A year has flown by since the new Councillor group was elected.
It’s time to reflect on the journey to date and whether I think I have been, or will be able to, address any of my concerns or to deliver on any of the commitments I made during my candidacy.
This cohort of Victorian Councillors were the first to be undertake to the most intensive ‘induction’ process ever. This ‘initiative’ of the State Government was announced in October 2024 – after candidacies had been closed – required almost 6 weeks full time mandatory training up front before we could begin our work proper. Needless to say the time requirement was particularly challenging for those of us with full time jobs or businesses to run.
The induction also meant significant delays in such things as:
- understanding the inner the workings of the actual Council
- understanding the limitations on Councillors’ ability to influence directions and outcomes of Council.
- getting to understand what is ‘driving’ other Councillors, and
- being able to gel as a Councillor team
- being able to influence Council policies, directions, actions and decisions.
By the time our mandatory training was complete the Council Vision – which has no Councillor input – had been developed. Likewise, the Council Plan had been all but finalised. Those documents set the agenda and direction for the Council over our term. My understanding is that any changes – that weren’t proposed by staff – would require extensive and comprehensive discussion and debate among the Councillor group, and endorsement via a majority vote at a Council meeting.
Where does that leave my campaign commitments?
More than ever I want to promote openness, transparency, good governance, financial accountability, timely and genuine community engagement, and equitable service delivery across all of East Gippsland.
Change seems slow and painstaking and impossible without the support of other Councillors.
It was a hard fight to limit rate rises to 2%. I’ve attempted to ensure community voices are heard earlier in important planning matters and fought hard for better processes and more transparency and accountability around project management and procurement. I am constantly trying to raise awareness of the long term social and financial implications of our decisions – particularly around capital projects – and to bring more of a focus on how they serve the needs of our residents and ratepayers. And I continue to fight for better recognition of and response to the needs of the more rural and remote communities that make East Gippsland so unique, diverse and interesting.
My campaign commitments haven’t altered. I will continue to fight for the changes we need to ensure our limited finances are directed towards making East Gippsland a better place for all of its residents, now and into the future.
Joanne Eastman for East Gippsland 