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Question and Answer Tracking Details

1151 - BIOELEKTRA AND SHOALHAVEN CITY COUNCIL REQUEST FOR UPDATE

Ward, Gareth to the Minister for Local Government
BIOELEKTRA AND SHOALHAVEN CITY COUNCIL REQUEST FOR UPDATE

With reference to my Question on Notice (130 – Bioelektra and Shoalhaven City Council), and preliminary enquiries by Departmental Chief Executive under 734A of the Local Government Act:

(1) Has the Minister been provided with the comprehensive Ministerial briefing by the OLG as referred to in his answer on 15 June 2023?

(2) If yes to 1, what is the outcome of this briefing and what action (if any) is being taken?

(3) If no action is being undertaken, what information satisfied the Minister that no further investigation or action is required?

Answer -
BIOELEKTRA AND SHOALHAVEN CITY COUNCIL REQUEST FOR UPDATE

(1) I have been briefed by the Office of Local Government (OLG) on the status of the preliminary inquiry.

(2) On the basis of OLG's preliminary enquiries, I am advised that OLG is satisfied:

  • Shoalhaven City Council (Council) has recognized the severity of the issue and instituted staffing and governance changes.
  • Internal and external investigations by the Council are ongoing.
  • Council is not subject to ongoing liability as the contract with Bioelektra Australia has been terminated.
  • The Government will not propose further investigations until Council's external forensic investigation is completed, at which time an assessment of whether a section 430 investigation under the Local Government Act 1993 is needed, or the matter can be closed.

Question asked on 23 August 2023 (session 58-1) and printed in Questions & Answers Paper No. 21
Answer received on 27 September 2023 and printed in Questions & Answers Paper No. 29

The Parliament of New South Wales acknowledges and respects the traditional lands of all Aboriginal people, and pays respects to all Elders past and present. We acknowledge the Gadigal people as the traditional custodians of the land on which the Parliament of New South Wales stands.