Lapkin,

01:07:22.880 --> 01:07:24.216
would you like the opportunity again

01:07:24.240 --> 01:07:26.775
just a short um summary of the intent

01:07:26.799 --> 01:07:28.295
before moving?

01:07:28.319 --> 01:07:31.319
I will be very brief, madame mayor. Um

01:07:31.520 --> 01:07:33.095
this is something that we have discussed

01:07:33.119 --> 01:07:36.055
amongst ourselves.  I think it

01:07:36.079 --> 01:07:38.696
reflects the fact that many of us think

01:07:38.720 --> 01:07:41.720
that the current policy is unduly

01:07:42.400 --> 01:07:43.896
restrictive

01:07:43.920 --> 01:07:46.920
and calls for a report

01:07:47.680 --> 01:07:50.535
  to be delivered to council with a

01:07:50.559 --> 01:07:53.335
mind to enhancing freedom of political

01:07:53.359 --> 01:07:55.496
discourse which of course is a

01:07:55.520 --> 01:07:58.520
fundamental principle of  our 

01:07:59.039 --> 01:08:00.856
democratic system of government. Thank

01:08:00.880 --> 01:08:02.055
you.

01:08:02.079 --> 01:08:04.456
Very good. Looking for a mover.

01:08:04.480 --> 01:08:06.136
Councelor Lapkin to move. And I'm going

01:08:06.160 --> 01:08:07.976
to second that one myself. So, back to

01:08:08.000 --> 01:08:10.456
you, Councelor Lapkin.

01:08:10.480 --> 01:08:13.480
I told you I'd be brief.

01:08:14.240 --> 01:08:16.056
Yep. So, did you want to speak to it at

01:08:16.080 --> 01:08:16.936
all?

01:08:16.960 --> 01:08:18.215
No.

01:08:18.239 --> 01:08:20.215
Okay. I reserve my right to speak. Was

01:08:20.239 --> 01:08:21.815
there any other councilors wishing to

01:08:21.839 --> 01:08:24.056
speak for the motion? Councelor

01:08:24.080 --> 01:08:27.080
Saunders.

01:08:27.520 --> 01:08:29.815
Yes. I Madame Mayor, thank you.  I'd

01:08:29.839 --> 01:08:32.295
like to speak for the motion.  I think

01:08:32.319 --> 01:08:35.319
our current policy um it's complicated

01:08:35.359 --> 01:08:38.056
as we discussed  earlier this week in

01:08:38.080 --> 01:08:41.080
briefings um because it  also sits in

01:08:43.679 --> 01:08:46.679
place with um with the Victorian state

01:08:47.440 --> 01:08:49.896
government act um under the local

01:08:49.920 --> 01:08:51.976
government act. So we've got our policy

01:08:52.000 --> 01:08:54.856
as well sitting in  there with that. I

01:08:54.880 --> 01:08:57.096
think it's well intended our policy, but

01:08:57.120 --> 01:08:59.175
I think that there's some  bits of it

01:08:59.199 --> 01:09:02.199
that are  flawed.  I think it's  a

01:09:02.480 --> 01:09:05.480
little bit unnecessarily restrictive and

01:09:05.600 --> 01:09:08.600
um I'd like the policy to be  amended

01:09:08.640 --> 01:09:11.640
to allow  counselors to be trusted to

01:09:13.199 --> 01:09:16.199
speak as responsible adults and

01:09:16.319 --> 01:09:19.319
representatives of  their wards and

01:09:19.359 --> 01:09:21.976
also the interests of Ballarat citizens

01:09:22.000 --> 01:09:24.616
and rateayers. So, , I think that it

01:09:24.640 --> 01:09:27.496
can be improved on. Um, and that's the

01:09:27.520 --> 01:09:29.416
reason that I'm, , seconding the

01:09:29.440 --> 01:09:30.376
motion.

01:09:30.400 --> 01:09:32.135
Councelor Rald, you wishing to speak for

01:09:32.159 --> 01:09:33.896
or against? For

01:09:33.920 --> 01:09:35.416
Yeah, for the motion. Madame Mayor,

01:09:35.440 --> 01:09:38.440
thank you. Following on from, , ,

01:09:39.120 --> 01:09:41.896
Council um,

01:09:41.920 --> 01:09:43.896
Saunders's comments. I agree it is

01:09:43.920 --> 01:09:46.920
clunky. It is complicated. It's complex.

01:09:47.920 --> 01:09:49.976
It's up to interpretation as I

01:09:50.000 --> 01:09:53.000
understand it. That is my view.

01:09:53.440 --> 01:09:55.655
I can I speak as a counselor in this

01:09:55.679 --> 01:09:58.679
room, Madame May?

01:09:59.600 --> 01:10:01.816
I don't mean that to be to be funny or

01:10:01.840 --> 01:10:03.896
embarrassing. That's not my intent at

01:10:03.920 --> 01:10:06.920
all. But that's how I feel with  how

01:10:07.920 --> 01:10:09.816
this is written. It is complicated. We

01:10:09.840 --> 01:10:11.736
don't need complex. It's pretty simple

01:10:11.760 --> 01:10:14.760
stuff. We need to all understand it. And

01:10:15.679 --> 01:10:18.679
and I obviously I don't. Madame May.

01:10:19.840 --> 01:10:21.816
Councelor Taylor wishing to speak for or

01:10:21.840 --> 01:10:22.776
against.

01:10:22.800 --> 01:10:25.096
I think someone got in before me. Sorry.

01:10:25.120 --> 01:10:25.976
Sorry. What?

01:10:26.000 --> 01:10:27.736
I think someone got in before me.

01:10:27.760 --> 01:10:29.816
Oh, sorry. Sorry. Council Macintosh.

01:10:29.840 --> 01:10:31.336
Were you speaking for or against?

01:10:31.360 --> 01:10:33.256
, speaking for, Madame Mayor. Thanks

01:10:33.280 --> 01:10:36.280
very much, Councelor Taylor. Um simply

01:10:36.400 --> 01:10:38.776
to say it is really important that the

01:10:38.800 --> 01:10:41.016
community can hear from us fairly

01:10:41.040 --> 01:10:43.256
freely, fairly comfortably, fairly

01:10:43.280 --> 01:10:46.280
clearly  fairly crisply and fairly

01:10:47.760 --> 01:10:50.376
currently. And there are certain parts

01:10:50.400 --> 01:10:53.256
that conflict that make it difficult and

01:10:53.280 --> 01:10:55.896
and also that make it difficult because

01:10:55.920 --> 01:10:57.736
of interpretation.

01:10:57.760 --> 01:11:00.135
 again listening to councelor Raldi

01:11:00.159 --> 01:11:03.159
talk there are some bits that maybe

01:11:03.360 --> 01:11:05.976
others could question and certainly

01:11:06.000 --> 01:11:09.000
after 16 years of being on council I'm

01:11:09.280 --> 01:11:12.280
finding this being  reviewed in

01:11:12.400 --> 01:11:14.376
different ways and being delivered in

01:11:14.400 --> 01:11:16.215
different ways and I think that if we

01:11:16.239 --> 01:11:19.239
can have a policy that is so precise and

01:11:19.600 --> 01:11:22.376
very clear no matter who um is mayor no

01:11:22.400 --> 01:11:24.616
matter who the council laws are and no

01:11:24.640 --> 01:11:26.695
matter who the media are that are asking

01:11:26.719 --> 01:11:28.376
us the questions that it can be very

01:11:28.400 --> 01:11:30.376
clearly understood then I think that's

01:11:30.400 --> 01:11:32.456
the right way forward. Our community

01:11:32.480 --> 01:11:35.096
elected us, each of us individuals

01:11:35.120 --> 01:11:36.856
around this table because they believe

01:11:36.880 --> 01:11:39.880
that we have skill and expertise to be a

01:11:39.920 --> 01:11:42.376
voice on behalf of them. And in being a

01:11:42.400 --> 01:11:44.215
voice on behalf of them, we need that

01:11:44.239 --> 01:11:46.776
ability and that clarity to be able to

01:11:46.800 --> 01:11:49.800
do so  without having fear each time

01:11:50.159 --> 01:11:53.016
we speak that even though that might be

01:11:53.040 --> 01:11:54.776
considered a broader view than just in

01:11:54.800 --> 01:11:57.800
my ward,  as an individual can I have

01:11:57.840 --> 01:11:59.416
a voice? They want to hear from me. So I

01:11:59.440 --> 01:12:00.856
think that there's some parts of the

01:12:00.880 --> 01:12:03.016
policy that we can clarify. For those

01:12:03.040 --> 01:12:05.175
reasons, I support the recommendation of

01:12:05.199 --> 01:12:06.456
the notice of motion that councelor

01:12:06.480 --> 01:12:09.336
Lapkin has put forward.

01:12:09.360 --> 01:12:10.856
Councilors, was there anyone wishing to

01:12:10.880 --> 01:12:12.536
speak against the motion or for the

01:12:12.560 --> 01:12:14.215
motion?

01:12:14.239 --> 01:12:16.936
Thanks, Madame Mayor. Um I have a

01:12:16.960 --> 01:12:19.096
different view and and sadly  the

01:12:19.120 --> 01:12:20.695
couer didn't ring me, so I wasn't one of

01:12:20.719 --> 01:12:23.655
the many voices that they heard. Um in

01:12:23.679 --> 01:12:25.976
relation to this policy, sadly though,

01:12:26.000 --> 01:12:27.976
we have to have guide rails like we do

01:12:28.000 --> 01:12:29.896
as counselors. We have to have some sort

01:12:29.920 --> 01:12:32.920
of policy but guide rails in place to

01:12:33.040 --> 01:12:36.040
protect us but also protect the

01:12:36.400 --> 01:12:38.056
community as well. When it comes to the

01:12:38.080 --> 01:12:40.215
local government act, we're not bound by

01:12:40.239 --> 01:12:42.536
parliamentary priv privileges. We're

01:12:42.560 --> 01:12:44.296
bound by the local government act and

01:12:44.320 --> 01:12:46.135
our own internal policies that we have

01:12:46.159 --> 01:12:49.159
to work within. Is the policy clunky?

01:12:50.719 --> 01:12:53.719
No. Is the policy restrictive? Yes. But

01:12:56.400 --> 01:12:58.776
does it need overhaul? No, it needs a

01:12:58.800 --> 01:13:01.175
few tweaks and it probably needs for us

01:13:01.199 --> 01:13:03.096
as counselors to then work through those

01:13:03.120 --> 01:13:04.776
tweaks to make sure that we have an

01:13:04.800 --> 01:13:07.096
understanding of how the policy applies

01:13:07.120 --> 01:13:09.736
to us and how it works. In the end, for

01:13:09.760 --> 01:13:12.296
me, I love a policy that is clear, that

01:13:12.320 --> 01:13:14.296
has guide rails, so I know where I can

01:13:14.320 --> 01:13:16.616
stay within those lanes, and I know that

01:13:16.640 --> 01:13:18.695
where if I do step out, and there's

01:13:18.719 --> 01:13:20.376
consequences to that. And those

01:13:20.400 --> 01:13:22.936
consequences could be state government

01:13:22.960 --> 01:13:24.536
coming down hard on me. Could be local

01:13:24.560 --> 01:13:26.376
community coming down hard on me. Could

01:13:26.400 --> 01:13:29.400
be a a  an issue that's been said that

01:13:30.560 --> 01:13:31.976
 is against what's happened in

01:13:32.000 --> 01:13:33.175
council, and therefore the community

01:13:33.199 --> 01:13:36.135
could come at me from a from a  

01:13:36.159 --> 01:13:37.576
from a suing point of view, which I

01:13:37.600 --> 01:13:39.256
don't want. So guard rails are really

01:13:39.280 --> 01:13:41.336
important and in this day and age we

01:13:41.360 --> 01:13:42.936
have to abide by those guardrails to

01:13:42.960 --> 01:13:44.056
make sure that we're safe as

01:13:44.080 --> 01:13:46.056
individuals. In relation to the policy,

01:13:46.080 --> 01:13:48.215
I support the idea to tweak it, but it

01:13:48.239 --> 01:13:50.536
doesn't need an overhaul. It's got to be

01:13:50.560 --> 01:13:53.416
there to to be there as a support to us

01:13:53.440 --> 01:13:56.056
as counselors ensuring that we align to

01:13:56.080 --> 01:13:57.496
where we're at, which is the local

01:13:57.520 --> 01:13:59.016
government act. So, but I support the

01:13:59.040 --> 01:14:01.576
the motions that's been put forward.

01:14:01.600 --> 01:14:03.736
Thank you. Is there any other councelor

01:14:03.760 --> 01:14:05.016
Morgan?

01:14:05.040 --> 01:14:07.256
Thank you, Madame Mayor.  briefly to

01:14:07.280 --> 01:14:09.336
say that I support this and I support us

01:14:09.360 --> 01:14:11.336
considering ways that we can communicate

01:14:11.360 --> 01:14:14.135
better with the community. We've done

01:14:14.159 --> 01:14:16.536
that in several ways already during this

01:14:16.560 --> 01:14:19.096
term and I'm proud that we continue to

01:14:19.120 --> 01:14:21.976
focus on engaging with the community.

01:14:22.000 --> 01:14:23.976
I'm I'm happy to continue to look at it.

01:14:24.000 --> 01:14:27.000
I haven't personally felt um that I've

01:14:27.520 --> 01:14:29.816
had difficulties in being able to

01:14:29.840 --> 01:14:31.496
communicate with the community under

01:14:31.520 --> 01:14:33.896
this current policy, but I do appreciate

01:14:33.920 --> 01:14:35.655
clear guidance that we all follow

01:14:35.679 --> 01:14:38.215
consistently. I would say that I do

01:14:38.239 --> 01:14:40.215
respect the role of the mayor as the

01:14:40.239 --> 01:14:42.695
primary spokesperson for the council and

01:14:42.719 --> 01:14:45.256
I do think it's sensible that the rules

01:14:45.280 --> 01:14:48.135
that we have give the mayor the first

01:14:48.159 --> 01:14:50.296
opportunity to speak on behalf of the

01:14:50.320 --> 01:14:52.936
council. That's my understanding of

01:14:52.960 --> 01:14:55.096
what's expected across Victoria of

01:14:55.120 --> 01:14:57.496
councils. So that seems very sensible to

01:14:57.520 --> 01:15:00.056
me. Um but I absolutely support us

01:15:00.080 --> 01:15:03.080
looking at at at ways to do better um

01:15:03.360 --> 01:15:05.416
going forward.

01:15:05.440 --> 01:15:07.655
And sorry councelor Morrison I think I

01:15:07.679 --> 01:15:08.856
might have actually missed you because

01:15:08.880 --> 01:15:10.456
you're online but over to you now. Are

01:15:10.480 --> 01:15:12.215
you speaking in favor or against the

01:15:12.239 --> 01:15:13.416
motion?

01:15:13.440 --> 01:15:15.576
In favor madam mayor.

01:15:15.600 --> 01:15:16.056
Go for it.

01:15:16.080 --> 01:15:18.936
So I wish Thank you. Um yes, so I do

01:15:18.960 --> 01:15:21.416
support um councelor's motion. The

01:15:21.440 --> 01:15:23.016
current policy does set out clear

01:15:23.040 --> 01:15:26.040
expectations for counselors um  on how

01:15:26.719 --> 01:15:28.376
to engage with the media and the

01:15:28.400 --> 01:15:30.456
community and I believe its intent which

01:15:30.480 --> 01:15:33.416
is to align with the model um councelor

01:15:33.440 --> 01:15:36.215
code of conduct maintain professionalism

01:15:36.239 --> 01:15:37.816
hold councilors accountable for what

01:15:37.840 --> 01:15:39.976
they say and also to protect the

01:15:40.000 --> 01:15:41.976
integrity of this council's decision

01:15:42.000 --> 01:15:45.000
making is sound but with saying that

01:15:45.840 --> 01:15:47.336
policies should always be open to

01:15:47.360 --> 01:15:48.936
refinement especially when there's

01:15:48.960 --> 01:15:51.256
confusion or concern around their

01:15:51.280 --> 01:15:53.416
interpretation or application. So,

01:15:53.440 --> 01:15:55.896
personally, um I also see that there's

01:15:55.920 --> 01:15:58.695
one small clear obvious tweak to one

01:15:58.719 --> 01:16:00.616
section of the policy that um isn't

01:16:00.640 --> 01:16:03.096
stringently applied anyway that could be

01:16:03.120 --> 01:16:05.655
made that would clear up some concerns.

01:16:05.679 --> 01:16:07.576
So, while I don't believe that this is a

01:16:07.600 --> 01:16:09.336
matter of censorship on our freedom of

01:16:09.360 --> 01:16:11.816
political expression, um I do believe

01:16:11.840 --> 01:16:13.336
it's appropriate that we do take the

01:16:13.360 --> 01:16:14.776
time to review the policy through the

01:16:14.800 --> 01:16:17.096
proper channels. Um, and speaking of

01:16:17.120 --> 01:16:18.536
proper channels, I do want to express

01:16:18.560 --> 01:16:20.135
some disappointment with how this issue

01:16:20.159 --> 01:16:22.376
has played out publicly. Um, councils

01:16:22.400 --> 01:16:24.376
were briefed on this policy months ago a

01:16:24.400 --> 01:16:25.816
couple of times and were encouraged to

01:16:25.840 --> 01:16:27.416
bring of notice of motion if they wanted

01:16:27.440 --> 01:16:29.736
to change it. Um, but we didn't see that

01:16:29.760 --> 01:16:31.976
happened. Instead, we saw um off

01:16:32.000 --> 01:16:34.376
thereord um complaints to the courier

01:16:34.400 --> 01:16:36.856
instead, which has unfortunately led to

01:16:36.880 --> 01:16:38.456
a bunch of misinformation in the

01:16:38.480 --> 01:16:40.536
community um including the incorrect

01:16:40.560 --> 01:16:42.056
belief that counselors must seek

01:16:42.080 --> 01:16:43.736
permission from the mayor or council

01:16:43.760 --> 01:16:45.576
staff for before expressing their

01:16:45.600 --> 01:16:47.496
personal views, which is just not the

01:16:47.520 --> 01:16:50.520
case. Um this is also unfairly cast

01:16:51.280 --> 01:16:53.175
doubt on the role and integrity of the

01:16:53.199 --> 01:16:55.496
mayor um and of council staff who are

01:16:55.520 --> 01:16:57.655
here to support us to do our roles, not

01:16:57.679 --> 01:16:59.576
to control our voices. because

01:16:59.600 --> 01:17:02.296
personally I have no issue with doing my

01:17:02.320 --> 01:17:04.936
role and using my voice to advocate for

01:17:04.960 --> 01:17:07.960
um my ward and the whole community um on

01:17:08.159 --> 01:17:10.135
the issues that are important to them.

01:17:10.159 --> 01:17:12.456
 so I believe that the current policy

01:17:12.480 --> 01:17:14.135
is pretty standard. It is easy to

01:17:14.159 --> 01:17:16.296
understand and reasonably applied. Um

01:17:16.320 --> 01:17:18.056
but despite a lot of education on the

01:17:18.080 --> 01:17:19.896
policy, some still are clearly

01:17:19.920 --> 01:17:22.056
struggling with it. So I see value in a

01:17:22.080 --> 01:17:25.080
report um on potential changes. Um so I

01:17:25.679 --> 01:17:28.056
do support the motion. I do hope that it

01:17:28.080 --> 01:17:29.896
moves us away from naval gazing and

01:17:29.920 --> 01:17:32.456
focusing on our council's energy on

01:17:32.480 --> 01:17:34.056
addressing the issues important to the

01:17:34.080 --> 01:17:36.456
community because I can tell you um that

01:17:36.480 --> 01:17:38.056
no one's raised with me that their

01:17:38.080 --> 01:17:39.736
biggest issue is council is not being

01:17:39.760 --> 01:17:42.760
able to speak off the cuff to the media.

01:17:42.800 --> 01:17:43.336
Thank you.

01:17:43.360 --> 01:17:43.736
Thank you.

01:17:43.760 --> 01:17:45.736
Thank you councelor Morrison. Was there

01:17:45.760 --> 01:17:47.256
any other councilors wishing to speak

01:17:47.280 --> 01:17:50.280
for the motion or against the motion?

01:17:51.600 --> 01:17:52.776
You speaking for

01:17:52.800 --> 01:17:54.616
Yeah. Thank you, madam. I will speak in

01:17:54.640 --> 01:17:57.416
favor of the motion. Um, I think it's

01:17:57.440 --> 01:18:00.440
fair and reasonable for the motion to to

01:18:00.880 --> 01:18:02.776
be supported if there are some

01:18:02.800 --> 01:18:04.456
counselors that have some doubts about

01:18:04.480 --> 01:18:06.376
its application. I think to be able to

01:18:06.400 --> 01:18:08.616
have some clarity from own personal

01:18:08.640 --> 01:18:10.215
perspective, I don't have an issue with

01:18:10.239 --> 01:18:12.056
it. I think it's pretty clear. I'm able

01:18:12.080 --> 01:18:14.135
to move and operate within the

01:18:14.159 --> 01:18:16.296
guidelines. I understand and respect the

01:18:16.320 --> 01:18:17.816
role of the mayor as the principal

01:18:17.840 --> 01:18:20.135
spokesperson or your delegate. That's

01:18:20.159 --> 01:18:23.159
pretty clear in all of its intent. um

01:18:23.280 --> 01:18:24.776
and I feel comfortable speaking on

01:18:24.800 --> 01:18:27.175
issues when I am delegated or on issues

01:18:27.199 --> 01:18:29.736
that I'm passionate about or raise as a

01:18:29.760 --> 01:18:32.760
Sebast counselor. So I think u whilst I

01:18:32.800 --> 01:18:35.336
have um a good understanding but I'm

01:18:35.360 --> 01:18:38.056
also very mindful if we have some new

01:18:38.080 --> 01:18:39.496
council laws that this is their first

01:18:39.520 --> 01:18:41.896
time in this place. So an ability to

01:18:41.920 --> 01:18:43.896
reflect and review and go through it one

01:18:43.920 --> 01:18:46.296
more time if that has us operating

01:18:46.320 --> 01:18:48.135
better and being able to work with the

01:18:48.159 --> 01:18:50.376
media better it's worthwhile. So I

01:18:50.400 --> 01:18:52.376
commend councelor Lapkin for bringing

01:18:52.400 --> 01:18:54.936
the motion forward and um asking for the

01:18:54.960 --> 01:18:56.695
review.

01:18:56.719 --> 01:18:58.456
Any other councilors wishing to speak

01:18:58.480 --> 01:19:01.416
for or against? No. In that case I will

01:19:01.440 --> 01:19:03.175
speak for the motion and I will start

01:19:03.199 --> 01:19:05.336
off as others have already done by

01:19:05.360 --> 01:19:07.256
commending councelor Lapkin for bringing

01:19:07.280 --> 01:19:09.175
this to the chamber which is the

01:19:09.199 --> 01:19:11.096
appropriate and correct place to have

01:19:11.120 --> 01:19:13.336
this conversation. Um, I believe it was

01:19:13.360 --> 01:19:14.695
council Morrison that said it was

01:19:14.719 --> 01:19:17.096
disappointing to read about our policy

01:19:17.120 --> 01:19:18.776
being debated anonymously in the

01:19:18.800 --> 01:19:21.800
Courier. Um, and kind of ironic if if

01:19:22.880 --> 01:19:24.376
that's the case because there's only

01:19:24.400 --> 01:19:26.215
nine people that have any ability to

01:19:26.239 --> 01:19:28.536
change the policy, tinker with it, or do

01:19:28.560 --> 01:19:29.655
anything with it, and they're all

01:19:29.679 --> 01:19:31.256
sitting in this chamber right now. So,

01:19:31.280 --> 01:19:33.096
this is the place to bring it up. This

01:19:33.120 --> 01:19:35.336
is the place to call for the um the

01:19:35.360 --> 01:19:37.016
notice of motion as you've done. And I

01:19:37.040 --> 01:19:38.695
think that's that's the that's the

01:19:38.719 --> 01:19:41.719
correct move. Um, I would echo that.

01:19:42.640 --> 01:19:45.640
Well, no, I've heard counselors speak to

01:19:45.679 --> 01:19:48.536
being frustrated or confused or feeling

01:19:48.560 --> 01:19:50.616
like the policy is too restrictive or

01:19:50.640 --> 01:19:53.096
too ownorous without actually quoting

01:19:53.120 --> 01:19:55.096
anything from the policy itself. And I

01:19:55.120 --> 01:19:58.120
think it's important to state um I liken

01:19:58.960 --> 01:20:01.960
it to the the state of Victoria has a

01:20:02.560 --> 01:20:04.695
code of conduct, a counselor model

01:20:04.719 --> 01:20:06.936
counselor code of conduct and that has

01:20:06.960 --> 01:20:09.960
within it a requirement for all

01:20:10.960 --> 01:20:13.896
counselors to refrain from making public

01:20:13.920 --> 01:20:15.816
comment including to the media that

01:20:15.840 --> 01:20:17.655
could reasonably be perceived to be an

01:20:17.679 --> 01:20:19.175
official comment on behalf of the

01:20:19.199 --> 01:20:21.416
council where the counselor has not been

01:20:21.440 --> 01:20:23.576
authorized by the mayor to make such a

01:20:23.600 --> 01:20:26.600
comment. So any rhetoric around waiting,

01:20:27.280 --> 01:20:29.175
having to get permission from me or

01:20:29.199 --> 01:20:31.336
having to to do these sort of things

01:20:31.360 --> 01:20:33.256
comes directly from the code and we have

01:20:33.280 --> 01:20:34.776
no

01:20:34.800 --> 01:20:36.856
 possibility to to change that. That

01:20:36.880 --> 01:20:39.655
is not set by us. I would liken it to

01:20:39.679 --> 01:20:42.679
the code being the ro the rules of the

01:20:42.880 --> 01:20:45.880
road and our code our policy being how

01:20:47.120 --> 01:20:50.056
you drive your individual car. So, we we

01:20:50.080 --> 01:20:53.080
put in place a set of um points that

01:20:54.239 --> 01:20:56.536
help us to actually make sure we're

01:20:56.560 --> 01:20:58.135
complying with the code and not going

01:20:58.159 --> 01:21:01.159
into code of conduct um territory. I'd

01:21:02.320 --> 01:21:03.896
also like to echo what councelor

01:21:03.920 --> 01:21:06.215
Morrison said about um you know,

01:21:06.239 --> 01:21:09.016
misinformation and this idea that

01:21:09.040 --> 01:21:12.040
council staff are somehow um gagging us

01:21:12.640 --> 01:21:14.616
or or being in charge of what we are and

01:21:14.640 --> 01:21:16.376
aren't allowed to say. That is

01:21:16.400 --> 01:21:19.336
absolutely false. We can say we can

01:21:19.360 --> 01:21:21.976
definitely communicate our views um with

01:21:22.000 --> 01:21:23.976
our constituents and with with with

01:21:24.000 --> 01:21:25.736
everyone. We just have to do it in a way

01:21:25.760 --> 01:21:27.896
that's safe and stays away from code of

01:21:27.920 --> 01:21:30.920
conduct territory. So I I would like to

01:21:31.760 --> 01:21:33.576
just give a shout out to our media and

01:21:33.600 --> 01:21:36.376
comm's um team who are absolutely

01:21:36.400 --> 01:21:39.096
brilliant. Um there was a little bit of

01:21:39.120 --> 01:21:42.120
talk about um why the mayor would even

01:21:42.480 --> 01:21:44.695
need to to go through them herself. Um,

01:21:44.719 --> 01:21:46.616
and I'll tell you what our media

01:21:46.640 --> 01:21:48.135
department has achieved in the last

01:21:48.159 --> 01:21:51.159
month. 25 media releases, 30 media

01:21:51.520 --> 01:21:54.520
responses,  five to six media

01:21:54.560 --> 01:21:56.776
opportunities and events, nine radio

01:21:56.800 --> 01:21:59.800
interviews, 20 speeches, 160 to 200

01:21:59.920 --> 01:22:02.920
graphic designs requests, um comm's

01:22:03.360 --> 01:22:06.360
campaigns, internal communications, um

01:22:06.480 --> 01:22:08.456
social media posts, video requests,

01:22:08.480 --> 01:22:11.416
website enhancement, website content, 

01:22:11.440 --> 01:22:13.655
CEO communications, our ballerat,

01:22:13.679 --> 01:22:15.416
magazine writing, coordination,

01:22:15.440 --> 01:22:18.056
production, public notice board, ads,

01:22:18.080 --> 01:22:20.135
and in the balorat times. So I would say

01:22:20.159 --> 01:22:22.376
we have an absolute powerhouse behind us

01:22:22.400 --> 01:22:25.256
and that is also performing a function

01:22:25.280 --> 01:22:28.280
of making sure that what we say is true

01:22:28.480 --> 01:22:31.416
that what we say is accurate and that we

01:22:31.440 --> 01:22:33.416
are well supported to have the correct

01:22:33.440 --> 01:22:35.496
information for our community. They're

01:22:35.520 --> 01:22:37.096
not in charge of us. They're certainly

01:22:37.120 --> 01:22:39.256
never trying to gag us or force us to

01:22:39.280 --> 01:22:41.016
say anything. But we do have a

01:22:41.040 --> 01:22:43.576
responsibility as counselors as well to

01:22:43.600 --> 01:22:45.175
make sure that what we're saying is the

01:22:45.199 --> 01:22:46.856
truth. to make sure that we're not

01:22:46.880 --> 01:22:49.816
stepping into the territory of um ma

01:22:49.840 --> 01:22:52.215
where we could be perceived to be cont

01:22:52.239 --> 01:22:54.376
speaking on behalf of council and I

01:22:54.400 --> 01:22:56.536
would also just make the point that some

01:22:56.560 --> 01:22:58.776
items really should just be spoken about

01:22:58.800 --> 01:23:01.256
by the mayor first and foremost it could

01:23:01.280 --> 01:23:04.135
be a simple pothole situation and that's

01:23:04.159 --> 01:23:05.976
that's a little bit of a gray area but I

01:23:06.000 --> 01:23:07.336
would say there are definitely some

01:23:07.360 --> 01:23:10.360
items where the mayor and not me as a

01:23:10.400 --> 01:23:12.056
person Tracy Hargraves but the

01:23:12.080 --> 01:23:15.080
institutional role of the mayor it shows

01:23:15.360 --> 01:23:17.336
how much we respect what we're talking

01:23:17.360 --> 01:23:19.736
about in those circumstances as well.

01:23:19.760 --> 01:23:22.760
And speaking on um the level of support

01:23:22.880 --> 01:23:25.416
and and why counselors might want to

01:23:25.440 --> 01:23:27.816
follow a process and and get in touch

01:23:27.840 --> 01:23:29.416
with our media and communications

01:23:29.440 --> 01:23:31.736
department, I might just bring up a

01:23:31.760 --> 01:23:34.760
story that was in the paper just the

01:23:35.040 --> 01:23:37.256
other day

01:23:37.280 --> 01:23:39.816
and

01:23:39.840 --> 01:23:41.576
I don't know if I can find it now. So,

01:23:41.600 --> 01:23:44.600
that's handy. But I can remember the um

01:23:45.440 --> 01:23:47.655
the title of the article was something

01:23:47.679 --> 01:23:50.679
like ludicrous. Um you know, upset

01:23:50.719 --> 01:23:53.719
couple questions the insane council

01:23:54.000 --> 01:23:55.496
decision. It was something along those

01:23:55.520 --> 01:23:58.520
lines. And the story was literally about

01:23:58.560 --> 01:24:00.695
a contractor from the City of Ballarat

01:24:00.719 --> 01:24:03.016
came along and planted a tree in a

01:24:03.040 --> 01:24:05.416
nature strip directly in front of the

01:24:05.440 --> 01:24:07.416
door. And I just want you to visualize

01:24:07.440 --> 01:24:09.336
counselors yourselves. If that was in

01:24:09.360 --> 01:24:10.936
your ward and you were called by the

01:24:10.960 --> 01:24:12.296
media and they said, "Can you believe

01:24:12.320 --> 01:24:14.215
this ridiculous decision that this tree

01:24:14.239 --> 01:24:16.135
was planted there and these homeowners

01:24:16.159 --> 01:24:18.056
have got to deal with it or whatever?"

01:24:18.080 --> 01:24:19.336
You know, you might sort of think, "Oh,

01:24:19.360 --> 01:24:21.416
yeah, that is ridiculous. That is crazy.

01:24:21.440 --> 01:24:23.016
How do I, you know, how did this happen

01:24:23.040 --> 01:24:24.536
and I'll get it fixed?" I don't know

01:24:24.560 --> 01:24:27.560
what you would say. My  approach in

01:24:28.000 --> 01:24:29.976
something like that would be to go, why

01:24:30.000 --> 01:24:32.135
don't we just check with media and comms

01:24:32.159 --> 01:24:34.135
first? And if that was the case, they

01:24:34.159 --> 01:24:35.576
would have been able to tell you it was

01:24:35.600 --> 01:24:37.816
an accident. Can as soon as council

01:24:37.840 --> 01:24:39.816
found out about it, they apologized and

01:24:39.840 --> 01:24:41.655
sent someone to remove the tree from

01:24:41.679 --> 01:24:43.576
that position and put it into another

01:24:43.600 --> 01:24:45.655
spot and tidy up the landscape where it

01:24:45.679 --> 01:24:48.056
had been planted incorrectly by a

01:24:48.080 --> 01:24:50.695
contractor in the first place. Um, but

01:24:50.719 --> 01:24:52.615
that story, I mean, last time I checked

01:24:52.639 --> 01:24:54.936
on Facebook, because let's be honest, a

01:24:54.960 --> 01:24:56.296
lot of people don't read the entire

01:24:56.320 --> 01:24:58.856
story. I'm sorry, but you know, people

01:24:58.880 --> 01:25:00.615
um see these things on social media,

01:25:00.639 --> 01:25:02.856
they take the tagline or the title and

01:25:02.880 --> 01:25:04.536
they run with it. That had somewhere in

01:25:04.560 --> 01:25:06.056
the region of, I don't know, over a

01:25:06.080 --> 01:25:09.080
hundred negative comments, um, over a

01:25:09.199 --> 01:25:11.976
hundred, you know, mixed reactions. And

01:25:12.000 --> 01:25:13.976
so I would say to you that's a vital

01:25:14.000 --> 01:25:15.655
step not because we're trying to be

01:25:15.679 --> 01:25:17.416
controlled or gagged in any sense

01:25:17.440 --> 01:25:20.440
whatsoever but given the opportunity you

01:25:20.800 --> 01:25:22.456
could have found out well this is what

01:25:22.480 --> 01:25:24.056
actually happened and now I can speak on

01:25:24.080 --> 01:25:25.416
it. So that is the function of our

01:25:25.440 --> 01:25:27.655
comm's department and I would say to you

01:25:27.679 --> 01:25:30.215
all we're really lucky to have them

01:25:30.239 --> 01:25:32.135
actually. They deal with a highpaced

01:25:32.159 --> 01:25:35.159
very stressful um situation every single

01:25:35.360 --> 01:25:37.576
day and they do amazing at it and I do

01:25:37.600 --> 01:25:39.336
think that the external media who deal

01:25:39.360 --> 01:25:41.016
with them would probably agree with me

01:25:41.040 --> 01:25:43.175
on that. They are absolute rock stars

01:25:43.199 --> 01:25:44.776
and I'm really grateful to be working

01:25:44.800 --> 01:25:47.800
with them. So although I definitely um

01:25:48.080 --> 01:25:50.456
am always up for you know looking at our

01:25:50.480 --> 01:25:53.480
policies and changing what we need to so

01:25:53.600 --> 01:25:56.056
that we can all be happy again  as

01:25:56.080 --> 01:25:57.736
much as that's ever possible at local

01:25:57.760 --> 01:26:00.215
council. I support the motion brought

01:26:00.239 --> 01:26:02.695
forward by councelor Lapkin. And with

01:26:02.719 --> 01:26:04.296
that we'll put it to a vote. All those

01:26:04.320 --> 01:26:07.320
in favor and that is passed.

01:26:11.280 --> 01:26:14.280
That takes us now back

01:26:19.920 --> 01:26:20.536
to

01:26:20.560 --> 01:26:21.736
Madame Mayor.

01:26:21.760 --> 01:26:23.016
Yes.

01:26:23.040 --> 01:26:25.896
 procedural. Can we have a a short 

01:26:25.920 --> 01:26:27.175
comfort break?

01:26:27.199 --> 01:26:29.896
Moved by yourself, seconded by councelor

01:26:29.920 --> 01:26:32.695
Hudson. All those in favor? That is

01:26:32.719 --> 01:26:35.719
carried. We'll be back in a few moments.

01:26:36.080 --> 01:26:38.376
Councilors,

01:26:38.400 --> 01:26:41.336
welcome back after that short rest. 

01:26:41.360 --> 01:26:44.360
we'll resume back. Sorry, we do need a

01:26:44.639 --> 01:26:46.456
motion to resume. Councelor Taylor, I

01:26:46.480 --> 01:26:48.135
saw your hand and then councelor Lepkin.

01:26:48.159 --> 01:26:50.856
All those in favor? And that is passed.

01:26:50.880 --> 01:26:53.880
So we are back to item 8.1.

01:26:54.239 --> 01:26:56.056
 the submission on the Western

01:26:56.080 --> 01:26:58.376
Renewables Link Environmental Effects

01:26:58.400 --> 01:26:59.816
Statement. Councilors, you have the

01:26:59.840 --> 01:27:01.416
offic's recommendations before you. Do

01:27:01.440 --> 01:27:04.440
you have any questions?

01:27:04.719 --> 01:27:07.655
No. In that case, looking for a mover,

01:27:07.679 --> 01:27:10.679
Councelor Mintosh and a seconder,

01:27:11.600 --> 01:27:14.600
Councelor Taylor. Councelor Macintosh.

01:27:16.400 --> 01:27:18.856
Thanks very much, Madame Mayor. Um this

01:27:18.880 --> 01:27:21.880
is a really important um motion that's

01:27:22.320 --> 01:27:25.256
coming before council to make sure that

01:27:25.280 --> 01:27:28.280
our community are very aware of the

01:27:28.480 --> 01:27:30.776
concerns and the response that we want

01:27:30.800 --> 01:27:33.800
to make sure is very clear and to be

01:27:34.159 --> 01:27:37.159
passed on to the people that  can take

01:27:37.679 --> 01:27:40.679
on board that consultation and the

01:27:40.719 --> 01:27:43.719
questioning and the collation of the

01:27:43.920 --> 01:27:46.376
concerns that have developed over time.

01:27:46.400 --> 01:27:49.400
Um as many people know  we this

01:27:50.159 --> 01:27:52.856
particular piece of works does consider

01:27:52.880 --> 01:27:55.880
environmental impacts and it's clearly

01:27:56.239 --> 01:27:59.239
 exhibiting putting on um public view

01:27:59.440 --> 01:28:02.440
um exhibition of the projects and the

01:28:02.880 --> 01:28:05.416
way forward. This particular

01:28:05.440 --> 01:28:08.440
recommendation talks about the

01:28:08.639 --> 01:28:11.496
environmental effects submission  that

01:28:11.520 --> 01:28:14.296
goes to the planning minister and then

01:28:14.320 --> 01:28:17.016
it  follows through talking about a

01:28:17.040 --> 01:28:18.615
fair and inclusive community

01:28:18.639 --> 01:28:20.536
consultation process for all

01:28:20.560 --> 01:28:23.416
transmission line projects which include

01:28:23.440 --> 01:28:25.416
genuine consultation and partnership

01:28:25.440 --> 01:28:28.376
with land owners and consideration of

01:28:28.400 --> 01:28:30.456
alternative routes and undergrounding to

01:28:30.480 --> 01:28:33.175
minimize the impacts of  on private

01:28:33.199 --> 01:28:35.496
property and agricultural land. This

01:28:35.520 --> 01:28:37.416
conversation's been going on for a long

01:28:37.440 --> 01:28:40.440
time and our community feel that they

01:28:40.480 --> 01:28:43.480
haven't had that true consultation. When

01:28:43.760 --> 01:28:46.760
you look up the word consultation in the

01:28:47.040 --> 01:28:48.536
Oxford dictionary or many other

01:28:48.560 --> 01:28:49.816
dictionaries, you find different

01:28:49.840 --> 01:28:52.135
versions of it, but it's certainly about

01:28:52.159 --> 01:28:54.456
asking our community's opinion. It's

01:28:54.480 --> 01:28:56.936
about learning what their intentions are

01:28:56.960 --> 01:28:59.096
to get agreement to plan together in

01:28:59.120 --> 01:29:02.120
order to develop a proposal um that

01:29:04.159 --> 01:29:06.936
in order to reach a better understanding

01:29:06.960 --> 01:29:09.416
in fact and what it seems from our

01:29:09.440 --> 01:29:12.440
broader community is that this um

01:29:13.040 --> 01:29:14.936
collaborative understanding hasn't

01:29:14.960 --> 01:29:17.960
necessarily been met. We know that our

01:29:18.080 --> 01:29:20.215
farming community is an important one.

01:29:20.239 --> 01:29:23.239
We know that  they provide us with

01:29:23.760 --> 01:29:26.760
food and fiber and we know that these

01:29:27.440 --> 01:29:30.440
links are really important to trans to

01:29:30.560 --> 01:29:33.560
transport alternate energy. However,

01:29:33.600 --> 01:29:36.600
what it appears is that genuine

01:29:36.639 --> 01:29:39.256
consultation and partnership with land

01:29:39.280 --> 01:29:41.655
ownership has not necessarily taken

01:29:41.679 --> 01:29:43.655
place in the way that those people

01:29:43.679 --> 01:29:46.215
living on the land would expect. Um

01:29:46.239 --> 01:29:47.816
there has been many different

01:29:47.840 --> 01:29:49.736
conversations about alternate routes and

01:29:49.760 --> 01:29:51.655
not just about the alternate routes but

01:29:51.679 --> 01:29:54.679
how those alternate routes are dealt

01:29:54.880 --> 01:29:57.880
with. So does this mean  about

01:29:58.239 --> 01:30:00.456
undergrounding it? Does that mean about

01:30:00.480 --> 01:30:02.936
better safety, better opportunity and

01:30:02.960 --> 01:30:05.816
safe crop dusting, better opportunity to

01:30:05.840 --> 01:30:08.840
respond to fires and better opportunity

01:30:09.280 --> 01:30:11.576
to really use appropriately the

01:30:11.600 --> 01:30:14.215
agricultural land that they own and that

01:30:14.239 --> 01:30:16.695
they work to deliver to the people in

01:30:16.719 --> 01:30:19.655
the metropolitan centers as well. Um we

01:30:19.679 --> 01:30:22.376
have seen a great deal of expense spent

01:30:22.400 --> 01:30:24.296
on undergrounding

01:30:24.320 --> 01:30:27.320
roads in municip in um metropolitan

01:30:28.239 --> 01:30:31.096
areas. But what we're  looking at here

01:30:31.120 --> 01:30:33.416
is the concerns that are coming from the

01:30:33.440 --> 01:30:36.440
land owners and that consideration to be

01:30:37.199 --> 01:30:40.199
really fairly honestly inclusively

01:30:42.159 --> 01:30:45.159
 distributed and talked about to those

01:30:45.920 --> 01:30:48.215
people that have the ability to make a

01:30:48.239 --> 01:30:51.239
difference.  so this  approach to

01:30:51.440 --> 01:30:53.016
the planning minister is a really

01:30:53.040 --> 01:30:55.576
important one to ensure that our farming

01:30:55.600 --> 01:30:57.576
community can deliver appropriately how

01:30:57.600 --> 01:30:59.655
they need to

01:30:59.679 --> 01:31:02.135
so that we can all live comfortably um

01:31:02.159 --> 01:31:03.736
safely

01:31:03.760 --> 01:31:06.376
and healthfully and at the moment

01:31:06.400 --> 01:31:07.896
they're all the questions that are on

01:31:07.920 --> 01:31:10.376
the table.  so madame mayor I

01:31:10.400 --> 01:31:12.376
certainly do move this recommendation as

01:31:12.400 --> 01:31:15.256
it's written and really highlight those

01:31:15.280 --> 01:31:18.215
concerns that are coming to  us from

01:31:18.239 --> 01:31:20.376
the community about appropriate

01:31:20.400 --> 01:31:23.336
consultation and  looking at better

01:31:23.360 --> 01:31:26.360
ways forward what that does mean about

01:31:26.719 --> 01:31:28.296
alternate routes and how they could

01:31:28.320 --> 01:31:30.296
possibly look we also know that there's

01:31:30.320 --> 01:31:32.456
freeways there's railway tracks there's

01:31:32.480 --> 01:31:33.896
lots of different ways that this could

01:31:33.920 --> 01:31:36.536
be done I don't think our council is

01:31:36.560 --> 01:31:39.096
against alternate energy

01:31:39.120 --> 01:31:40.936
 to some degree in different ways in

01:31:40.960 --> 01:31:42.536
different places but what I do believe

01:31:42.560 --> 01:31:44.936
is that we need to really listen to our

01:31:44.960 --> 01:31:46.615
community consult better and make sure

01:31:46.639 --> 01:31:48.296
that we're responding to what they are

01:31:48.320 --> 01:31:50.776
asking for.

01:31:50.800 --> 01:31:52.376
Councelor Taylor, would you like to

01:31:52.400 --> 01:31:53.496
speak as the second?

01:31:53.520 --> 01:31:56.215
Yeah, thanks Madame May. Um

01:31:56.239 --> 01:31:57.576
this is a tough one because really

01:31:57.600 --> 01:32:00.376
tonight all we're doing is is putting

01:32:00.400 --> 01:32:02.056
council's position in relation to the

01:32:02.080 --> 01:32:03.816
environmental effect statement and the

01:32:03.840 --> 01:32:05.576
environment effect statement is one of

01:32:05.600 --> 01:32:07.336
the largest that we've ever ever seen.

01:32:07.360 --> 01:32:10.056
you know, 60,000 pages. And I've got to

01:32:10.080 --> 01:32:12.376
compliment the staff in in that they

01:32:12.400 --> 01:32:15.175
have um spent a lot of time in working

01:32:15.199 --> 01:32:17.496
through the line by line to come up with

01:32:17.520 --> 01:32:19.896
a submission. And yes, okay, it's a

01:32:19.920 --> 01:32:22.296
60,000 page document and we're bringing

01:32:22.320 --> 01:32:25.256
it to 16 that that council has actually

01:32:25.280 --> 01:32:27.896
 putting a response to. Um, but what

01:32:27.920 --> 01:32:29.496
this means tonight is we're actually

01:32:29.520 --> 01:32:31.576
putting a submission in as part of the

01:32:31.600 --> 01:32:33.816
process when it comes to the the

01:32:33.840 --> 01:32:35.976
Minister for Planning to deal with the

01:32:36.000 --> 01:32:37.816
environmental effect statement. This is

01:32:37.840 --> 01:32:39.736
not around whether it goes ahead or not.

01:32:39.760 --> 01:32:41.016
This is around our submission in

01:32:41.040 --> 01:32:42.695
relation to what's been outlied in the

01:32:42.719 --> 01:32:45.016
environmental effect statement. Um, and

01:32:45.040 --> 01:32:46.856
council's done a great job or the office

01:32:46.880 --> 01:32:48.615
has done a great job of also recognizing

01:32:48.639 --> 01:32:50.135
our original motion that we had on the

01:32:50.159 --> 01:32:52.296
table. um which is there to say where

01:32:52.320 --> 01:32:54.135
possible underground make sure we're

01:32:54.159 --> 01:32:56.456
aware or or take in consideration the

01:32:56.480 --> 01:32:57.896
community that's involved and and what

01:32:57.920 --> 01:33:00.536
it means to them and but then also

01:33:00.560 --> 01:33:01.976
dealing with each of the line items

01:33:02.000 --> 01:33:03.655
whether it's bio biodiversity whether

01:33:03.679 --> 01:33:06.376
it's um and now sorry I've just shut it

01:33:06.400 --> 01:33:08.856
down um a whole lot of recommendations

01:33:08.880 --> 01:33:10.856
then looking at the different areas

01:33:10.880 --> 01:33:12.615
that's been looked at so looking at each

01:33:12.639 --> 01:33:14.536
of the chapters what does that mean for

01:33:14.560 --> 01:33:16.776
us what our themes are when it comes to

01:33:16.800 --> 01:33:18.936
even heritage aboriginal heritage

01:33:18.960 --> 01:33:20.536
historical heritage that we have in

01:33:20.560 --> 01:33:22.695
place. Um we're looking at a UNESCO

01:33:22.719 --> 01:33:24.856
bill. What does that mean? UNESCO bid.

01:33:24.880 --> 01:33:26.135
What does that mean when we're looking

01:33:26.159 --> 01:33:29.016
at doing the um western renew renewables

01:33:29.040 --> 01:33:31.096
link through the farmland? What's the

01:33:31.120 --> 01:33:32.936
land use and planning provisions when it

01:33:32.960 --> 01:33:34.536
comes to this? What's the social

01:33:34.560 --> 01:33:36.376
impacts? All those items that are listed

01:33:36.400 --> 01:33:39.016
there and the recommendations from that

01:33:39.040 --> 01:33:40.936
is what council's positions are in

01:33:40.960 --> 01:33:41.896
relation to each of those

01:33:41.920 --> 01:33:43.816
recommendations which is what are we

01:33:43.840 --> 01:33:45.736
talking now about um 30 different

01:33:45.760 --> 01:33:48.056
recommendations that are put forward. So

01:33:48.080 --> 01:33:50.215
um I have to say it's a a lot of work

01:33:50.239 --> 01:33:52.936
that's been put together. Um we need to

01:33:52.960 --> 01:33:55.096
if we want to be part of the discussion

01:33:55.120 --> 01:33:56.695
we need to be at the table. To be at the

01:33:56.719 --> 01:33:58.135
table we need to do a submission first

01:33:58.159 --> 01:33:59.816
and this is the submission that we need

01:33:59.840 --> 01:34:01.256
and then from there it's up to the

01:34:01.280 --> 01:34:02.776
minister for planning on how they

01:34:02.800 --> 01:34:04.376
receive these but then also the

01:34:04.400 --> 01:34:05.896
opportunities that maybe there's an

01:34:05.920 --> 01:34:07.736
opportunity to present as well that may

01:34:07.760 --> 01:34:09.416
happen through a planning panel. So

01:34:09.440 --> 01:34:10.936
absolutely support the work that's been

01:34:10.960 --> 01:34:13.416
done. Um and tonight we're endorsing the

01:34:13.440 --> 01:34:15.416
the submission to the Minister for

01:34:15.440 --> 01:34:18.440
Planning on the U EEES. Thank you.

01:34:19.440 --> 01:34:21.496
Councelor Saunders, were you wishing to

01:34:21.520 --> 01:34:22.936
speak for or against?

01:34:22.960 --> 01:34:23.816
Four.

01:34:23.840 --> 01:34:25.336
Go for it.

01:34:25.360 --> 01:34:27.416
Thank you, Madam Mayor. I I agree with

01:34:27.440 --> 01:34:29.416
what councelor Taylor has said that 

01:34:29.440 --> 01:34:32.440
if we  want to be involved in having

01:34:32.480 --> 01:34:34.695
some say in what  the Victorian

01:34:34.719 --> 01:34:37.096
government is going to is planning and

01:34:37.120 --> 01:34:40.120
intending on doing to um to to Ballarat

01:34:40.960 --> 01:34:42.936
municipality then we need to have a

01:34:42.960 --> 01:34:45.736
submission and  that's why I support

01:34:45.760 --> 01:34:47.576
um this submission. A lot of work's gone

01:34:47.600 --> 01:34:50.135
into this submission. Um the Western

01:34:50.159 --> 01:34:52.936
Renewables link is going to pass through

01:34:52.960 --> 01:34:54.856
24 properties in the Ballarat

01:34:54.880 --> 01:34:57.880
municipality. 22 of these properties are

01:34:58.239 --> 01:35:00.296
associated with mixed farming and

01:35:00.320 --> 01:35:01.896
grazing.

01:35:01.920 --> 01:35:04.376
The Western Renewables  link

01:35:04.400 --> 01:35:06.056
transmission line will pass through the

01:35:06.080 --> 01:35:07.816
City of Ballarat municipality for

01:35:07.840 --> 01:35:10.840
approximately 20 kilometers as currently

01:35:11.120 --> 01:35:14.120
um planned. 44 transmission towers will

01:35:14.639 --> 01:35:16.296
be situated within the Ballarat

01:35:16.320 --> 01:35:17.816
municipality.

01:35:17.840 --> 01:35:19.736
the center of the City of Ballarat

01:35:19.760 --> 01:35:21.816
submission recommends that the Victorian

01:35:21.840 --> 01:35:24.056
government

01:35:24.080 --> 01:35:26.776
 encourages additional consultation

01:35:26.800 --> 01:35:28.776
with local authorities and the wider

01:35:28.800 --> 01:35:31.800
community.  also recommends that the

01:35:32.719 --> 01:35:34.215
Victorian government pursue

01:35:34.239 --> 01:35:36.856
undergrounding putting the transmission

01:35:36.880 --> 01:35:39.880
 lines underground and  also

01:35:39.920 --> 01:35:42.056
advocates for fair community

01:35:42.080 --> 01:35:43.896
consultation process and that's why I

01:35:43.920 --> 01:35:45.816
support the submission. Thank you.

01:35:45.840 --> 01:35:48.615
Councelor Lepkin speaking for or against

01:35:48.639 --> 01:35:50.536
for. Yeah, go for it.

01:35:50.560 --> 01:35:53.256
 thank you, Madam Mayor.  yeah, I I

01:35:53.280 --> 01:35:56.280
think this is a very

01:35:56.560 --> 01:35:58.615
problematic

01:35:58.639 --> 01:36:01.639
 project.  I think when you add it

01:36:02.800 --> 01:36:05.800
to the emergency services levy I think

01:36:06.239 --> 01:36:08.456
it's reflective of a state government

01:36:08.480 --> 01:36:11.416
that is Melbourne centric

01:36:11.440 --> 01:36:14.440
 and just sees  farming interest and

01:36:16.400 --> 01:36:19.400
agricultural interests as something that

01:36:21.120 --> 01:36:24.120
 if those interests stand

01:36:25.280 --> 01:36:28.280
 against the  desire or the platform

01:36:28.320 --> 01:36:30.056
of the government they'll just bulldoze

01:36:30.080 --> 01:36:33.080
them  in this case literally.

01:36:33.760 --> 01:36:36.760
But  we are where we are. This is 

01:36:37.040 --> 01:36:39.496
an environmental effects statement

01:36:39.520 --> 01:36:42.520
submission. And I'd like to echo  the

01:36:42.639 --> 01:36:44.536
words of councelor Taylor and councelor

01:36:44.560 --> 01:36:47.560
Saunders um on managing to boil down

01:36:48.800 --> 01:36:51.800
60,000 pages into 16. And  you managed

01:36:53.360 --> 01:36:55.976
to do it. You know, I have  the Oxford

01:36:56.000 --> 01:36:57.416
English Dictionary at home in my

01:36:57.440 --> 01:37:00.376
library. It's 23 volumes that they

01:37:00.400 --> 01:37:02.856
shrunk to two and you need a magnifying

01:37:02.880 --> 01:37:04.776
glass to read it. Well, you managed to

01:37:04.800 --> 01:37:07.736
boil it down to 16 pages and  you

01:37:07.760 --> 01:37:09.655
don't even need a magnifying glass. So,

01:37:09.679 --> 01:37:12.679
so well done. Just in terms of the

01:37:12.719 --> 01:37:14.776
recommendations, you know, they're the

01:37:14.800 --> 01:37:17.256
good, the bad, I won't say the ugly.

01:37:17.280 --> 01:37:19.496
Well, so we'll have  Clint Eastwood

01:37:19.520 --> 01:37:21.496
and Eli Wallik and we won't have Lee Van

01:37:21.520 --> 01:37:24.520
Clee. Um, recommendation five about

01:37:24.639 --> 01:37:26.376
broadening the definition of heavy

01:37:26.400 --> 01:37:28.936
vehicles to mitigate damage to country

01:37:28.960 --> 01:37:31.175
roads. I think that's very important.

01:37:31.199 --> 01:37:33.655
Recommendation 14 on safeguarding

01:37:33.679 --> 01:37:36.679
electromagnetic safety and interference

01:37:38.000 --> 01:37:40.456
um from the people who are residing in

01:37:40.480 --> 01:37:43.480
the proximity of these 80 meter towers.

01:37:44.639 --> 01:37:47.416
Recommendation 23 is 23 is a key one.

01:37:47.440 --> 01:37:49.576
higher payments for forcible acquisition

01:37:49.600 --> 01:37:52.456
of private part   private property.

01:37:52.480 --> 01:37:54.376
We really need to go to the mattresses

01:37:54.400 --> 01:37:57.400
on that one to the extent that we can.

01:37:57.520 --> 01:38:00.376
 recommendation 24 about considering

01:38:00.400 --> 01:38:02.215
the impact of above ground transmission

01:38:02.239 --> 01:38:03.976
on farming.

01:38:04.000 --> 01:38:05.816
 there are going to be a lot of people

01:38:05.840 --> 01:38:07.256
not only in Bellar going to be

01:38:07.280 --> 01:38:09.416
negatively affected by this. and then

01:38:09.440 --> 01:38:12.440
recommendation 25 and 26 which are kind

01:38:12.639 --> 01:38:15.639
of relevant to  to our Ballarat and that's

01:38:15.920 --> 01:38:18.456
promoting   the workers on the

01:38:18.480 --> 01:38:21.336
project to  use our local hospitality

01:38:21.360 --> 01:38:24.135
venue. So  if this project's being

01:38:24.159 --> 01:38:25.976
forced down our throat at least we might

01:38:26.000 --> 01:38:28.936
try to ensure that local people our

01:38:28.960 --> 01:38:31.576
local residents get some  some

01:38:31.600 --> 01:38:33.896
benefit. Um,

01:38:33.920 --> 01:38:36.215
I'd like I I realize that this is a

01:38:36.239 --> 01:38:39.239
technical document. , recommendation

01:38:39.440 --> 01:38:42.440
15 on construction impacts is couched in

01:38:44.560 --> 01:38:46.936
, I guess bureaucratic terms. If it

01:38:46.960 --> 01:38:48.296
were up to me, if I were writing it, it

01:38:48.320 --> 01:38:50.936
would be it would be , it would be

01:38:50.960 --> 01:38:52.936
more strongly worded, but then , you

01:38:52.960 --> 01:38:54.776
know, I'm an elected official. I'm not

01:38:54.800 --> 01:38:57.016
an officer. There's no getting around

01:38:57.040 --> 01:38:58.856
the fact that with this project you're

01:38:58.880 --> 01:39:01.095
going to have these 80 meter tall mega

01:39:01.119 --> 01:39:02.856
towers and they're going to blight the

01:39:02.880 --> 01:39:05.256
regional landscape not only around our

01:39:05.280 --> 01:39:06.936
Ballarat but throughout the state. So we

01:39:06.960 --> 01:39:09.960
should do what we can in whatever

01:39:10.239 --> 01:39:12.856
limited capaBallarat be capaBallarat we do have

01:39:12.880 --> 01:39:15.095
to influence this and try and move the

01:39:15.119 --> 01:39:18.119
needle  as much as we can  to

01:39:19.360 --> 01:39:22.360
benefit  our residents. So I kind of I

01:39:22.880 --> 01:39:25.880
reluctantly support this. Thank you.

01:39:26.639 --> 01:39:29.576
Councelor Raldi speaking for the motion.

01:39:29.600 --> 01:39:30.215
Madame May

01:39:30.239 --> 01:39:30.936
or against?

01:39:30.960 --> 01:39:32.215
Thank you, Madam May. I'm speaking

01:39:32.239 --> 01:39:34.296
against this motion.

01:39:34.320 --> 01:39:36.296
 I'll just go through the reasons in a

01:39:36.320 --> 01:39:39.320
moment. Um

01:39:39.760 --> 01:39:41.655
well, it'll affect the planning scheme

01:39:41.679 --> 01:39:44.296
of six councils including Ballarat, Ballarat

01:39:44.320 --> 01:39:47.175
of Ballarat's Pacific control overlays.

01:39:47.199 --> 01:39:48.856
Bellow planning scheme will control

01:39:48.880 --> 01:39:51.095
development and land use within the

01:39:51.119 --> 01:39:52.856
project land within the with the

01:39:52.880 --> 01:39:55.256
minister of planning designated and

01:39:55.280 --> 01:39:57.576
responsible authority.

01:39:57.600 --> 01:40:00.600
So this is a token gesture to us as same

01:40:00.880 --> 01:40:03.816
as it was last week in our

01:40:03.840 --> 01:40:06.840
um briefing. Um

01:40:06.880 --> 01:40:09.095
um we had six presenters or five I think

01:40:09.119 --> 01:40:12.119
were in the room.  and I just felt um

01:40:14.800 --> 01:40:17.800
we weren't  informed. I left the

01:40:18.080 --> 01:40:19.816
meeting the same as what I came into the

01:40:19.840 --> 01:40:22.456
meeting, no information at all or

01:40:22.480 --> 01:40:25.256
questions that weren't answered.

01:40:25.280 --> 01:40:27.496
Um

01:40:27.520 --> 01:40:29.896
so I'm speaking against it and I'll just

01:40:29.920 --> 01:40:32.856
talk about a few other reasons.

01:40:32.880 --> 01:40:34.936
The project will provide for an easement

01:40:34.960 --> 01:40:36.695
along the transmission line of between

01:40:36.719 --> 01:40:39.095
70 and 100 meters. So you got the

01:40:39.119 --> 01:40:41.655
transmission line. So we're going 

01:40:41.679 --> 01:40:44.456
50/50. So it's around 100 meters. So

01:40:44.480 --> 01:40:47.095
we're talking about  production,

01:40:47.119 --> 01:40:49.256
primary production, potatoes. Let's talk

01:40:49.280 --> 01:40:52.280
about potatoes in a farm that might be a

01:40:52.639 --> 01:40:54.936
couple hundred acres. You got 100 meter

01:40:54.960 --> 01:40:57.896
   area that's a measurement. You

01:40:57.920 --> 01:41:00.536
can't irrigate. What is the cost of that

01:41:00.560 --> 01:41:02.215
per year to that farmer and you can't

01:41:02.239 --> 01:41:04.776
irrigate? And depending on the wind, it

01:41:04.800 --> 01:41:06.776
could be more because the wind and water

01:41:06.800 --> 01:41:09.175
 the the wind and water and

01:41:09.199 --> 01:41:11.256
transmissions transmission lines won't

01:41:11.280 --> 01:41:13.576
work. They can't get their their

01:41:13.600 --> 01:41:16.600
tractors under with if they got um um

01:41:17.199 --> 01:41:19.416
hay bales on it or other implements they

01:41:19.440 --> 01:41:21.416
use which are a bit high. So it's very

01:41:21.440 --> 01:41:24.376
very dangerous. And I talked there I saw

01:41:24.400 --> 01:41:26.695
there Osn will seek to acquire the

01:41:26.719 --> 01:41:28.536
easement through negotiation and land

01:41:28.560 --> 01:41:29.976
holders. Should these efforts not be

01:41:30.000 --> 01:41:32.215
successful under electriBallarat

01:41:32.239 --> 01:41:35.239
industry act 2000 vic and electriBallarat

01:41:35.280 --> 01:41:37.175
corporation may with the approval of the

01:41:37.199 --> 01:41:38.856
governor in council compulsory

01:41:38.880 --> 01:41:41.880
requirements. So they're saying well

01:41:42.480 --> 01:41:43.896
okay if we want to put this through

01:41:43.920 --> 01:41:46.536
we're going to put it through anyway. 24

01:41:46.560 --> 01:41:48.695
properties in the municipality I'm going

01:41:48.719 --> 01:41:51.016
to talk about the mixed farming 22

01:41:51.040 --> 01:41:52.456
properties that are mixed farming so

01:41:52.480 --> 01:41:55.480
grazing  crop growing and so forth.

01:41:55.679 --> 01:41:57.576
again,

01:41:57.600 --> 01:41:59.416
how does that affect the farm and how do

01:41:59.440 --> 01:42:02.296
they compensate that farmer for that?

01:42:02.320 --> 01:42:04.376
The other thing I'll just talk briefly

01:42:04.400 --> 01:42:07.400
on is

01:42:13.119 --> 01:42:15.896
islands uplands. Okay, this is first

01:42:15.920 --> 01:42:18.920
nations talk as I understand it. Mount

01:42:19.199 --> 01:42:22.135
Bolton, Mount Blowhard, Ursel and Downs.

01:42:22.159 --> 01:42:23.736
I'm now talking about the visual

01:42:23.760 --> 01:42:26.760
protection of that those lands.

01:42:27.199 --> 01:42:29.496
Pixford Road visual protection, Ballarat

01:42:29.520 --> 01:42:32.520
Marabara Road,  Kog's Creek, the Glen

01:42:32.719 --> 01:42:35.719
Dural Road are visual corridors.

01:42:36.320 --> 01:42:38.695
Are they going underground? And that's a

01:42:38.719 --> 01:42:39.896
question we asked the other night, but

01:42:39.920 --> 01:42:42.920
they couldn't answer.

01:42:43.360 --> 01:42:45.816
This is is major, and I'm voting against

01:42:45.840 --> 01:42:48.056
it. I I know I'm outnumbered here, but

01:42:48.080 --> 01:42:51.080
my conscience says,

01:42:52.800 --> 01:42:55.800
find another way.

01:42:56.080 --> 01:42:58.376
How do we do that?

01:42:58.400 --> 01:43:00.135
Maybe put some towers up in Burke

01:43:00.159 --> 01:43:03.159
Street, up on other areas in Melbourne.

01:43:04.159 --> 01:43:05.336
Maybe um

01:43:05.360 --> 01:43:08.360
just 30 seconds. Sorry, Councelor Raldi.

01:43:09.840 --> 01:43:12.840
Maybe at the U Prince of Prince 

01:43:13.280 --> 01:43:15.256
Princess Park at Carlton. There's big

01:43:15.280 --> 01:43:17.736
areas there to put a few towers up and

01:43:17.760 --> 01:43:20.760
see how the visual impact would be.

01:43:20.880 --> 01:43:22.695
I'm voting against this because this is

01:43:22.719 --> 01:43:25.336
not democracy. This is something we're

01:43:25.360 --> 01:43:27.416
going to give you the opportunity, but

01:43:27.440 --> 01:43:29.256
this is what we're going to do anyway.

01:43:29.280 --> 01:43:31.256
Thank you.

01:43:31.280 --> 01:43:32.695
Are there any other councilors wishing

01:43:32.719 --> 01:43:35.719
to speak for or against the motion?

01:43:36.480 --> 01:43:38.856
In that case,

01:43:38.880 --> 01:43:40.936
who moved it? Councelor Macintosh, would

01:43:40.960 --> 01:43:43.960
you like to sum up?

01:43:44.639 --> 01:43:46.936
 yes, Madame Mayor, just to say I

01:43:46.960 --> 01:43:49.960
fully agree with  councelor Rald's

01:43:50.639 --> 01:43:53.639
concerns and the reason that I'm voting

01:43:53.760 --> 01:43:56.760
for this recommendation is item 48.2

01:43:57.840 --> 01:44:00.215
specifically says advocate for a fair

01:44:00.239 --> 01:44:02.456
and inclusive community consultation

01:44:02.480 --> 01:44:04.776
process for all transmission line

01:44:04.800 --> 01:44:06.615
projects which include genuine

01:44:06.639 --> 01:44:08.296
consultation and partnership with land

01:44:08.320 --> 01:44:10.856
owners. I do believe that that hasn't

01:44:10.880 --> 01:44:12.615
adequately happened. That's certainly

01:44:12.639 --> 01:44:15.175
the feedback that personally I have

01:44:15.199 --> 01:44:17.976
received from many of those 24 property

01:44:18.000 --> 01:44:20.456
owners and they've made it very clear

01:44:20.480 --> 01:44:22.376
that there needs to be consideration of

01:44:22.400 --> 01:44:24.215
alternate route roots and that there

01:44:24.239 --> 01:44:27.175
does need to be undergrounding.  so I

01:44:27.199 --> 01:44:30.199
absolutely agree with councelor's

01:44:30.480 --> 01:44:33.480
concerns. Um they've been made very loud

01:44:33.920 --> 01:44:36.135
and clear to all of us and the visual

01:44:36.159 --> 01:44:39.159
impacts. I drove past a significant

01:44:39.360 --> 01:44:42.360
build yesterday and I saw firsthand how

01:44:43.360 --> 01:44:46.296
scary it was. And I just hope that all

01:44:46.320 --> 01:44:49.256
of these people that are not speaking

01:44:49.280 --> 01:44:51.496
about this at the moment actually go out

01:44:51.520 --> 01:44:53.336
and have a look at some of these builds

01:44:53.360 --> 01:44:56.360
and see how catastrophic they are to the

01:44:56.639 --> 01:44:58.695
farming land that's beneath them. I

01:44:58.719 --> 01:45:00.536
turned around and I watched a crop

01:45:00.560 --> 01:45:03.095
duster swooping down to spray the

01:45:03.119 --> 01:45:05.576
property right next door. and the power

01:45:05.600 --> 01:45:08.600
lines were so damn close it made me feel

01:45:09.199 --> 01:45:12.056
sick. We need to make sure that we are a

01:45:12.080 --> 01:45:14.936
voice. And I don't disagree with

01:45:14.960 --> 01:45:17.416
councelor and either when he says

01:45:17.440 --> 01:45:19.816
they're on this path no matter what. I

01:45:19.840 --> 01:45:22.376
believe that's correct. But I want to

01:45:22.400 --> 01:45:24.296
make sure that we have a seat at the

01:45:24.320 --> 01:45:27.095
table. I want to make sure that our

01:45:27.119 --> 01:45:29.655
voices can be heard because I care about

01:45:29.679 --> 01:45:32.135
our farmers. I want to make sure that

01:45:32.159 --> 01:45:34.456
the food that we need to eat, that our

01:45:34.480 --> 01:45:37.336
kids need to grow, I want to make sure

01:45:37.360 --> 01:45:40.360
that what makes them be healthy and fit

01:45:41.119 --> 01:45:43.976
is available to them. And with this sort

01:45:44.000 --> 01:45:46.856
of treatment to our farming communities,

01:45:46.880 --> 01:45:48.615
I believe that it's significantly

01:45:48.639 --> 01:45:51.639
impacted. It is pushing people away from

01:45:52.400 --> 01:45:55.256
third and fourth generation farming and

01:45:55.280 --> 01:45:58.280
I have enormous concern. So yes, I agree

01:45:58.719 --> 01:46:01.095
with councelor Raldi, but I don't feel

01:46:01.119 --> 01:46:02.376
we've got any other way for

01:46:02.400 --> 01:46:03.576
30 seconds

01:46:03.600 --> 01:46:06.600
but to be a voice in this forum and that

01:46:06.960 --> 01:46:09.095
does not for one second mean that we

01:46:09.119 --> 01:46:12.119
support the the approach and we need to

01:46:12.320 --> 01:46:15.016
do something different and that 48.2

01:46:15.040 --> 01:46:17.256
part of the recommendation I believe

01:46:17.280 --> 01:46:20.280
takes us at least some way there.

01:46:20.639 --> 01:46:22.536
Councilors I'll now call for a vote. All

01:46:22.560 --> 01:46:24.695
those in favor?

01:46:24.719 --> 01:46:26.856
All those against?

01:46:26.880 --> 01:46:29.880
Sure. Division is all those in favor

01:46:30.000 --> 01:46:31.896
myself, councelor Harg Graves, councelor

01:46:31.920 --> 01:46:33.736
Morrison, councelor Taylor, councelor

01:46:33.760 --> 01:46:35.576
Saunders, councelor Morgan, councelor

01:46:35.600 --> 01:46:38.135
Mintosh, councelor Lapkin, and councelor

01:46:38.159 --> 01:46:40.215
Hudson. All those against is councelor

01:46:40.239 --> 01:46:43.239
Raldi.

01:46:44.239 --> 01:46:46.376
And that is carried.

01:46:46.400 --> 01:46:48.536
Councilors, that takes us to item 8.2,

01:46:48.560 --> 01:46:51.175
the Ballarat Botanical Gardens Master Plan

01:46:51.199 --> 01:46:53.175
Adoption. I see some staff have come in

01:46:53.199 --> 01:46:55.336
to spend the night  waiting to hear

01:46:55.360 --> 01:46:56.936
this one. Thank you so much for coming

01:46:56.960 --> 01:46:59.960
in and being involved. Um, so we have

01:47:00.159 --> 01:47:02.215
the recommendation there. Councilors, do

01:47:02.239 --> 01:47:03.816
you have any questions for our officers?

01:47:03.840 --> 01:47:06.135
Council Mintosh. , Madame Mayor, I'm

01:47:06.159 --> 01:47:08.456
just wondering there is a a  an

01:47:08.480 --> 01:47:11.336
addition to that recommendation if I

01:47:11.360 --> 01:47:13.416
could have that put up. Thank you very

01:47:13.440 --> 01:47:15.816
much. And if I have a second, I'm happy

01:47:15.840 --> 01:47:16.856
to speak to that.

01:47:16.880 --> 01:47:19.416
Council Morgan to second.

01:47:19.440 --> 01:47:21.816
Thanks very much, Madame Mayor.  this

01:47:21.840 --> 01:47:24.840
piece of works has been  being 

01:47:26.000 --> 01:47:28.536
prepared over a long period of time.

01:47:28.560 --> 01:47:30.856
Many people would know that there are

01:47:30.880 --> 01:47:33.416
around 500 volunteers that look after

01:47:33.440 --> 01:47:36.376
our gardens along with the  very

01:47:36.400 --> 01:47:39.400
special staff of our Ballarat.  many of

01:47:39.440 --> 01:47:42.440
those people have been committed for

01:47:42.480 --> 01:47:45.480
decades working in this space. There was

01:47:46.639 --> 01:47:49.496
a previous botanical gardens master plan

01:47:49.520 --> 01:47:52.520
that was drafted in 1994

01:47:52.560 --> 01:47:54.456
1995

01:47:54.480 --> 01:47:56.456
um and then that has been further

01:47:56.480 --> 01:47:57.816
developed and there's also different

01:47:57.840 --> 01:48:00.456
iterations that focus on a tighter part

01:48:00.480 --> 01:48:03.256
of the gardens and then this one on a

01:48:03.280 --> 01:48:06.215
broader part of the gardens. What we saw

01:48:06.239 --> 01:48:08.615
being delivered from the last botanical

01:48:08.639 --> 01:48:10.536
gardens master plan was some really

01:48:10.560 --> 01:48:13.560
beautiful work. Um looking at the

01:48:14.080 --> 01:48:17.080
detailed plantings, looking at 

01:48:17.199 --> 01:48:20.199
statues, looking at water fountains, 

01:48:20.320 --> 01:48:23.175
and all sorts of other important avenues

01:48:23.199 --> 01:48:25.736
like the Sequoid Dendram avenue and many

01:48:25.760 --> 01:48:28.215
others. We've also seen great work with

01:48:28.239 --> 01:48:30.536
the reinstatement of the gatekeepers

01:48:30.560 --> 01:48:32.615
cottage and the great work the

01:48:32.639 --> 01:48:34.456
educational project that takes us into

01:48:34.480 --> 01:48:36.615
the future the botanic kids which comes

01:48:36.639 --> 01:48:38.936
out of that gatekeepers cottage the

01:48:38.960 --> 01:48:40.456
original cottage that was in the garden

01:48:40.480 --> 01:48:43.175
that was moved back there. So with all

01:48:43.199 --> 01:48:46.199
of that work from the past, there is now

01:48:46.639 --> 01:48:49.639
a follow-on plan that talks absolutely

01:48:50.400 --> 01:48:53.400
to that past plan and it's listed in

01:48:54.000 --> 01:48:55.976
this recommendation to take us through

01:48:56.000 --> 01:48:59.000
until 2045 if this is adopted tonight.

01:49:01.040 --> 01:49:03.655
What we know in this particular plan is

01:49:03.679 --> 01:49:05.816
that there's a list a mile long of

01:49:05.840 --> 01:49:08.536
really important projects that do need

01:49:08.560 --> 01:49:11.560
to be further developed. This particular

01:49:11.920 --> 01:49:14.920
master plan does not commit us to these

01:49:15.119 --> 01:49:17.976
works in future budgets. There is

01:49:18.000 --> 01:49:20.296
significant work and there are many

01:49:20.320 --> 01:49:23.016
examples within this master plan that

01:49:23.040 --> 01:49:25.655
will require further research, further

01:49:25.679 --> 01:49:28.679
consultation, further budget to be able

01:49:29.360 --> 01:49:32.135
to then approve some of these 

01:49:32.159 --> 01:49:34.135
individual components and larger scale

01:49:34.159 --> 01:49:36.695
pieces that are part of this plan. And

01:49:36.719 --> 01:49:39.719
equally, the second part 12.2 to not

01:49:39.920 --> 01:49:42.536
only looks at those extra items that

01:49:42.560 --> 01:49:44.296
will come back to us. So this doesn't

01:49:44.320 --> 01:49:46.695
mean every item that's in that master

01:49:46.719 --> 01:49:49.336
plan will be endorsed tonight. What it

01:49:49.360 --> 01:49:52.360
says is this is a guide. It's a plan for

01:49:52.800 --> 01:49:55.800
us to take us through the next couple of

01:49:56.400 --> 01:49:59.400
decades  with guidelines but with a

01:49:59.840 --> 01:50:01.976
very clear opportunity to bring back to

01:50:02.000 --> 01:50:05.000
this council chamber any particular 

01:50:05.520 --> 01:50:08.376
detailed items that require further

01:50:08.400 --> 01:50:10.695
consideration for budget and for further

01:50:10.719 --> 01:50:13.719
detailed works. It also provides the

01:50:14.159 --> 01:50:16.376
opportunity for us to look at safety

01:50:16.400 --> 01:50:19.256
requirements with interconnection of

01:50:19.280 --> 01:50:21.496
paths  in the tram track area but not

01:50:21.520 --> 01:50:23.576
just in the tram track area around the

01:50:23.600 --> 01:50:25.896
broader gardens. The gardens takes up a

01:50:25.920 --> 01:50:28.920
big part of um that particular precinct

01:50:29.440 --> 01:50:31.655
but there are many other components to

01:50:31.679 --> 01:50:34.536
it. It is really important that we

01:50:34.560 --> 01:50:36.615
understand that this is a set of

01:50:36.639 --> 01:50:39.175
guidelines. It's a master plan that

01:50:39.199 --> 01:50:41.816
gives us scope and maps out where we

01:50:41.840 --> 01:50:44.536
might be. But there are things in there

01:50:44.560 --> 01:50:47.416
that I might question individually

01:50:47.440 --> 01:50:49.576
personally and that other other

01:50:49.600 --> 01:50:51.336
counselors may see in a different light.

01:50:51.360 --> 01:50:54.215
That is why  the 12.2 component of

01:50:54.239 --> 01:50:56.856
this item is added madame may for those

01:50:56.880 --> 01:50:59.016
reasons I support the recommendation and

01:50:59.040 --> 01:51:01.496
happy to hear from the second council

01:51:01.520 --> 01:51:03.655
Morgan.

01:51:03.679 --> 01:51:06.679
Thank you madame mayor. I echo the um

01:51:08.000 --> 01:51:11.000
excitement around um a master plan and

01:51:11.119 --> 01:51:14.119
the next step for the botanical gardens.

01:51:14.159 --> 01:51:16.296
They are cherished and loved whenever we

01:51:16.320 --> 01:51:18.776
have visitors. Visitors cannot believe

01:51:18.800 --> 01:51:21.416
that on top of the lake over the road we

01:51:21.440 --> 01:51:24.440
also have such exquisite  gardens. I

01:51:25.119 --> 01:51:28.119
simply wish to speak as I've raised

01:51:28.800 --> 01:51:31.016
amongst the very very detailed

01:51:31.040 --> 01:51:33.576
consultation that has occurred and all

01:51:33.600 --> 01:51:35.416
of the incredible voices that we've

01:51:35.440 --> 01:51:38.215
heard about this project. I was aware of

01:51:38.239 --> 01:51:40.376
a a remaining concern in relation to

01:51:40.400 --> 01:51:43.400
safety crossing um a path that may or

01:51:43.760 --> 01:51:46.456
may not cross tram tracks. Um I believe

01:51:46.480 --> 01:51:48.695
that the plan currently drafted still

01:51:48.719 --> 01:51:50.536
has flexibility for dealing with those

01:51:50.560 --> 01:51:52.296
safety concerns. I just wanted to make

01:51:52.320 --> 01:51:53.736
sure that it was reflected in the

01:51:53.760 --> 01:51:55.336
recommendation that that work would

01:51:55.360 --> 01:51:58.296
occur and that the um wonderful tram

01:51:58.320 --> 01:52:00.536
museum as well as the paths that lead

01:52:00.560 --> 01:52:03.560
there are safe for everyone to enjoy.

01:52:04.800 --> 01:52:07.736
Councelor Raldi speaking question

01:52:07.760 --> 01:52:10.760
question madame may I just note here 

01:52:10.960 --> 01:52:13.960
removal of the sound shell has been

01:52:14.080 --> 01:52:16.056
strengthened

01:52:16.080 --> 01:52:17.816
um wording has been strengthened on

01:52:17.840 --> 01:52:19.336
removal of the sound shell. Can you

01:52:19.360 --> 01:52:21.175
please explain or somebody explain to me

01:52:21.199 --> 01:52:22.215
what that means please?

01:52:22.239 --> 01:52:23.896
That'd be one for director weather.

01:52:23.920 --> 01:52:25.336
Thank you

01:52:25.360 --> 01:52:26.936
through madame and thanks for the

01:52:26.960 --> 01:52:29.960
question. Um the sound shell  has not

01:52:30.719 --> 01:52:32.215
been utilized for a number of years

01:52:32.239 --> 01:52:34.936
because it's in poor condition. Um the

01:52:34.960 --> 01:52:37.960
master plan identifies  that it still

01:52:38.159 --> 01:52:41.159
exists. However, um so so there needs to

01:52:41.599 --> 01:52:43.095
be some further consideration of what we

01:52:43.119 --> 01:52:45.816
do with that asset. Anything that  any

01:52:45.840 --> 01:52:48.456
decisions will clearly come to council.

01:52:48.480 --> 01:52:50.056
um and will undertake some community

01:52:50.080 --> 01:52:51.575
consultation, but because of the

01:52:51.599 --> 01:52:54.599
condition, it's likely  to  need to

01:52:56.320 --> 01:52:58.856
be removed. Um but those options

01:52:58.880 --> 01:53:00.695
certainly have not progressed any

01:53:00.719 --> 01:53:02.776
further than looking at its current

01:53:02.800 --> 01:53:05.736
state.  and being aware that we'll

01:53:05.760 --> 01:53:07.655
have to do something at some point and

01:53:07.679 --> 01:53:09.976
when we get to that point,  we'll be

01:53:10.000 --> 01:53:11.655
coming back to council and consulting

01:53:11.679 --> 01:53:13.256
with the community about what that may

01:53:13.280 --> 01:53:16.280
or may not look like. Councelor Mintosh,

01:53:16.880 --> 01:53:17.976
did you have a question?

01:53:18.000 --> 01:53:19.655
, yes. Thanks very much, Madame May.

01:53:19.679 --> 01:53:21.336
Just to follow on from the question

01:53:21.360 --> 01:53:23.016
councelor and Aldi asked of Director

01:53:23.040 --> 01:53:25.175
Weatherall. Um, I'd like to ask a

01:53:25.199 --> 01:53:28.199
question  through you, Madame Mayor,

01:53:28.719 --> 01:53:31.719
to be very sure as we're working through

01:53:31.920 --> 01:53:34.920
this particular motion. Has our council

01:53:35.199 --> 01:53:38.199
made any decision to remove the sound

01:53:38.480 --> 01:53:40.615
shell at this stage?

01:53:40.639 --> 01:53:43.016
Director Weatherall,

01:53:43.040 --> 01:53:44.615
, you through you, Madam May. No,

01:53:44.639 --> 01:53:47.175
there's been no decision. What there has

01:53:47.199 --> 01:53:50.199
been is a condition report  that shows

01:53:50.239 --> 01:53:53.016
that it's unsafe. Um so the longer we

01:53:53.040 --> 01:53:56.040
leave it  the worse risk it may pose

01:53:56.480 --> 01:53:59.480
to users or or people near the facility.

01:53:59.599 --> 01:54:01.175
So there needs to be a decision at some

01:54:01.199 --> 01:54:02.376
point in the future, but we've currently

01:54:02.400 --> 01:54:04.376
got no budget to do anything with with

01:54:04.400 --> 01:54:06.615
the asset and we'll certainly be seeking

01:54:06.639 --> 01:54:08.615
views of the community before we make

01:54:08.639 --> 01:54:11.256
any decisions about  its future.

01:54:11.280 --> 01:54:12.856
Another question. Councelor Macintosh.

01:54:12.880 --> 01:54:14.615
Just a follow-up question. Thanks very

01:54:14.639 --> 01:54:17.639
much, Madame Mayor. Um to just to ask um

01:54:19.599 --> 01:54:22.599
if we support this recommendation

01:54:23.280 --> 01:54:26.280
tonight, does that still allow us have

01:54:26.480 --> 01:54:29.480
this item come to us to debate, discuss,

01:54:31.360 --> 01:54:34.360
 have further detail on understand

01:54:34.400 --> 01:54:37.400
costs  and and future potential uses

01:54:38.000 --> 01:54:41.000
because it may be a simple let's just 

01:54:42.320 --> 01:54:44.776
restore what's there and use it as a sh

01:54:44.800 --> 01:54:46.456
soundshell. It may be put a glass front

01:54:46.480 --> 01:54:49.256
on it and use it for an artist's space.

01:54:49.280 --> 01:54:52.056
Does this recommendation still allow us

01:54:52.080 --> 01:54:53.655
consider that particular item

01:54:53.679 --> 01:54:56.135
individually at a time that's that this

01:54:56.159 --> 01:54:58.376
council sees appropriate?

01:54:58.400 --> 01:55:01.095
I'll ask our CEO to answer that one if

01:55:01.119 --> 01:55:01.896
possible, please.

01:55:01.920 --> 01:55:04.056
Um, you madame mayor and thank you

01:55:04.080 --> 01:55:05.816
councelor Macintosh for for that

01:55:05.840 --> 01:55:08.056
question. As you could imagine, a master

01:55:08.080 --> 01:55:11.080
plan um covering  the size of the

01:55:12.080 --> 01:55:15.080
Ballarat Botanical Gardens um covers a

01:55:16.159 --> 01:55:19.159
significant array of assets. Um

01:55:20.480 --> 01:55:23.480
obviously one of the feeding

01:55:24.400 --> 01:55:27.400
um documents to this was a was a

01:55:28.159 --> 01:55:30.135
heritage review of all the all of the

01:55:30.159 --> 01:55:32.936
assets that provided condition of of all

01:55:32.960 --> 01:55:35.960
the assets in the in in the gardens and

01:55:36.000 --> 01:55:38.296
that obviously fed into the the master

01:55:38.320 --> 01:55:41.320
plan and why  I suppose those words

01:55:41.520 --> 01:55:44.296
were strengthened in the master plan.

01:55:44.320 --> 01:55:46.456
That in itself is no direction to

01:55:46.480 --> 01:55:49.480
officers to go away and remove  remove

01:55:49.920 --> 01:55:52.920
the sound shell. And I think through the

01:55:53.599 --> 01:55:56.599
additional item in um in the proposed

01:55:57.440 --> 01:56:00.440
motion that any major projects will

01:56:00.880 --> 01:56:03.880
require um you know further research,

01:56:04.719 --> 01:56:06.695
further consultation,

01:56:06.719 --> 01:56:09.416
budget allocation um and council

01:56:09.440 --> 01:56:12.376
approval. hopefully gives confidence to

01:56:12.400 --> 01:56:14.615
councilors and the community that those

01:56:14.639 --> 01:56:17.639
major projects will have further  work

01:56:17.920 --> 01:56:19.256
done on it before it comes back to

01:56:19.280 --> 01:56:21.336
council for council to consider the the

01:56:21.360 --> 01:56:23.416
best the best options moving moving

01:56:23.440 --> 01:56:25.496
forward.

01:56:25.520 --> 01:56:26.936
Council Mintosh,

01:56:26.960 --> 01:56:28.536
can I also ask a further question

01:56:28.560 --> 01:56:30.776
please, Madame Mayor? In regards to the

01:56:30.800 --> 01:56:33.416
Fernary, there are full plans that show

01:56:33.440 --> 01:56:36.440
the back end um in the  Gothic version

01:56:38.320 --> 01:56:41.016
as the front is that have not

01:56:41.040 --> 01:56:42.856
necessarily been presented to all of

01:56:42.880 --> 01:56:45.575
council. There are draft sketches in

01:56:45.599 --> 01:56:47.976
this master plan that show a totally

01:56:48.000 --> 01:56:50.215
different iteration.

01:56:50.239 --> 01:56:53.239
 does that  particular item still

01:56:54.880 --> 01:56:57.016
allow us the opportunity to have a look

01:56:57.040 --> 01:56:59.655
at the plans that this council has

01:56:59.679 --> 01:57:01.896
funded in the past

01:57:01.920 --> 01:57:03.896
again Mr. the CEO.

01:57:03.920 --> 01:57:05.816
 through you, Madame Mayor, and thank

01:57:05.840 --> 01:57:07.976
you, Councelor Macintosh, for for that

01:57:08.000 --> 01:57:10.776
question. Um nothing nothing in the

01:57:10.800 --> 01:57:13.800
master plan prevents  further

01:57:13.840 --> 01:57:16.840
development of of um the other end of

01:57:17.119 --> 01:57:19.655
the of the Fernary.  the master plan

01:57:19.679 --> 01:57:22.615
at the moment really enhances  what's

01:57:22.639 --> 01:57:25.575
been done to date, utilizes it,

01:57:25.599 --> 01:57:28.296
activates it.  if council was of a

01:57:28.320 --> 01:57:31.320
mind to want to allocate  budget to

01:57:32.880 --> 01:57:35.575
implement  a different a different

01:57:35.599 --> 01:57:37.976
solution to the to the back of of the

01:57:38.000 --> 01:57:39.736
fernary then that's certainly an option

01:57:39.760 --> 01:57:41.575
that is available to council at a future

01:57:41.599 --> 01:57:43.016
date but there's nothing in the master

01:57:43.040 --> 01:57:45.416
plan at the moment that prevents it.

01:57:45.440 --> 01:57:47.496
It's just ensuring that we can enhance

01:57:47.520 --> 01:57:50.520
it and activate that that space.

01:57:51.440 --> 01:57:53.016
Council Saunders, were you wishing to

01:57:53.040 --> 01:57:55.416
speak for or against? four.

01:57:55.440 --> 01:57:56.296
Go for it,

01:57:56.320 --> 01:57:58.296
Madam Mayor. , thank you. I just

01:57:58.320 --> 01:58:01.320
wanted to um  say that  I agree with

01:58:02.800 --> 01:58:05.575
what councelor Macintosh and councelor

01:58:05.599 --> 01:58:08.599
Morgan have said regarding the two is

01:58:08.639 --> 01:58:11.639
items of issue that nothing definitive

01:58:12.159 --> 01:58:14.856
has been decided regarding the removal

01:58:14.880 --> 01:58:17.816
of the sound shell, Council Mintosh, and

01:58:17.840 --> 01:58:20.840
the um interconnection of parks and tram

01:58:20.960 --> 01:58:22.936
tracks, councelor Morgan. So, I just

01:58:22.960 --> 01:58:24.856
wanted to put that on record. Nothing

01:58:24.880 --> 01:58:27.256
definitive has been decided by us voting

01:58:27.280 --> 01:58:30.280
for 12.1 12.2 in this master plan.

01:58:32.960 --> 01:58:34.615
Councilors, was there anyone wishing to

01:58:34.639 --> 01:58:37.175
speak for the motion

01:58:37.199 --> 01:58:39.416
against the motion?

01:58:39.440 --> 01:58:41.575
I'll speak super super briefly just to

01:58:41.599 --> 01:58:43.816
say  a massive well done to the team.

01:58:43.840 --> 01:58:46.776
I know director Weatherall a lot of work

01:58:46.800 --> 01:58:48.615
is an understatement to say that has

01:58:48.639 --> 01:58:51.336
gone into this. Um, shout out to Donna

01:58:51.360 --> 01:58:54.215
Thomas who is one of the most, you know,

01:58:54.239 --> 01:58:56.695
amazing, passionate people about her job

01:58:56.719 --> 01:58:59.095
at the gardens ever and she just the

01:58:59.119 --> 01:59:01.575
pride that she has in that place um,

01:59:01.599 --> 01:59:03.336
absolutely shines through every time I

01:59:03.360 --> 01:59:04.776
go down there. It's an absolute joy to

01:59:04.800 --> 01:59:06.536
see how brilliant the gardens are

01:59:06.560 --> 01:59:08.776
looking. Um, I know we've got Luke and

01:59:08.800 --> 01:59:10.536
David here as well. So, well done for

01:59:10.560 --> 01:59:12.456
all of your input into this. you know,

01:59:12.480 --> 01:59:14.536
we absolutely, you know, are really

01:59:14.560 --> 01:59:16.135
grateful to to you both for bringing

01:59:16.159 --> 01:59:19.016
your skill and expertise um and to help

01:59:19.040 --> 01:59:21.175
make our Ballarat look so beautiful.  and

01:59:21.199 --> 01:59:22.936
I just wanted to do one quick shout out

01:59:22.960 --> 01:59:25.655
to Andrea Proctor who was the project

01:59:25.679 --> 01:59:28.215
lead who has done an absolute wealth of

01:59:28.239 --> 01:59:29.976
work and we're so lucky to have been

01:59:30.000 --> 01:59:31.816
able to have her and she's she's put in

01:59:31.840 --> 01:59:33.816
months and months of work on this. I

01:59:33.840 --> 01:59:35.575
might have missed councelor Morrison.

01:59:35.599 --> 01:59:37.416
Were you wishing to speak for or against

01:59:37.440 --> 01:59:39.095
the motion? 

01:59:39.119 --> 01:59:40.296
for the motion, madame mayor.

01:59:40.320 --> 01:59:42.296
Yeah. over to you now then.

01:59:42.320 --> 01:59:44.056
Thank you. Um I'll also keep it super

01:59:44.080 --> 01:59:46.296
brief. Um I just wanted to say fantastic

01:59:46.320 --> 01:59:47.896
job to all of those people that you just

01:59:47.920 --> 01:59:50.215
said fantastic job to actually. But I

01:59:50.239 --> 01:59:53.239
did want to say um I did um I was lucky

01:59:53.360 --> 01:59:54.695
along with yourself and a couple of

01:59:54.719 --> 01:59:56.296
other counselors to get a behind thes

01:59:56.320 --> 01:59:59.320
scenes tour um recently of the gardens

01:59:59.840 --> 02:00:01.655
just to get a deeper understanding of

02:00:01.679 --> 02:00:04.679
the the work involved um there. the team

02:00:06.480 --> 02:00:09.480
um do so much forward planning um  and

02:00:10.480 --> 02:00:13.336
there's there's  no number of 

02:00:13.360 --> 02:00:16.360
challenges no um few number of

02:00:18.080 --> 02:00:21.080
challenges there um including a big one

02:00:21.440 --> 02:00:22.936
which was climate change that they

02:00:22.960 --> 02:00:24.936
talked about um and the impact that that

02:00:24.960 --> 02:00:27.175
is having on the gardens as well but

02:00:27.199 --> 02:00:29.095
these are people who are um thinking

02:00:29.119 --> 02:00:31.496
generations ahead and that's I think

02:00:31.520 --> 02:00:34.056
really admirable there's not much work

02:00:34.080 --> 02:00:37.080
that um we we do in our daily lives that

02:00:37.840 --> 02:00:39.655
um has impact for generations to come

02:00:39.679 --> 02:00:42.296
and that workforce um do a fantastic

02:00:42.320 --> 02:00:45.320
job. So um you know the the tool is

02:00:45.599 --> 02:00:47.736
fantastic. I did joke um with Donna

02:00:47.760 --> 02:00:49.175
afterwards that maybe one day there'll

02:00:49.199 --> 02:00:52.199
be a beonia named after herself. Um I

02:00:52.239 --> 02:00:54.296
hope that is the case um sometime in the

02:00:54.320 --> 02:00:56.856
future. So um thank you. The master

02:00:56.880 --> 02:00:59.336
plan's fantastic. It's positive. Um and

02:00:59.360 --> 02:01:00.695
it's good to know that there'll be

02:01:00.719 --> 02:01:03.336
continued community consultation and for

02:01:03.360 --> 02:01:05.416
those um especially those major projects

02:01:05.440 --> 02:01:06.936
that they will keep coming back to the

02:01:06.960 --> 02:01:08.695
chamber as well.

02:01:08.719 --> 02:01:10.135
Good. I'll just do one more check. Is

02:01:10.159 --> 02:01:11.816
there anyone else wishing to speak for

02:01:11.840 --> 02:01:14.215
or against the motion? In that case,

02:01:14.239 --> 02:01:15.816
let's put it to a vote. All those in

02:01:15.840 --> 02:01:18.840
favor? And that is carried. That takes

02:01:19.119 --> 02:01:22.119
us to item 8.3, our community engagement

02:01:22.400 --> 02:01:24.376
policy adoption. Councilors, you have

02:01:24.400 --> 02:01:25.976
the officer's recommendations. Do you

02:01:26.000 --> 02:01:29.000
have any questions for our officers?

02:01:31.520 --> 02:01:34.520
In that case, looking for a mover.

02:01:35.920 --> 02:01:38.296
Councelor Lapkin to move. Looking for a

02:01:38.320 --> 02:01:39.976
seconder. Councelor Raldi. Coun.

02:01:40.000 --> 02:01:42.936
Councelor Lapkin. Over to you.

02:01:42.960 --> 02:01:45.496
Happy to. Yep. Councelor Raldi wishing

02:01:45.520 --> 02:01:46.936
to speak. Was there any councelor

02:01:46.960 --> 02:01:48.695
wishing to speak for or against the

02:01:48.719 --> 02:01:50.456
motion?

02:01:50.480 --> 02:01:52.856
I'll speak very very briefly only to say

02:01:52.880 --> 02:01:54.856
I think this is  it is an important

02:01:54.880 --> 02:01:56.376
moment and I know a lot of work has gone

02:01:56.400 --> 02:01:59.336
into this especially by Nikki and  I

02:01:59.360 --> 02:02:00.856
think policies are sometimes one of

02:02:00.880 --> 02:02:03.016
those things we we do see them we read

02:02:03.040 --> 02:02:04.776
them we feel like we understand them and

02:02:04.800 --> 02:02:06.215
then later down the track when they get

02:02:06.239 --> 02:02:08.695
put into practice that's when we really

02:02:08.719 --> 02:02:11.095
get to test them so this is not unlike

02:02:11.119 --> 02:02:13.416
any other policy that it will probably

02:02:13.440 --> 02:02:15.175
um you know need to be referred to and

02:02:15.199 --> 02:02:17.175
tested over time and you know I think

02:02:17.199 --> 02:02:18.615
we're on the right track and there's

02:02:18.639 --> 02:02:20.615
been a lot ofum um positive movement in

02:02:20.639 --> 02:02:22.695
our engagement in general and I see that

02:02:22.719 --> 02:02:24.215
just continuing to get better and

02:02:24.239 --> 02:02:27.239
better. So with that in mind, I shall

02:02:27.440 --> 02:02:29.016
put it to a vote. I'm assuming you don't

02:02:29.040 --> 02:02:31.575
want to sum up put all those in favor

02:02:31.599 --> 02:02:33.466
and that is passed.

02:02:33.490 --> 02:02:35.095
[Applause]

02:02:35.119 --> 02:02:38.119
Councilors that takes us to item 8.4

02:02:38.560 --> 02:02:40.456
appointment of members to advisory

02:02:40.480 --> 02:02:43.336
committees. Councelor Hudson to move.

02:02:43.360 --> 02:02:45.016
Look, councelor Macintosh to second.

02:02:45.040 --> 02:02:48.040
Councelor Hudson.

02:02:48.239 --> 02:02:50.296
Thank you, Madame Mayor. only really to

02:02:50.320 --> 02:02:52.056
say a big thank you to all of the people

02:02:52.080 --> 02:02:54.376
that have put themselves forward to work

02:02:54.400 --> 02:02:56.456
with council officers on a whole range

02:02:56.480 --> 02:02:59.336
of different stakeholder engagements

02:02:59.360 --> 02:03:02.360
and  various committees. Their input

02:03:02.560 --> 02:03:04.615
is really valuable and perspectives that

02:03:04.639 --> 02:03:07.175
they bring. Um and I'd certainly like to

02:03:07.199 --> 02:03:08.856
thank the four especially in the

02:03:08.880 --> 02:03:10.135
committee that I'm involved with on

02:03:10.159 --> 02:03:12.135
their the ballet friends of Anaro. It's

02:03:12.159 --> 02:03:14.215
great to see some new blood, some

02:03:14.239 --> 02:03:17.016
energized blood. Um, the membership has

02:03:17.040 --> 02:03:18.456
been there for a long time and they do

02:03:18.480 --> 02:03:20.376
great work, but at some point you do

02:03:20.400 --> 02:03:21.976
have to think about transition and

02:03:22.000 --> 02:03:24.135
succession. So to all of the people that

02:03:24.159 --> 02:03:25.416
have put themselves forward, I thank

02:03:25.440 --> 02:03:26.695
them for their willingness and their

02:03:26.719 --> 02:03:28.056
commitment.

02:03:28.080 --> 02:03:29.896
Councelor Mintosh, sorry, who was

02:03:29.920 --> 02:03:31.416
second? Was it you? Sorry, I didn't

02:03:31.440 --> 02:03:34.376
write it down. If anyone else wishing to

02:03:34.400 --> 02:03:37.400
speak for or against the motion, in that

02:03:37.840 --> 02:03:39.416
case, let's put it to a vote. All those

02:03:39.440 --> 02:03:42.440
in favor and that is carried.

02:03:43.280 --> 02:03:45.655
That takes us to the contracts approval

02:03:45.679 --> 02:03:48.679
delegated committee meeting minutes.

02:03:49.840 --> 02:03:51.175
Councilors, do you have any questions

02:03:51.199 --> 02:03:54.199
for our officers?

02:03:54.320 --> 02:03:57.320
In that case, looking for a mover.

02:03:57.440 --> 02:03:59.575
The predictable councelor Taylor.

02:03:59.599 --> 02:04:01.896
Seconded. Councelor Lapkin. Councelor

02:04:01.920 --> 02:04:04.920
Taylor. No. Councelor Lapkin. Any other

02:04:05.040 --> 02:04:07.655
councilors wishing to speak? Thank you.

02:04:07.679 --> 02:04:09.095
We'll put it to a vote. All those in

02:04:09.119 --> 02:04:12.119
favor? And that is carried. Item 8.6,

02:04:12.400 --> 02:04:13.976
Art Gallery of Ballerat Board

02:04:14.000 --> 02:04:15.336
appointments. Councilors, do you have

02:04:15.360 --> 02:04:18.135
any questions?

02:04:18.159 --> 02:04:21.159
No. Looking for a mover,

02:04:21.679 --> 02:04:23.416
Councelor Taylor. And then seconded,

02:04:23.440 --> 02:04:26.376
Councelor Morgan. Councelor Taylor.

02:04:26.400 --> 02:04:28.135
Councelor Morgan, happy to. No. All

02:04:28.159 --> 02:04:29.655
right, let's put it to a vote. All those

02:04:29.679 --> 02:04:32.615
in favor? And that is carried. Takes us

02:04:32.639 --> 02:04:35.175
to item 8.7, outstanding question time

02:04:35.199 --> 02:04:38.199
items. Councilors, any questions?

02:04:39.199 --> 02:04:42.199
No. Looking for a mover? Councelor Raldi

02:04:42.400 --> 02:04:45.400
to move

02:04:45.599 --> 02:04:47.736
councelor Saunders to second. We'll put

02:04:47.760 --> 02:04:49.816
it to a vote. All those in favor and

02:04:49.840 --> 02:04:52.840
that is carried. We have done item 9.1

02:04:54.320 --> 02:04:57.016
and 9. Is that the door of our Mr. page?

02:04:57.040 --> 02:05:00.040
No. 9.1 and 9.2 we have done.

02:05:02.000 --> 02:05:03.655
That takes us to reports from

02:05:03.679 --> 02:05:05.496
committees.

02:05:05.520 --> 02:05:08.520
10.1 is reports from committees. Yeah,

02:05:10.000 --> 02:05:11.575
there is an officer recommendation

02:05:11.599 --> 02:05:13.256
there. Councilors, any questions? Is

02:05:13.280 --> 02:05:14.456
that a question or looking to move?

02:05:14.480 --> 02:05:16.695
Councelor Taylor. Councelor Hudson to

02:05:16.719 --> 02:05:19.655
second. Anyone wishing to speak to that

02:05:19.679 --> 02:05:22.135
item? Councelor Taylor. Sorry.

02:05:22.159 --> 02:05:25.095
Thank you.  just note  just that

02:05:25.119 --> 02:05:26.695
we've got a new committee that's come

02:05:26.719 --> 02:05:28.056
through from in relation to the minutes

02:05:28.080 --> 02:05:29.896
and that's the Ballarat West prein

02:05:29.920 --> 02:05:32.215
structure plan and  developer

02:05:32.239 --> 02:05:34.056
contributions plan reference group. I

02:05:34.080 --> 02:05:35.896
have to say it's a new committee that or

02:05:35.920 --> 02:05:38.296
a new group that's been started and 

02:05:38.320 --> 02:05:41.175
feedback um sometimes it's not easy

02:05:41.199 --> 02:05:43.016
because it is competing in relation to

02:05:43.040 --> 02:05:44.536
what council's position is and what

02:05:44.560 --> 02:05:47.416
developers  position is when it comes

02:05:47.440 --> 02:05:50.440
to the new DCP that that's um um well

02:05:51.040 --> 02:05:52.536
overdue but it's something that needs to

02:05:52.560 --> 02:05:54.135
be done and reviewed on a a regular

02:05:54.159 --> 02:05:57.159
basis. So just noting that that um that

02:05:57.679 --> 02:05:59.976
the minutes and references for that has

02:06:00.000 --> 02:06:01.816
been attached as part of the report and

02:06:01.840 --> 02:06:04.840
happy to move all of for four of them.

02:06:04.880 --> 02:06:07.575
Very good. Councilors, anyone else

02:06:07.599 --> 02:06:10.599
wishing to speak for or against?

02:06:11.040 --> 02:06:12.856
In that case, let's put that to a vote.

02:06:12.880 --> 02:06:15.736
All those in favor? And that is carried.

02:06:15.760 --> 02:06:18.760
Item 10.2 is reports from council laws.

02:06:20.719 --> 02:06:22.456
Councelor Taylor.

02:06:22.480 --> 02:06:24.215
Thank you, madame mayor. I will keep

02:06:24.239 --> 02:06:26.056
this very short and only have one item.

02:06:26.080 --> 02:06:27.496
There's many other items, but I'll just

02:06:27.520 --> 02:06:30.376
keep it to the one. Um, I was lucky

02:06:30.400 --> 02:06:33.095
enough to take on the mantle as the

02:06:33.119 --> 02:06:34.856
council to do the pie judging

02:06:34.880 --> 02:06:36.936
competition. Taking that on from

02:06:36.960 --> 02:06:38.776
councelor Hudson who's done it for many

02:06:38.800 --> 02:06:41.256
years and gave me some tips and hints in

02:06:41.280 --> 02:06:44.215
relation to what to do. But, um, I just

02:06:44.239 --> 02:06:46.536
want to highlight that it it does take a

02:06:46.560 --> 02:06:48.376
couple of years to get an event to to

02:06:48.400 --> 02:06:50.456
work and to be run. And I got to

02:06:50.480 --> 02:06:53.336
compliment the team and  um director

02:06:53.360 --> 02:06:55.575
Darcy in relation to the the visit

02:06:55.599 --> 02:06:58.599
Ballarat team, the U tourism um Midwest

02:06:59.280 --> 02:07:02.135
as well, but around the ability to build

02:07:02.159 --> 02:07:05.159
this event to a point where even on the

02:07:05.280 --> 02:07:07.095
night which was very early the around

02:07:07.119 --> 02:07:09.175
the awards or the the presentations of

02:07:09.199 --> 02:07:11.816
who got the best pie that the compliment

02:07:11.840 --> 02:07:14.840
by the the um businesses was so great of

02:07:15.119 --> 02:07:16.856
the staff of the Ballarat of Berad and how

02:07:16.880 --> 02:07:18.695
they worked together to put this program

02:07:18.719 --> 02:07:21.336
together. Um, and even though it's an

02:07:21.360 --> 02:07:22.695
annual event and what are we third year

02:07:22.719 --> 02:07:24.695
in or something like that, it it was

02:07:24.719 --> 02:07:27.016
amazing to hear the feedback of such an

02:07:27.040 --> 02:07:29.655
early start to the pie season which was

02:07:29.679 --> 02:07:32.215
very early in August. But to see that

02:07:32.239 --> 02:07:34.615
that that how it had been put together,

02:07:34.639 --> 02:07:36.695
the the quality in relation to the

02:07:36.719 --> 02:07:39.095
photographs, the presentation, the

02:07:39.119 --> 02:07:41.256
information presented, even the booklet,

02:07:41.280 --> 02:07:43.175
the website, everything was done. And

02:07:43.199 --> 02:07:45.816
what that meant was really a springboard

02:07:45.840 --> 02:07:48.456
to see the growth in that hospitality

02:07:48.480 --> 02:07:50.215
sector in relation to what happened. I

02:07:50.239 --> 02:07:52.376
spoke to one business which said they

02:07:52.400 --> 02:07:55.175
sold um they sold 200 pies last year.

02:07:55.199 --> 02:07:57.575
Now they've done 2,000 pies this year

02:07:57.599 --> 02:07:59.976
and that was and and their their their

02:08:00.000 --> 02:08:02.055
view was this was on Monday was really

02:08:02.079 --> 02:08:04.055
was around the professionalism of the

02:08:04.079 --> 02:08:06.695
council team to put together a product

02:08:06.719 --> 02:08:09.095
that marketed the Ballarat in a way that

02:08:09.119 --> 02:08:11.575
brought people. Um, he even said that

02:08:11.599 --> 02:08:13.816
someone literally read it on an airplane

02:08:13.840 --> 02:08:15.736
flying from Perth to Melbourne, jumped

02:08:15.760 --> 02:08:17.095
in a car from Melbourne and drove to

02:08:17.119 --> 02:08:19.575
Ballarat to try a pie. Like, how

02:08:19.599 --> 02:08:21.496
ridiculous is that? But that is what has

02:08:21.520 --> 02:08:23.736
been generated through such a good piece

02:08:23.760 --> 02:08:26.135
of marketing from a professional team.

02:08:26.159 --> 02:08:28.536
Mrs. Brown bakes. Yes, the controversy

02:08:28.560 --> 02:08:31.336
is out there. Is it a pie? Yes, it is a

02:08:31.360 --> 02:08:33.736
pie. And it's a damn good pie, even

02:08:33.760 --> 02:08:35.496
though it's made out of chocolate. And

02:08:35.520 --> 02:08:37.496
sadly enough, most of us will never get

02:08:37.520 --> 02:08:39.336
to try it because cues are that long.

02:08:39.360 --> 02:08:42.360
we're selling out twice a day and with

02:08:42.719 --> 02:08:44.856
cues around the corner which is

02:08:44.880 --> 02:08:46.456
phenomenal and I and I keep seeing the

02:08:46.480 --> 02:08:48.936
Facebook page with the thousands of pies

02:08:48.960 --> 02:08:51.736
that she's made um and that is just

02:08:51.760 --> 02:08:54.055
shows the quality of of an event but

02:08:54.079 --> 02:08:55.816
also what it's been able to build up. So

02:08:55.840 --> 02:08:58.135
congratulations to the team and I've got

02:08:58.159 --> 02:09:00.135
to say again it's also built on from the

02:09:00.159 --> 02:09:01.816
hot chocolate competition that was new

02:09:01.840 --> 02:09:04.215
this year through the  winter festival

02:09:04.239 --> 02:09:06.695
and again it complements each other. Um

02:09:06.719 --> 02:09:08.456
the team are doing a great job but the

02:09:08.480 --> 02:09:10.376
benefit of this is also the Ballarat is

02:09:10.400 --> 02:09:12.536
getting involved the hospitality venues

02:09:12.560 --> 02:09:14.776
and in talking to that venue on Monday

02:09:14.800 --> 02:09:16.856
they are already thinking of what they

02:09:16.880 --> 02:09:18.456
will do next for next year when it comes

02:09:18.480 --> 02:09:20.695
to pies. So that's how good and success

02:09:20.719 --> 02:09:22.536
of of such a good campaign. So well done

02:09:22.560 --> 02:09:24.055
to everyone there. I won't go on to

02:09:24.079 --> 02:09:25.496
anything else. I think that's just worth

02:09:25.520 --> 02:09:27.416
noting and  wanted to really

02:09:27.440 --> 02:09:29.016
compliment the staff in the relation to

02:09:29.040 --> 02:09:30.456
their work. Thank you

02:09:30.480 --> 02:09:33.256
councelor Saunders.

02:09:33.280 --> 02:09:36.280
Thank you Madame Mayor. um two serious

02:09:37.520 --> 02:09:40.520
topics that  have come up this week.

02:09:41.679 --> 02:09:43.736
First one I wanted to pay as an ex

02:09:43.760 --> 02:09:46.456
police member of over 30 years and

02:09:46.480 --> 02:09:49.016
councelor Hudson here as well of a very

02:09:49.040 --> 02:09:52.040
similar vintage.  we wanted I wanted

02:09:52.320 --> 02:09:55.320
to pay our respects  for the tragic

02:09:55.599 --> 02:09:58.599
incident in in um poor punka where the

02:10:00.079 --> 02:10:02.936
two policemen were shot dead.  one of

02:10:02.960 --> 02:10:04.856
the officers, Detective Leading Senior

02:10:04.880 --> 02:10:07.496
Constable Neil Thompson of Wangoretta

02:10:07.520 --> 02:10:10.520
Criminal Investigation Unit and 

02:10:10.719 --> 02:10:13.719
Senior Constable Vadim Dewart, who was

02:10:14.159 --> 02:10:17.159
 based in Melbourne at the Port

02:10:18.560 --> 02:10:20.456
Public Order response team, sorry,

02:10:20.480 --> 02:10:22.536
nicknamed Port, who was on temporary

02:10:22.560 --> 02:10:25.095
assignment in Wanganger, and also to the

02:10:25.119 --> 02:10:27.655
officer whose name I don't know,  who

02:10:27.679 --> 02:10:30.055
was seriously injured as well, and all

02:10:30.079 --> 02:10:33.079
the other officers that were they're um

02:10:33.760 --> 02:10:36.215
involved in this tragic incident. I

02:10:36.239 --> 02:10:38.456
wanted to express my deepest sympathies

02:10:38.480 --> 02:10:41.016
to their family, their friends, and

02:10:41.040 --> 02:10:43.575
their workmates. And I'm wearing my um

02:10:43.599 --> 02:10:46.599
thin blue line um badge here tonight in

02:10:47.760 --> 02:10:50.296
support of them as well. And um I'll be

02:10:50.320 --> 02:10:52.215
I'll be thinking of them in  as

02:10:52.239 --> 02:10:54.695
further information comes out about what

02:10:54.719 --> 02:10:57.719
happened. Um my best wishes to to those

02:10:59.119 --> 02:11:00.776
families.

02:11:00.800 --> 02:11:03.800
Also um earlier this week I was invited

02:11:04.880 --> 02:11:07.880
to the Ballarat premiere of a

02:11:08.079 --> 02:11:10.936
documentary about men's mental health

02:11:10.960 --> 02:11:13.960
and suicide in regional Australia.

02:11:15.040 --> 02:11:17.496
 it was held at the Barkley Square

02:11:17.520 --> 02:11:20.520
Theater and  it was held by  the

02:11:22.239 --> 02:11:25.016
Outback Mind Foundation and the founder

02:11:25.040 --> 02:11:28.040
was Aaron Schultz.

02:11:28.239 --> 02:11:30.215
As part of the documentary, we were

02:11:30.239 --> 02:11:32.456
informed that seven

02:11:32.480 --> 02:11:35.336
approximately on average seven males per

02:11:35.360 --> 02:11:38.360
ye per day commit suicide in Australia.

02:11:39.280 --> 02:11:42.055
Um there was a a a good decent group

02:11:42.079 --> 02:11:44.536
there sized group and we sat there and

02:11:44.560 --> 02:11:46.536
watched the documentary which in my

02:11:46.560 --> 02:11:49.560
opinion was of high quality. Um it was

02:11:49.599 --> 02:11:51.655
an important story around the impact of

02:11:51.679 --> 02:11:53.575
men's suicide and the impact that that

02:11:53.599 --> 02:11:56.215
has on regional families and communities

02:11:56.239 --> 02:11:59.239
which is particularly pertinent 

02:11:59.280 --> 02:12:02.280
currently as well. And  I met Aaron

02:12:02.560 --> 02:12:04.695
Schulz afterwards and had a chat with

02:12:04.719 --> 02:12:07.719
him.  he was um pleased to to hear

02:12:08.000 --> 02:12:10.296
that um you know that I was there part

02:12:10.320 --> 02:12:12.055
of the Ballarat council and that I'd pass it

02:12:12.079 --> 02:12:15.079
on to us. Um the Outbackmind Foundation

02:12:15.679 --> 02:12:18.456
for anyone who's watching or listening

02:12:18.480 --> 02:12:20.695
that's interested is um found at

02:12:20.719 --> 02:12:23.719
www.outbackmind.org.auu

02:12:24.639 --> 02:12:27.639
AU and also

02:12:28.159 --> 02:12:30.135
they work in conjunction in Ballarat

02:12:30.159 --> 02:12:33.159
with the Ballarat men's mental health

02:12:34.560 --> 02:12:37.560
group  who are

02:12:38.159 --> 02:12:41.159
email at info Ballarat mmh.com.au

02:12:43.920 --> 02:12:46.296
and  are contactable you can look them

02:12:46.320 --> 02:12:48.376
up on the website. So I just wanted to

02:12:48.400 --> 02:12:50.296
 highlight those two things that have

02:12:50.320 --> 02:12:53.095
um been recent um for me. Thank you.

02:12:53.119 --> 02:12:53.896
Right,

02:12:53.920 --> 02:12:56.055
Councelor Raldi.

02:12:56.079 --> 02:12:59.079
, yes, Madame Mayor. It's a

02:13:01.760 --> 02:13:04.536
very um well done to you, Councelor

02:13:04.560 --> 02:13:07.560
Saunders. It's a been a tough few days

02:13:07.760 --> 02:13:10.376
for us all

02:13:10.400 --> 02:13:12.776
and  it's very insignificant what I

02:13:12.800 --> 02:13:14.936
have to follow up with  compared to

02:13:14.960 --> 02:13:17.336
that our hearts

02:13:17.360 --> 02:13:19.256
and prayers go out to all those people

02:13:19.280 --> 02:13:22.280
that are affected by these events.

02:13:23.679 --> 02:13:25.736
Now I'll move on.

02:13:25.760 --> 02:13:27.816
 through the week we went I went to

02:13:27.840 --> 02:13:30.376
with councelor Saunders councselor sorry

02:13:30.400 --> 02:13:33.400
lapkin to the U3A AGM which was very

02:13:34.800 --> 02:13:37.496
good room full of people lot of people

02:13:37.520 --> 02:13:40.520
and very positive and and really good on

02:13:41.440 --> 02:13:44.440
the Saturday um the cross country events

02:13:44.480 --> 02:13:46.856
the athletics was held up at  Victoria

02:13:46.880 --> 02:13:49.880
Park about 1500 athletes

02:13:50.159 --> 02:13:53.159
a significant event that in my view got

02:13:53.679 --> 02:13:56.679
very little no notori variety.

02:13:56.719 --> 02:13:58.296
Um

02:13:58.320 --> 02:14:00.776
it was a fun run in the morning. Steve

02:14:00.800 --> 02:14:03.800
Monagetti was the um the highlight of

02:14:04.320 --> 02:14:06.936
that run for the lot lot of the kids.

02:14:06.960 --> 02:14:09.960
But the events u that they have there

02:14:10.000 --> 02:14:13.000
was very significant and  I think

02:14:13.360 --> 02:14:15.736
they're here for another two years. Am I

02:14:15.760 --> 02:14:18.760
correct? I I think we need to do some

02:14:19.119 --> 02:14:21.816
significant more with our publiBallarat and

02:14:21.840 --> 02:14:23.496
so forth, but we can talk about that

02:14:23.520 --> 02:14:26.215
later. But very well done. It's a

02:14:26.239 --> 02:14:27.896
national event. It's just not Victoria.

02:14:27.920 --> 02:14:30.920
It's national. Um great event and great

02:14:31.440 --> 02:14:32.936
facilities to have those. And it was

02:14:32.960 --> 02:14:35.496
muddy by the way as well. I got mud on

02:14:35.520 --> 02:14:36.776
myself. Well, it wasn't on the track,

02:14:36.800 --> 02:14:38.936
but it was still muddy.

02:14:38.960 --> 02:14:40.936
And the other thing, the minus rest my

02:14:40.960 --> 02:14:42.536
say, I know it's been a few weeks now,

02:14:42.560 --> 02:14:45.496
but I need to acknowledge that we had

02:14:45.520 --> 02:14:48.215
four of them in the north ward. And to

02:14:48.239 --> 02:14:50.856
the City of Ballarat, thank you. very

02:14:50.880 --> 02:14:52.856
much appreciated by the people who did

02:14:52.880 --> 02:14:55.880
attend and I certainly endorse and

02:14:56.320 --> 02:14:59.320
advocate that we do this again  next

02:14:59.440 --> 02:15:02.440
year and u and so the people can

02:15:02.560 --> 02:15:04.615
understand

02:15:04.639 --> 02:15:07.639
 from you the staff how things

02:15:08.000 --> 02:15:09.816
decisions are made and how it works and

02:15:09.840 --> 02:15:12.215
so forth. It it's it's good for us as

02:15:12.239 --> 02:15:14.695
counselors to say here these are the

02:15:14.719 --> 02:15:17.719
people the girls that the the men that

02:15:18.719 --> 02:15:20.536
you can ask questions to and they can

02:15:20.560 --> 02:15:23.095
answer it directly and I found that

02:15:23.119 --> 02:15:25.976
really really enlightening on what the

02:15:26.000 --> 02:15:27.575
people were saying to me how good that

02:15:27.599 --> 02:15:30.215
was. So it didn't go  unnoticed. So

02:15:30.239 --> 02:15:32.615
thank you very much to the staff.

02:15:32.639 --> 02:15:35.016
Councelor Morrison.

02:15:35.040 --> 02:15:37.095
Thank you Madame Mayor. Um I've I'll

02:15:37.119 --> 02:15:38.695
keep it pretty brief as well. I've only

02:15:38.719 --> 02:15:41.719
got two items. Um, one  that I wanted

02:15:41.920 --> 02:15:43.575
to report back on was that I had the

02:15:43.599 --> 02:15:46.599
great honor um of receiving the order of

02:15:46.719 --> 02:15:49.719
team Alstee um  friendship medal. Um

02:15:51.599 --> 02:15:54.055
on behalf of the City of Ballarat um the

02:15:54.079 --> 02:15:56.296
president team the president of team

02:15:56.320 --> 02:15:59.320
Alstee his excellency Jose Ramos Ha um

02:15:59.920 --> 02:16:02.856
held an event to honor friendship groups

02:16:02.880 --> 02:16:05.880
um of team Alstee um including our 

02:16:06.079 --> 02:16:07.736
Bellarat friends of Anaro community

02:16:07.760 --> 02:16:10.760
advisory group  committee. Um so we

02:16:11.840 --> 02:16:14.840
got the order um  medal.  it was a

02:16:15.599 --> 02:16:17.736
it was fantastic to travel down there

02:16:17.760 --> 02:16:20.760
with a a few of the committee members um

02:16:20.800 --> 02:16:22.695
and our staff member as well who works

02:16:22.719 --> 02:16:25.336
alongside them. I can see um why

02:16:25.360 --> 02:16:28.360
councelor Hudson um always puts up his

02:16:28.800 --> 02:16:31.095
hand um for that committee. They were a

02:16:31.119 --> 02:16:33.816
wonderful um great bunch of people who

02:16:33.840 --> 02:16:36.216
talked to me about the decades of of

02:16:36.240 --> 02:16:39.240
work and support that um we do in Anaro.

02:16:39.359 --> 02:16:41.415
Um and it and and it was just an

02:16:41.439 --> 02:16:44.439
incredible um honor um  to receive

02:16:45.040 --> 02:16:46.535
that medal on behalf of the Ballarat of

02:16:46.559 --> 02:16:49.176
Ballarat.  the other item I just wanted

02:16:49.200 --> 02:16:52.200
to touch on was that I have um the let's

02:16:52.399 --> 02:16:55.399
chat wenderee um ward  event coming up

02:16:56.080 --> 02:16:58.695
on September the 11th. Um that's going

02:16:58.719 --> 02:17:01.176
to be held at Selkerk Stadium from 400

02:17:01.200 --> 02:17:04.200
p.m. to 700 p.m. And I would encourage

02:17:04.240 --> 02:17:07.176
um any resident um who's interested in

02:17:07.200 --> 02:17:08.776
coming along and having a chat. I've

02:17:08.800 --> 02:17:10.936
already um had a briefing with staff to

02:17:10.960 --> 02:17:12.375
talk about some of the issues that I

02:17:12.399 --> 02:17:15.176
think people will be talking to us about

02:17:15.200 --> 02:17:17.736
um including some of the basics but also

02:17:17.760 --> 02:17:19.896
um the project on forest street as well

02:17:19.920 --> 02:17:21.976
which I know um that work has been

02:17:22.000 --> 02:17:24.375
progressing um behind the scenes but the

02:17:24.399 --> 02:17:27.399
community is very eager um to hear more

02:17:27.679 --> 02:17:30.679
about  where that  work is at. So um

02:17:31.519 --> 02:17:33.415
if there's anybody who wants to come

02:17:33.439 --> 02:17:35.335
along and and have a chat I'll be there

02:17:35.359 --> 02:17:37.896
September 11th. Thank you,

02:17:37.920 --> 02:17:39.896
councelor Macintosh.

02:17:39.920 --> 02:17:42.535
, thanks very much, Madame Mayor. Um,

02:17:42.559 --> 02:17:45.559
just  my report is really a bit of

02:17:46.479 --> 02:17:49.479
feedback re the  community playgrounds

02:17:50.639 --> 02:17:53.639
and  maybe a request for followup as

02:17:54.319 --> 02:17:56.295
well at some stage as to how that's

02:17:56.319 --> 02:17:58.375
going. I know that there's been a number

02:17:58.399 --> 02:17:59.896
of playgrounds that have been committed

02:17:59.920 --> 02:18:01.495
to over the years and certainly in the

02:18:01.519 --> 02:18:04.519
Gregory Street area, there has been  a

02:18:04.880 --> 02:18:07.096
series of letters sent to the residents

02:18:07.120 --> 02:18:09.495
over a long period of time informing

02:18:09.519 --> 02:18:11.096
them of when their playground was going

02:18:11.120 --> 02:18:12.695
to be done and that hasn't been done

02:18:12.719 --> 02:18:15.719
yet. So, I'm just really keen to hear 

02:18:16.240 --> 02:18:19.240
further detail from the council officers

02:18:19.280 --> 02:18:21.816
 as to how that actually proceeds and

02:18:21.840 --> 02:18:24.840
I'm happy to have um a followup with um

02:18:26.559 --> 02:18:29.256
council officers offline to hear more

02:18:29.280 --> 02:18:32.216
about that.

02:18:32.240 --> 02:18:34.056
There any other councilors with reports

02:18:34.080 --> 02:18:36.455
to speak of? Councelor Lapkin.

02:18:36.479 --> 02:18:39.479
 thank you. Building upon um Councelor

02:18:41.040 --> 02:18:44.040
Saunders remarks, I would just like to

02:18:44.800 --> 02:18:47.800
join him in memorializing the sacrifice

02:18:48.479 --> 02:18:50.856
of Detective Leading Senior Constable

02:18:50.880 --> 02:18:53.736
Neil Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim

02:18:53.760 --> 02:18:56.760
Devart. Um law enforcement

02:18:58.000 --> 02:19:01.000
like the military is a

02:19:01.439 --> 02:19:04.439
unique profession and I would add to

02:19:04.639 --> 02:19:06.136
that other first responders,

02:19:06.160 --> 02:19:09.096
firefighters. These are people who

02:19:09.120 --> 02:19:12.120
um are trained, expected, they join with

02:19:13.359 --> 02:19:15.976
the expectation that the in in the event

02:19:16.000 --> 02:19:18.375
of a fire, they run towards the fire,

02:19:18.399 --> 02:19:21.399
they run towards the danger

02:19:21.679 --> 02:19:24.679
 in order to save the rest of us, the

02:19:24.880 --> 02:19:27.880
civilians,  from harm's way. And in

02:19:28.000 --> 02:19:30.856
this case  the fire was literal

02:19:30.880 --> 02:19:33.736
gunfire and these

02:19:33.760 --> 02:19:36.535
 con these policemen  sacrificed

02:19:36.559 --> 02:19:38.375
their lives

02:19:38.399 --> 02:19:41.399
 and  we should   a lot of us in

02:19:44.160 --> 02:19:45.976
our daily lives don't really think about

02:19:46.000 --> 02:19:48.455
this but these are people who carry

02:19:48.479 --> 02:19:51.479
firearms on their hips for a reason and

02:19:52.240 --> 02:19:55.240
 they are deserving of our respect and

02:19:55.760 --> 02:19:57.736
just in reference

02:19:57.760 --> 02:19:59.816
to the same theme. Tomorrow, ,

02:19:59.840 --> 02:20:02.375
Councelor Saunders and I will be

02:20:02.399 --> 02:20:04.696
attending the flag raising of Legacy.

02:20:04.720 --> 02:20:06.295
Legacy is an organization that was

02:20:06.319 --> 02:20:09.319
founded in 1923 to support the families

02:20:10.160 --> 02:20:13.160
of veterans of the First World War. And

02:20:14.319 --> 02:20:17.319
 it's just one little thing that we as

02:20:20.240 --> 02:20:22.295
the non-first responders, the ones who

02:20:22.319 --> 02:20:24.295
run away from the fire, can do to

02:20:24.319 --> 02:20:27.016
support the those who run directly into

02:20:27.040 --> 02:20:30.040
the fire. Thank you,

02:20:30.319 --> 02:20:31.896
councilors. If there's no one else with

02:20:31.920 --> 02:20:34.056
any reports, council Hudson.

02:20:34.080 --> 02:20:35.496
Thank you, Madame Mayor. Just sneak one

02:20:35.520 --> 02:20:38.216
in. Following on from councelor Saunders

02:20:38.240 --> 02:20:41.096
in Turk talking about the aspect of of

02:20:41.120 --> 02:20:44.120
suicide that is always relevant in

02:20:44.479 --> 02:20:46.936
Ballarat. We are known for having a

02:20:46.960 --> 02:20:48.776
completed suicide rate higher than the

02:20:48.800 --> 02:20:50.375
national average and we're coming

02:20:50.399 --> 02:20:52.776
towards the 10th of September which is

02:20:52.800 --> 02:20:54.776
the international day of suicide

02:20:54.800 --> 02:20:57.656
awareness. But on Saturday the 13th of

02:20:57.680 --> 02:20:58.936
September, the Bellaratin District

02:20:58.960 --> 02:21:01.496
Suicide Awareness Network, which I am

02:21:01.520 --> 02:21:03.096
very proud to chair, will be hosting our

02:21:03.120 --> 02:21:05.256
Out of the Shadows Walk up at Lake

02:21:05.280 --> 02:21:07.976
Wendere, where people will gather from

02:21:08.000 --> 02:21:10.056
about 5:00 a.m. gathering in the

02:21:10.080 --> 02:21:12.216
darkness, symbolic of people that are in

02:21:12.240 --> 02:21:14.056
a dark place with mental health

02:21:14.080 --> 02:21:16.856
struggles. And we will walk about 2.6

02:21:16.880 --> 02:21:18.696
six kilometers through the gardens and

02:21:18.720 --> 02:21:21.496
by the lake foreshore  with five

02:21:21.520 --> 02:21:23.176
reflective points, one extra one this

02:21:23.200 --> 02:21:25.816
year by the blue tree that will now have

02:21:25.840 --> 02:21:27.256
some of the more permanent leaves

02:21:27.280 --> 02:21:28.856
attached with names that have been lost

02:21:28.880 --> 02:21:31.016
to to suicide.

02:21:31.040 --> 02:21:33.976
I guess the issue is every name

02:21:34.000 --> 02:21:36.616
represents a person. It's not just a

02:21:36.640 --> 02:21:38.616
name. It's not just a statistic. It's

02:21:38.640 --> 02:21:41.176
not just a number. The person was a

02:21:41.200 --> 02:21:43.656
living person, was connected to family,

02:21:43.680 --> 02:21:45.415
had friends, had colleagues, had loved

02:21:45.439 --> 02:21:47.576
ones, had other people and the ripple

02:21:47.600 --> 02:21:50.056
effect on their lives and those that are

02:21:50.080 --> 02:21:52.295
left behind is always profound. So that

02:21:52.319 --> 02:21:55.016
it is always a very moving service that

02:21:55.040 --> 02:21:56.856
we hold and counselors, you are welcome

02:21:56.880 --> 02:21:59.096
to come along and join with those people

02:21:59.120 --> 02:22:01.816
who walk in solidarity to remember all

02:22:01.840 --> 02:22:04.840
of the lives lost to suicide. Um, rug

02:22:05.040 --> 02:22:08.040
up, wear solid feet.  we will be

02:22:08.080 --> 02:22:09.576
walking along the lakes's edge where it

02:22:09.600 --> 02:22:11.576
will be a bit damp. Bernie Blood assures

02:22:11.600 --> 02:22:14.600
me he wants rain. I want dry weather. Um

02:22:14.960 --> 02:22:16.536
so hopefully within there but it is

02:22:16.560 --> 02:22:19.176
always a moving service and we thank the

02:22:19.200 --> 02:22:21.576
um generosity of

02:22:21.600 --> 02:22:23.976
our local soap supermarkets which donate

02:22:24.000 --> 02:22:25.896
bacon, eggs and bread and the Rotary

02:22:25.920 --> 02:22:28.455
Club of Ballarat that come along and sorry

02:22:28.479 --> 02:22:30.056
Rotary Club of Ballarat South that come

02:22:30.080 --> 02:22:33.080
along and cook the barbecue um and all

02:22:33.840 --> 02:22:35.656
over in a couple of hours. So for anyone

02:22:35.680 --> 02:22:36.936
that wants to mark it in the calendar,

02:22:36.960 --> 02:22:39.960
I'd love to see you there.

02:22:40.160 --> 02:22:43.160
Thank you councilors. If there's no more

02:22:43.200 --> 02:22:45.335
reports, we'll move on. So that takes us

02:22:45.359 --> 02:22:47.496
to item 11, urgent business. There is

02:22:47.520 --> 02:22:50.455
nil. So that takes us to item 12, which

02:22:50.479 --> 02:22:53.479
you need to go into section 66 for.

02:22:53.680 --> 02:22:55.496
Councelor Hudson to move. Councelor

02:22:55.520 --> 02:22:58.520
Taylor to second. All those in favor and

02:22:58.640 --> 02:23:01.096
that is carried.

02:23:01.120 --> 02:23:04.120
Moving into section 66.