UPDATE: Urgent changes to Bathurst Council’s Code of Meeting Practice could drastically reduce public participation, with proposed cuts to speaking time and the elimination of monthly policy meetings. The draft changes have just been released for public feedback and will be on exhibition until August 14, 2025.
Under the proposed amendments, the time allocated for the public to address the council could be slashed by 20 percent. Currently, speakers enjoy a five-minute window, a duration set to be reduced to just four minutes—a move that has previously faced resistance from council members. If the changes are adopted, the ordinary meeting’s public forum will allow speakers to discuss “any topic relevant to council operations,” but will be limited to one hour, with the chairperson holding discretion for extensions.
The potential scrapping of the monthly policy committee meeting is a significant shift. This meeting provides one of the only two opportunities each month for the public to engage directly with all councillors and senior staff. Many councillors have voiced their frustrations regarding the current format, as these meetings often feature minimal agenda items.
The council’s report, prepared for the July 16, 2025 meeting, emphasizes the importance of public feedback on these proposed changes, which are aimed at improving council efficiency. However, cutting down public speaking opportunities raises concerns about transparency and citizen engagement.
Moreover, the report mentions that livestreaming these public forums—a request frequently made by community members—will not be implemented at this time. The council’s statement reads:
“At this time it is not proposed to facilitate this. The proposal will be subject to further consideration, including legalities, costs and additional research.”
If the policy committee meeting is eliminated, councillors may also lose their ability to raise non-agenda issues during public gatherings. The report indicates that while some mechanisms for discussion could be utilized in future meetings, the current format is under review and may not be appropriate.
Additional changes proposed include retaining the traditional prayer and acknowledgment of country, while also introducing an acknowledgment of service personnel. The council plans to encourage councillors to minimize mobile phone usage during meetings, and all individual votes would be recorded in the minutes for greater accountability.
As this developing story unfolds, local Bathurst residents are encouraged to voice their opinions. Submissions regarding the draft Code of Meeting Practice can be made online via the YourSay Bathurst website or directly through email and postal services.
The implications of these proposed changes are significant for public engagement in local governance. With the deadline for feedback just weeks away, residents are urged to act quickly to ensure their voices are heard.
