In short:
Wyndham City Council has adopted an interim policy governing councillor advocacy on emerging issues before a formal Council position is established. Mayor Mia Shaw used her casting vote to pass the motion after councillors were split 5-5.
Misconduct Debacle Serves As Catalyst
Wyndham councillors have narrowly backed new rules designed to give elected representatives greater freedom to advocate on emerging issues before Council has settled on an official position.
The interim “Statements and Advocacy on emerging issues policy” will take effect while a final framework is developed and incorporated into a combined Media and Social Media Policy, due back before Council by December 2026.
Cr Josh Gilligan brought the motion to the chamber, arguing a gap in Council’s existing rules left councillors exposed when speaking publicly on fast-moving issues before a formal Council position could be established.
Council’s current Media Policy allows the Mayor, or a delegate, to act as its principal spokesperson, but the motion argues it does not provide a position to state, a way to establish one quickly or guidance on what can be said in the meantime.
The push stems from Cr Gilligan’s own misconduct case over comments he made to The Age while Mayor about the proposed sale of surplus defence land at RAAF Base Point Cook.
An independent arbiter found his comments created the impression Council had a settled position opposing residential development when councillors had not yet formally adopted one.
Interim Policy Narrowly Passes
Two other Wyndham councillors later publicly raised concerns about the future of the site with another local media outlet, before Council ultimately adopted a formal position opposing residential redevelopment.
Cr Gilligan was suspended for two weeks and ordered to apologise to Cr Robert Szatkowski.
In his motion, Cr Gilligan argued the case exposed a “structural gap” in Council’s governance framework, saying there was no mechanism to quickly establish a position once an emerging issue arose.
The new policy ultimately came down to the Mayor’s vote.
“I don’t think any mayor of the day that speaks on behalf of council should ever have to say ‘in my personal opinion’,” Mayor Mia Shaw told the chamber.
Cr Shaw joined councillors Preet Singh, Shannon McGuire, Josh Gilligan and Jasmine Hill in supporting the motion.
Councillors Peter Maynard, Robert Szatkowski, Larry Zhao, Susan McIntyre and Kim McAliney opposed it.
With the chamber deadlocked five-all, Cr Shaw used her casting vote as Mayor to get the motion over the line.
