At a Glance
• Development of a formal Mayoral Office Protocol policy
• Clearer due diligence and risk assessment for event attendance
• More equitable access for Councillors to civic functions
• Review of award nomination and selection processes
• Ongoing internal governance renewal

Strengthening Our Protocols

As Campbelltown continues to grow, so too must the organisation that serves it. A city’s reputation is shaped not only by its infrastructure and services, but by the integrity and professionalism of its governance.

Over the course of my term as Mayor, we have commenced a steady program of internal renewal. We have refined policies, introduced new frameworks and sought to ensure that our procedures reflect best practice.

Among the initiatives already progressed, or currently underway, are:

• Strengthening the Community Engagement Strategy through focused stakeholder forums
• Coordinated advocacy campaigns to attract investment
• Strategic planning review aligned with residents’ aspirations
• Public space infrastructure review and action plan
• Resilience-focused policy development
• Review of the City Attraction and Sponsorship policy framework
• Audit of indoor community infrastructure

Governance is not static. It requires constant recalibration to maintain public trust. In this month’s Minute, I wish to address two specific areas requiring refinement.

Mayoral Office Protocols

The first concerns functions, invitations and civic attendance.

Council regularly receives invitations to attend community events, celebrations and functions. The current process relies primarily on the Mayor of the day, supported by staff recommendations, to accept or decline such invitations.

While attendance is intended as participation in our community’s celebrations, it is important to acknowledge that external observers may perceive such attendance as endorsement.

We as a Council, and I as the Mayor, need to undertake a level of due diligence and assurance before accepting any invitation to events or festivities in my formal capacity, as it may imply a level of support for the event and the host organisation..

For this reason, I have asked the General Manager to develop a public Mayoral Office Protocol policy. This policy will outline:

• The level of due diligence undertaken before accepting invitations
• Risk profiling where appropriate
• The scope of representation by the Mayor or delegated Councillor
• The process for managing civic attendance

Importantly, this policy is not designed to limit the discretion of the Mayor. Attendance at events remains at the Mayor’s absolute discretion. Rather, the objective is clarity, consistency and risk management.

External representation is an honour conferred upon Councillors. To ensure equity, I believe Councillors should have transparent opportunities to attend events within defined limits, on a fair and structured basis.

Formalising this framework will protect the organisation and provide the public with confidence in how civic representation decisions are made.

Strengthening the Awards Process

The second priority relates to how we advertise, promote and select award recipients.

Campbelltown is fortunate to have an engaged and capable community. Through initiatives such as Our Shared Future and the Strategic Advocacy Group, residents have contributed meaningful expertise and insight to policy development.

It is therefore appropriate to extend similar principles of community participation to our awards programs.

I have asked the General Manager to review the current awards framework and consider:

• Expanded community engagement in nominations
• Increased external panel representation
• Revitalised promotion strategies
• Clearer and more transparent selection criteria

Recognition programs should reflect the breadth and diversity of our community. Enhancing participation in the selection process will further strengthen legitimacy and public confidence.

Governance as a Living Framework

Good governance is not achieved through a single policy or reform. It is the cumulative result of continuous improvement.

By formalising Mayoral protocols and strengthening award processes, we reinforce three fundamental principles:

1. Transparency
2. Equity
3. Accountability

These refinements may appear procedural, but governance integrity is built on procedure. Strong systems reduce ambiguity, manage risk and protect institutional reputation.

Campbelltown’s standing as a respected local government authority depends not only on what we deliver, but how we conduct ourselves.

Acknowledgement

Finally, I would like to thank Western Sydney University for inviting me to deliver the graduation address at the School of Social Science ceremony on 27 April 2023.

It was a personal honour to speak at the institution from which I graduated, and I am grateful to Deputy Chancellor Liz Dibbs for her generous acknowledgement during the ceremony.

Moments such as these remind us that public service is deeply connected to education, civic responsibility and the opportunities we create for future generations.

Reflection

As we refine our internal protocols and governance frameworks, we do so with a clear objective: maintaining and strengthening the trust placed in us by our residents.

Campbelltown’s future depends not only on visionary planning and investment, but on the steady discipline of good governance. By embedding clarity, fairness and transparency into our processes, we ensure that our Council continues to serve our community with integrity and professionalism.

Read the original Mayoral Minute here: 6. Strengthening our Protocols