What are Governance Rules?

Under Section 60 of the Local Government Act 2020 a Council must develop, adopt and keep in force Governance Rules which govern the conduct of Council meetings.

A Council may amend its Governance Rules. Prior to considering any proposed amendments, a Council must first ensure that a process of community engagement is followed. Hume City Council is keen for feedback from the community on the following proposed changes to Council’s Governance Rules.

Proposed changes

At its meeting of 27 May, Council resolved to undertake community engagement on proposed changes to its Governance Rules.

Current Rule	Proposed Rule
Division 12 – Behaviour	Division 12 – Behaviour
71. Members of the Public Addressing The Meeting	71. Members of the Public Addressing The Meeting
71.1 Members of the public do not have a right to address Council outside the provisions of Rules 54 and 55 and may only do so with the consent of the Chair or by prior arrangement.	71.1 Members of the public do not have a right to address Council outside the provisions of Rules 54 and 55 and may only do so with the consent of the Chair or by prior arrangement.	No change
71.2 Any member of the public addressing Council must extend due courtesy and respect to Council and the processes under which it operates and must take direction from the Chair whenever called on to do so.	71.2 Any member of the public addressing Council must extend due courtesy and respect to Council and the processes under which it operates and must take direction from the Chair whenever called on to do so.	No change
71.3 A member of the public in attendance at a Council meeting must not disrupt the meeting.	71.3 A member of the public in attendance at a Council meeting must not disrupt the meeting.	No change
72. Chair May Remove	72. Chair May Remove
The Chair may order and cause the removal of any person, other than a Councillor, who disrupts any meeting or fails to comply with a direction given under sub-Rule 71.2. It is intended that this power be exercisable by the Chair, without the need for any Council resolution. The Chair may choose to order the removal of a person whose actions immediately threaten the stability of the meeting or wrongly threatens the Chair’s authority in chairing the meeting.	72.1 The Chair may order and cause the removal of any person whose words or actions disrupts any meeting or who fails to comply with a direction given under sub-Rule 71.2. It is intended that this power be exercisable by the Chair, without the need for any Council resolution. The Chair may choose to order the removal of a person whose actions immediately threaten the stability of the meeting or wrongly threatens the Chair’s authority in chairing the meeting.	Proposed change
	72.2 The Chair may, pursuant to section 19(1)(b) of the Act, direct a Councillor to leave a Council meeting if the behaviour of the Councillor is preventing Council from conducting its business.	New addition

How to participate

Community engagement on these proposed changes closed 11.59pm on Monday 17 June 2024.

To indicate support or opposition to the changes proposed to Council’s Governance Rules please:

	fill out the form below
	email the Governance Team