MEDIA RELEASE: Launceston's Annual General Meeting 2015

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 There is a growing number of concerned citizen and residents in Launceston who are despairing at the ‘goings on’ at their city’s council chambers. 

This is especially so in regard to Monday afternoon’s Annual General Meeting at Launceston’s Town Hall.

Launceston council’s AGM proceedings, despite there being much to report on, has been absolutely ignored by the press. Why?

Launceston is Tasmania’s largest council with the largest operating budget in the state. It is also legendary that Launceston's council levies the highest rates in the State.

In consideration of all this, the council’s accountability to its citizens is no small thing.

It is now abundantly clear that the city’s council is totally out of touch with its citizenry.

This is demonstrated by Launceston's AGM being inadequately promoted and poorly attended.

All things considered, unsurprisingly the meeting was extremely poorly attended given what is at stake. In fact, questions have even been raised in regard to the state of the meeting given that a quorum might not have been in attendance throughout the meeting.

Curiously, Mayor van Zetten reportedly threatened to remove the Hon. Rosemary Armitage MLC, an ex-alderman, from the meeting. What's that about?

Furthermore, in the light of the council committing the city to the gift of public land to the University of Tasmania, despite public disquiet, it is rather concerning that the city is so outwardly disinterested in its accountability and citizen’s concerns.

In fact, printed copies of council’s financial report were not available to many residents because too few had been printed.

Is the lack of press attention is being welcomed?

What's more, how might citizens ask informed questions about the city’s expenditures if the financial reporting was not available to them?

Despite their “statutory adequacy”, the council’s financial reports lack detail and they hardly provide the level of reporting that a truly accountable corporate entity should be providing to its constituency and stakeholders.

On what evidence can performance be measured? Also, how can achievements be truly assessed?

If Launcestonians feel like they are being treated like mushrooms in a dark room, perhaps they shouldn’t be taken aback. Dumbfounded yes! Surprised no!

For further information email LauncestonPR@tassie.net.au