Burwood residents get 42 days to comment on meeting rules that could allow expulsions

Burwood residents have 42 days to comment on a proposed Code of Meeting Practice that would authorise the person presiding over certain Council meetings to expel attendees if the code is adopted without submissions.

Burwood Council voted unanimously on 28 July to place the draft code on public exhibition after the commencement of the Local Government (General) Amendment (Meetings) Regulation 2026. Mayor John Faker, Deputy Mayor George Mannah, Cr Sukirti Bhatta, Cr Pascale Esber, Cr David Hull, Cr De Yi Wu-Coshott and Cr Alex Yang voted for the resolution.

The proposed expulsion power is tied to the outcome of the consultation. If submissions are received, General Manager must report the outcome of the 42-day exhibition to Council.

If no submissions are received, Council can adopt the draft code, revoke the previous Code of Meeting Practice adopted on 23 September 2025 and authorise the person presiding at a Council meeting, or at a committee meeting made up entirely of councillors, to exercise the power of expulsion under section 10(2) of the Local Government Act 1993.

The resolution does not adopt the draft code. It starts the exhibition process and sets out the next step for either outcome. The supplied decision does not specify other proposed changes in the code or how submissions must be lodged.

The consultation gives residents and community organisations an opportunity to comment on rules governing public participation in Burwood Council meetings. The most consequential provision identified in the resolution is the possible use of expulsion powers by the presiding person under the no-submissions pathway.

The exhibition will run for 42 days from its commencement. After the period ends, submissions will be reported to Council. If none are received, the draft can be adopted under the conditional resolution without a further submissions report.

The vote was carried with no councillors opposed.