By Violet Li
Casey Council updated its Councillor Gift Policy at the April meeting, with a major change of reducing the gift declaration limit from $50 to $20.
The updated policy stipulates that all offers worth more than $20 are non-token offers and must be declared and recorded on the gift, benefit, and hospitality register.
A Conflicts of Interest sector has been added to inform councillors that any gift, benefit, or hospitality they declare over five years could give rise to an actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest, which includes election campaign donations.
A Rewards Programs sector has been introduced to minimise the benefit derived from purchasing on behalf of the council or benefiting from council expenses.
Councillors must not collect rewards for personal uses via commercial rewards programs like Flybuys, for any council-related expenses transaction.
The inclusion of an Exceptions to Councillor Gift Policy sector is aimed to minimise confusion around accepting gifts, benefits, and hospitality derived from council’s partnership agreements, and accepting internal gifts for recognition of service.
It states that tickets offered to councillors through partnership agreements between the council and sporting clubs can be accepted whereby ticket offerings form part of the partnership agreement.
However, those tickets must still be declared.
Gifts from the council to councillors are not covered by this policy and do not need to be declared, but the nature of such gifts needs to be in recognition of their services at the end of the mayor and councillors’ terms.
