Welcome, and how this works
This course takes about 45 minutes. You can stop at any point and pick up where you left off.
It is written for elected Mayors and Councillors in New South Wales and it assumes no legal training.
What this course is not
It is not an argument for being quieter, softer or less willing to fight for the people who elected you. Robust debate is protected, and it is your job. What follows is about how you contest a decision, never whether you do.
You will notice as you go that every safe path in this course is also the effective one. That is not a coincidence, and it is the point.
What it covers
- Module 1 — Four Hats. Why elected members are excluded from the “officer” duty that applies to your General Manager, and what you owe instead under section 29.
- Module 2 — The Splash. How political heat reaches a staff member who was never in the argument.
- Module 3 — Room, Inbox, Feed. What to say in chamber, how to handle a constituent complaint and what to check before you post.
There are two scenarios along the way and a five-question assessment at the end. You need 4 out of 5 to pass, and you can attempt it as many times as you like.
Your privacy
Nothing you do in this course is recorded against your name. Your place is saved in your own browser. Nothing is reported to your council about how you personally answered anything.
This course is general information about the law. It is not legal advice and it does not replace your council’s code of conduct or advice from your General Manager.