A 'mandate for change'

In this week's Leader, Nick Staikos is cited as stating: "The strong result in Tucker is a mandate for change'. One can only hope that this 'change' extends far beyond the boundaries of Tucker ward and includes Camden and Rosstown as well! If voting trends can be believed, then Nick certainly has the support from the community for 'change' - ie. improving child care services with the acquisition of the ABC centre and ensuring the longevity of the Bentleigh Pool. But this is only the start I would suggest.

If real 'change' is to come to Glen Eira, then it must be more than a mere tinkering at the edges, or the acquisition of a few childcare centres, and paying lip service to an environmental policy. Real change involves a revolution in thinking and in ethos. This means accepting the fact that what is important is direct community involvement in all facets of decision making. Advisory committees must be established that include representation by all stakeholder groups and furthermore, meetings of these committees must be open to the public. Community reps must also be given full voting rights. Currently all clowncil advisory committees are denied this basic right - we are therefore seen as nothing more than second class citizens!

Change is also desperately needed in the manner that council interacts with its constituency. Arrogance, refusal to directly answer public questions, and repeated stonewalling are not acceptable if the vision of transparency and accountability are to be realised. By repeatedly adopting the minimalist approach (ie the 'letter of the law' rather than the 'spirit of the law') in its dealings with the community, this council has to a great extent forfeited the respect and trust of the public. It will take a concerted effort by all councillors to turn such perceptions around. I sincerely wish them the best of luck, and hope that their aspirations of overseeing a truly democratic institution come to fruition.