MEDIA RELEASE

Tuesday night, August 14, 2001

"Not On The Bloody Committee"

Randwick Councillor Ejected From Council Meeting

Over Parking Meters

Tonight financially troubled Randwick City Council voted to eject a Greens Councillor during debate over a contentious proposal to consider installing parking meters through out the city.

ALP chairman of the Council's Works committee, Clr Chris Bastic, moved that Clr Murray Matson be ejected from the meeting following his repeated attempts to be given leave to question Council officers over the matter.

Clr Bastic several times directed Clr Matson to desist with the words, "You're not on the bloody committee."

Clr Matson said after the meeting,

"The Council's Code of Meeting Practice allows all Councillors to participate in the debate of all committees of the Council. This means that I have the right to ask questions of Council officers. The chairman, Clr Chris Bastic, would not allow me to put the question nor would he respond to my interjection on the matter via a 'point of order'."

Paid parking meters are a contentious issue in my ward of the Council, which is Coogee, and my constituents would have expected me to engage in the debate."

Clr Bastic argued during the dispute that Clr Matson could put his question after the designated members of the committee had all spoken.

Clr Matson, a non-member of the committee feared that this would lock him out of the debate.

He said,

"There was no way I way willing to wait as I was wary that opposing Councillors might move the 'gag' provision of our meeting practice which allows only two speakers for, and two speakers against any matter."