Council & accountability · Bega Valley Shire Council
Bega Valley names 17 conduct reviewers through June 2030
The panel includes KPMG, Maddocks, McCabes Lawyers and KordaMentha after a Canberra Region Joint Organisation expression-of-interest process.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
Bega Valley Shire Council has appointed 17 consultants and entities to a panel for code-of-conduct reviews until 30 June 2030.
The appointed providers include KPMG, Maddocks, McCabes Lawyers, KordaMentha, Centium, Klaass & Co, McCullough Robertson, Mediate Today, O’Connor Marsden & Associates, Omedia trading as Workdynamic Australia, Pendlebury Workplace Law, Riske Business Consultants, Riskwise Consulting, Shaw Reynolds Lawyers, SINC Solutions, Weir Consulting and Wise Workplace Services.
The minutes record that the Canberra Region Joint Organisation completed the expression-of-interest process for the regional panel. They also note advice that a formal council resolution is not required for a council or joint organisation to share a panel where an appropriately delegated person makes the decision and the other participating council or organisation agrees.
Eight councillors voted for Bega Valley’s appointment and none voted against. Councillor Clair Mudaliar had left the meeting and was recorded as absent. The resolution also notes that future shared-panel arrangements may be progressed administratively under appropriate delegation, subject to the relevant Office of Local Government procedures and council delegations.
The resolution does not identify a particular conduct matter, panel budget or individual provider fee. It therefore establishes the provider list, but does not show how often members will be engaged or what future reviews will cost.
What deserves a closer look
The resolution establishes a panel and records the appointment vote, but does not identify a current review assignment or financial commitment for individual engagements.
Later shared-panel arrangements may not require a separate council vote if handled by an appropriately delegated person with the required concurrence.
Questions for follow-up reporting
What fee structure or procurement terms will apply when a provider is engaged from the panel?
How many conduct reviews, if any, does the council expect to refer to panel members before 30 June 2030?
What happens next
Future shared-panel arrangements may be progressed administratively under appropriate delegation, with the concurrence of the participating council or joint organisation and consistency with the relevant Office of Local Government procedures and council delegations.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
Council resolved to appoint a panel of conduct reviewers until 30 June 2030 after a Canberra Region Joint Organisation expression-of-interest process.
Staff Reports – Organisational Services 10.1 Code of Conduct Reviewer Panel 2026 - 2030 04:12 pm Cr Mudaliar left the meeting. 129/26 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Nadin and Daly 1. That Council notes the Canberra Region Joint Organisation completed an Expression of Council Meeting Minutes 23 September 2026 - 13 - Interest process to establish a Regional Panel of Conduct Reviewers for the period 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2030. 2. That Council appoints the following recommended consultants and entities as Bega Valley Shire Council's panel of conduct reviewers until 30 June 2030: • Centium Pty Ltd • Klaass & Co Pty Ltd • KordaMentha Pty Ltd • KPMG • Maddocks • McCabes Lawyers Pty Ltd • McCullough Robertson • Mediate Today Pty Ltd • O'Connor Marsden & Associates • Omedia Pty Ltd T/A Workdynamic Australia • Pendlebury Workplace Law • Riske Business Consultants P/L • Riskwise Consulting Pty Ltd • Shaw Reynolds Lawyers Pty Ltd • SINC Solutions Pty Ltd • Weir Consulting Pty Ltd • Wise Workplace Services T/A Wise Workplace 3.
Resolution 129/26, item 10.1
Open original minutes ↗The quoted panel appointment list names 17 consultants and entities.
2. That Council appoints the following recommended consultants and entities as Bega Valley Shire Council's panel of conduct reviewers until 30 June 2030: • Centium Pty Ltd • Klaass & Co Pty Ltd • KordaMentha Pty Ltd • KPMG • Maddocks • McCabes Lawyers Pty Ltd • McCullough Robertson • Mediate Today Pty Ltd • O'Connor Marsden & Associates • Omedia Pty Ltd T/A Workdynamic Australia • Pendlebury Workplace Law • Riske Business Consultants P/L • Riskwise Consulting Pty Ltd • Shaw Reynolds Lawyers Pty Ltd • SINC Solutions Pty Ltd • Weir Consulting Pty Ltd • Wise Workplace Services T/A Wise Workplace 3.
Resolution 129/26, item 10.1, clause 2
Open original minutes ↗Eight councillors voted in favour, with no votes against, and Councillor Mudaliar was absent.
IN FAVOUR: Crs Allen, Daly, Fitzpatrick, Haggar, Nadin, Noble, O'Neil and Porter AGAINST: Nil ABSENT: Cr Mudaliar 10.2 Related Party Returns and Annual Disclosures by Councillors and Designated Persons 2025/2026 130/26 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Nadin and Haggar That Council note the report on the lodgement of Related Party Returns and Annual Disclosures by Councillors and Designated Persons for the period ending 30 June 2026.
Item 10.1 voting record
Open original minutes ↗The quoted advice states that sharing a conduct reviewer panel does not require a formal council resolution where an appropriately delegated person makes the decision with the concurrence of the other participating council or joint organisation. The text also states that future shared-panel arrangements may proceed administratively under appropriate delegation, consistent with the Office of Local Government procedures and Council's adopted delegations.
That Council notes recent advice that a formal Council resolution is not required for a council or joint organisation to enter into an arrangement to share a panel of conduct reviewers, provided the decision is made by a person with appropriate delegation and with the concurrence of the other participating council or joint organisation. 4. That Council notes future shared panel arrangements may be progressed administratively under appropriate delegation, consistent with Office of Local Government Administration Procedures for the Model Code of Conduct for Local Councils in NSW and Council's adopted delegations.
Resolution 129/26, clauses 3–4
Open original minutes ↗The quoted text does not identify a particular conduct matter, panel budget or individual provider fee.
That Council notes the Canberra Region Joint Organisation completed an Expression of Council Meeting Minutes 23 September 2026 - 13 - Interest process to establish a Regional Panel of Conduct Reviewers for the period 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2030. 2. That Council appoints the following recommended consultants and entities as Bega Valley Shire Council's panel of conduct reviewers until 30 June 2030: • Centium Pty Ltd • Klaass & Co Pty Ltd • KordaMentha Pty Ltd • KPMG • Maddocks • McCabes Lawyers Pty Ltd • McCullough Robertson • Mediate Today Pty Ltd • O'Connor Marsden & Associates • Omedia Pty Ltd T/A Workdynamic Australia • Pendlebury Workplace Law • Riske Business Consultants P/L • Riskwise Consulting Pty Ltd • Shaw Reynolds Lawyers Pty Ltd • SINC Solutions Pty Ltd • Weir Consulting Pty Ltd • Wise Workplace Services T/A Wise Workplace 3. That Council notes recent advice that a formal Council resolution is not required for a council or joint organisation to enter into an arrangement to share a panel of conduct reviewers, provided the decision is made by a person with appropriate delegation and with the concurrence of the other participating council or joint organisation. 4. That Council notes future shared panel arrangements may be progressed administratively under appropriate delegation, consistent with Office of Local Government Administration Procedures for the Model Code of Conduct for Local Councils in NSW and Council's adopted delegations.
Resolution 129/26, clauses 1–4
Open original minutes ↗The record carries a confirmation signed by Russell Fitzpatrick as chairperson of the 23 September 2026 meeting.
Closure There being no further business, the Chairperson closed the meeting at 5:47 pm. Confirmed Russell Fitzpatrick (digitally signed) Chairperson of the meeting of the Bega Valley Shire Council held on Wednesday, 23 September 2026.
Closure and confirmation
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from the confirmed public minutes of Bega Valley Shire Council’s ordinary meeting on 23 September 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Council appointed the reviewers until 30 June 2030.
- Seventeen consultants and entities were appointed, including KPMG, Maddocks, McCabes Lawyers and KordaMentha.
- The Canberra Region Joint Organisation completed the expression-of-interest process.
- Eight councillors voted in favour, with no votes against; Councillor Clair Mudaliar was absent from the vote.
- The resolution records that future shared-panel arrangements may be handled administratively under appropriate delegation.
Why it matters
- Council now has a panel of 17 potential code-of-conduct reviewers until 30 June 2030. The minutes do not identify any current matter being referred to a panel member or the cost of future engagements.