Update the definition of 'democracy'
I believe the Central Coast Council, or rather, state-appointed administrator Rik Hart, should move to update the definition of "democracy" to keep up-to-date with the times in which we now live.
Democracy: the people being able to watch a dictatorship in action.
Why should the definition be updated? Because this is how the Central Coast Council operates:
The agenda of the Council meetings is set by the councillors. No one else is allowed to add or suggest items to the agenda.
But there are no councillors, only the administrator, Mr Rik Hart.
In order to speak at the "public forum" just before the Council meeting, a person must submit a "Request to Speak" form, which must include what is intended to be said.
This form must then be approved by the Council (Mr Hart, or possibly one of his subordinates) for the person to be permitted to speak.
The speech must address one of the items on the agenda (which is set by the Council, Mr Hart).
The speech must be limited to three minutes.
Any questions or concerns raised in the permitted speech are then addressed in the Council meeting which follows.
There is no opportunity for discourse, and the assumption must therefore be that the Council (Mr Hart, or possibly one of his subordinates) has the final word on the matter (even if incorrect).
But it doesn't end there.
There is a maximum limit of eight people who are allowed to contribute to the "public forum", and no more than two people are allowed to speak for or against an item on the agenda.
Could you imagine if an agenda has 20 items of concern to the community?
How would the community have their voice heard?
Doesn't this all seem rather controlled?
SOURCE:
Email, 24 Nov 2022
Mike Gallagher, Ettalong