We are requesting that the Premier of Queensland, Annastacia Palaszczuk, intervene to stop the perceived culture of secrecy and closed decision making at Scenic Rim Regional Council (SRRC).

SRRC requires that Councillors and Executives conduct the majority of business in closed, confidential workshops over two days, each fortnight. These workshops are effectively conducted as meetings without the presence of the Media or the Public. The workshops then make recommendations to the Ordinary Meetings.

By excluding the public and media from these workshops (meetings), the people are effectively denied the essential information on which decisions are made. Councillors attending these workshops are held to secrecy that unreasonably prevents them from open communication with their constituents.

This perceived long-standing culture of secrecy by the SRRC effectively denies us, the residents, ratepayers, traders, contractors, and employees in the Scenic Rim the transparency and accountability we expect from our representatives on Council.

This behaviour of public representatives is contrary to the Local Government Act of 2009, including the actions underpinning principles of social inclusion and transparent and effective processes. Our Council must be more open and accountable to the public if we are to receive proper and effective democratic representation and meaningful community engagement.

We ask you, Premier Palaszczuk, to act to ensure our SRRC system of local Government performs according to these principles.

Please include your postcode when signing this petition.