Local Government Act 1993

A councillor, in writing, may request the general manager to make available any information or document or a copy of any information or document in the possession of the council that may be required for the purpose of performing any of the councillor's functions.

A councillor who makes a request under subsection (1) is to – state in writing the relevance of the information or document to any of the councillor's functions; and declare that he or she would not have, or would be unlikely to have, any pecuniary interest in the matter to which the information or document relates if the matter were to be an item on the agenda of a meeting of the council or a council committee.

The general manager may refuse the request of a councillor if – the general manager believes that the request would unreasonably extend the resources of the council; or the councillor has declared an interest under section 48; or the councillor has failed or refused to make a declaration under subsection (2)(b); or the general manager considers that the information or document requested is not required for the purpose of performing any of the councillor's functions.

If the general manager refuses the request the general manager is to advise the councillor in writing, stating the reasons for the refusal.

The general manager is to make any information or document made available to a councillor under this section available to any other councillor on request.