NSW Local Government Minister Don Page has announced the release of a document inviting public discussion on whether NSW Members of Parliament should be serving concurrently as local councillors or mayors.

Mr Page said a Discussion Paper on the issue of `dual roles’ is available to the public from today, and looks into matters such as whether it is a conflict of interests, whether it is appropriate for one person to serve in two political roles, and the fact that dual roles are already not permitted in other States.

In Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia, State and Federal Members of Parliament are not permitted to serve concurrently as councillors or mayors.

“There has been some discussion in the community about whether it is appropriate for Members of Parliament to serve concurrently as councillors or mayors. The Premier Barry O’Farrell asked me to examine dual roles and, as Minister, I feel the time has come for a constructive debate on the issue,” Mr Page said.

“I decided that the best way to approach this was to produce a Discussion Paper which will give interested members of the public an opportunity to comment on the issue, and which will provide the basis of an informed dialogue on the subject. The Paper presents arguments for and against dual roles, but does not make any recommendations.”

Mr Page said arguments supporting councillors being MPs include that it is `democracy in action’, it ensures the best person for the job, it increases local advocacy, it is efficient, and that it is common for MPs to have other roles.

Arguments against councillors being MPs include that it is a conflict of interests, it is not easy for residents to know to whom to complain (especially if the complaint is to an MP about the council), it is not practical for one person to effectively perform both roles (and give equal time), it is not equitable because councillors who are not MPs can’t raise issues directly in Parliament or with Ministers, and it creates perceptions about inappropriate use of one position for the purposes of another.

“It should be noted that our Local Government Amendment (Elections) Act 2011 allows for councillor vacancies to be left unfilled within 18 months of a council election, which means that councils are saved from the cost of a by-election if a new Member of Parliament resigns from their council after being elected to State Parliament,” Mr Page said.

“The issue of dual roles is an important one, and I encourage all interested members of the public to read the Discussion Paper and make their views known.”

The Discussion Paper is online at the Division of Local Government website. Public submissions are welcome and will be taken until January 31.