The Barkly Regional Council Meeting Minutes of 29 August 2019 instruct the CEO to approve the submission from Allabout Xpert Technologies Australia to carry out an external review of Council’s organisational structure and internal processes. 

This was effectively a consultancy for an independent assessment and report on the Barkly Regional Council governance and performance. 

The Council’s Payment Summary Report of December 2019 documents an initial payment of $44,000 to the company contracted to conduct the assessment and produce the report however ratepayers allege this consultancy cost over $100,000 to complete. 

However, the Barkly Regional Council Meeting Minutes from 30 January 2020 list the decision to move the independent report into a Confidential Session under the Local Government Act, Regulation 8, where ‘it contains information that would, if publicly disclosed, be likely to prejudice the interests of Council or some other person.’ 

Therefore an alleged $100,000 use of ratepayer’s money to produce an independent report on the Barkly Regional Council governance and performance hidden and not available to ratepayers. 

My question to the former Mayor Steve Edgington is why would this independent report be likely to prejudice the interests of Council or some other person if publicly disclosed? 

– Tennant Creek Ratepayer – Gerry McCarthy, 5 Ambrose Street, Tennant Creek.