Let’s all agree It’s Time

Made famous in 1972 by former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, It’s Time is the mantra we need to bring forward into 2024.

One of the best-known slogans in Australia’s history, It’s Time is a position we ratepayers should adopt and take a proactive vote at the upcoming Central Coast Council election.

It’s time ratepayers hold councillors accountable and do so from the outset.

It’s time councillors treated every one of our hard-earned dollars with respect and with more caution than they would their own money.

It’s time we didn’t elect anyone from the hard left, or the hard right, or an over-zealous green and certainly not anyone pushing social engineering issues.

Leave that to state and federal politicians.

Our last Council left us in a precarious financial position, described by some as the ‘greatest financial calamity’ in the state’s local government history.

None of us wants a repeat of that fiasco.

It’s time we had a Council free from self-interest and conflicts of interest, the only interest being the wellbeing of the region and its citizens.

As a former general manager of Business Central Coast and an inaugural joint CEO of its replacement organisation, Regional Development Australia Central Coast, I witnessed first-hand the difficulties a board has when members have a duplicity of roles.

Ratepayers need to know what conflicts our potential councillors will have, and we are entitled to ask the question.

Governance will be the key to a successful Council and its Mayor leads and shapes the conduct of the councillors.

Lead candidates Lawrie McKinna and John Mouland for Team Central Coast are two potential councillors who will have ongoing issues with conflict of interest on several issues due to the duplicity of their roles and organisational objectives.

The conflict is created by Lawrie’s position as Chair of Regional Development Australia Central Coast and John’s position as CEO of the same organisation.

According to RDA’s website their role is to work together with all major Central Coast stakeholders to advance economic development for our region.

They facilitate collaboration between all levels of government and both sides of politics to achieve the best possible outcomes for the Coast.

Their partners include Central Coast Council, NSW Department of Premier & Cabinet, NSW Department of Planning, Industry & Environment, Central Coast Industry Connect, Greater Cities Commission and Business NSW Central Coast.

As a paid employee Mouland is more exposed to a conflict of interest.

Conflict occurs where there is a conflict between the public duty and personal interests of an employee in the performance of his or her duties.

But conflict of interest is far broader than just that as it includes relational, financial, competitive and confidential conflict of interests.

It is hoped Lawrie and John informed their fellow board members of their intention to run for Council and the impending complications of that.

It would be in the best interests of Council and RDACC for both to resign from RDA therefore committing fully to Council and not being restricted on discussion and voting where it really counts.

Leadership like that wins votes.

It’s time we had the best candidates with only our best interests at the epicentre of their hearts.

Maybe then we ratepayers can relax and be without fear of further forced rate increases created by our elected representatives.

Email, Sep 3
Kerry Ruffels, Wamberal

ED’s NOTE: Lawrie McKinna has said he will step down from RDACC if elected to Council. John Mouland has said he would continue is his role at RDACC if elected and it would not be a conflict of interest.