CONTROVERSIAL changes allowing councillors to directly seek help from Ipswich City Council’s corporate communications team to draft and distribute their individual media statements have passed six votes to two, despite warnings the true cost remains unknown.
Council approved the amended Media and Corporate Communications Policy on Thursday after a lengthy and at times fiery debate over ratepayer resources, fairness between elected representatives and the line between Council’s official position and councillors’ personal views.
Mayor Teresa Harding and Cr Marnie Doyle voted against the changes, while Deputy Mayor Nicole Jonic had left the meeting before the vote.
Council CEO Sonia Cooper told councillors that implementing the policy could have a resourcing impact equivalent up to two full-time employees, although the true impact would not be known until the new arrangements were operating.
At the centre of the debate were amendments moved by veteran councillor Paul Tully allowing councillors to seek assistance from the Media and Communications section to prepare individual statements.
Cr Tully argued the arrangement was not unprecedented, saying councillors had historically received assistance from Council media staff during much of his 48 years in local government.
“Councillors have a right to communicate with their communities,” he said.
Under the changes, official releases from the Mayor or delegated spokespersons will take priority, while individual councillor statements will be published separately on the Council website and clearly identified as personal views rather than Council’s official position.
Mayor Harding described the arrangement as “highly irregular” and claimed it would effectively create an “internal PR team” for councillors at ratepayers’ expense.
“Today’s decision of Council will effectively create an internal PR team for councillors, allowing them to use Council’s corporate communications team on demand at the expense of Ipswich ratepayers,” she said.
Cr Pye Augustine strongly backed the changes, arguing councillors had not been receiving a fair share of Council media coverage.
Cr Andrew Antoniolli also supported the policy, arguing Council’s existing eight-person media team should be capable of handling the workload.
Cr Doyle opposed the policy on resourcing grounds, saying additional resources could be better directed.
Mayor Harding said that although it was now a majority decision of Council and the amended policy would proceed, the result would attract questions from residents.
