Gunnedah councillors have rallied in support of colleague Cameron Moore who fought back against a proposal to withdraw funding support for council training.

The call to limit funding was one of four notices of motion raised by councillor Robert Hoddle at the February council meeting. The motion called for an amendment to the Councillor Expenses and Facilities Policy.

This change was to include a limit on the support provided for those undertaking the Company Directors Course …. to 50 per cent of the cost of the course.

He also sought support for this program to be limited in availability to councillors undertaking the course in the first year of a council term.

The course is hosted by the Australian Institute of Company Directors and described on its webpage as among the “most established and reputable governance courses in the world.”

Course prices start at just under $6000 for the self-paced option and range to more than $12,000 for the premier package.

First-term councillor Cameron Moore, who is one of the youngest to be elected on new Gunnedah council, explained why he was “categorically against” the idea.

“I understand it’s a lot and there’s limitations on the budget however this is subject to council approving it,” Cr Moore said.

“What this does, if you limited it to half, you put a value based on someone’s funding.

“If you are a person of means, that [money] does not mean a lot.

“If you’re not, that means when you come into this role, you are locked out of that ability.

“I don’t think it’s fair.”

Cr Moore highlighted that although he had not attempted this particular course, any expenses involved in councillors pursuing the training would be voted on by elected representatives.

“It has to come to council anyway,” he said.

“I think it creates a segregation, and in this room we are one – one team – and I think it’s wrong to put a limitation because there might be a lot of people who come into this [council chamber in the future] who might not be able to do that.

“That’s not democratic, it’s not giving this chamber the ability to make the decision on its own.

“I think we’re capable of making decisions for the group without limiting people based on their financial status.”

Councillor Moore’s comments received almost unanimous support from his colleagues, including fellow first-term councillor Tammey McAllan.

“If we’re increasing knowledge for councillors, it should not be limited on personal bank balances to attend the course that is going to benefit council,” Cr McAllan said.

Councillor Linda Newell agreed with the rebuttals from Cr Moore and McAllan.

“I think it restricts people,” she said, before highlighting other indirect means where councillors support their education in local government.

“I need to use leave from my other job – to me that’s a contribution in itself,” Cr Newell said.

“There’s other ways in-kind you’re contributing.”

Before the matter was put to a vote, which was ultimately lost, Cr Hoddle conceded although he had probably lost the argument, he appreciated the robust discussion.

Councillor Moore later said that one of the current council’s biggest assets, is its broad range of views.

“It is a massive strength, the diversity of lived experience we have in the chamber,” he said.

Gunnedah Shire Council’s Councillor Expenses and Facilities Policy was updated in 2023. The policy aims to ensure accountability and transparency in the reasonable and appropriate reimbursement of expenses and provision of facilities to councillors to help them undertake their civic duties.

Cr Cameron Moore.

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