Local Government (Administration) Regulations 1996

In this regulation —

an ordinary meeting of the council; or

a special meeting of the council; or

a meeting of a committee of the council;

A member of a council or committee may attend a meeting by electronic means —

if —

a public health emergency or state of emergency exists or a natural disaster has occurred; and

because of the public health emergency, state of emergency or natural disaster, the member is unable, or considers it inappropriate, to be present in person at the meeting; and

the member is authorised to attend the meeting by electronic means by the mayor, president or council;

if the member is otherwise authorised to attend the meeting by electronic means by the mayor, president or council.

The mayor, president or council cannot authorise a member to attend a meeting (the proposed meeting) under subregulation (2)(b) if the member’s attendance at the proposed meeting under that authorisation would result in the member attending more than half of the meetings (including the proposed meeting) of the council or committee, in the relevant period, under an authorisation under subregulation (2)(b).

Subregulation (3) does not apply to a member who is a person with a disability as defined in the Disability Services Act 1993 section 3.

In deciding whether to authorise a member to attend a meeting by electronic means under subregulation (2), the mayor, president or council must have regard to whether the location from which the member intends to attend the meeting, and the equipment that the member intends to use to attend the meeting, are suitable for the member to be able to effectively engage in deliberations and communications during the meeting.