Community & Business
10 March, 2026
NSW Country Mayors welcome LG Expert Advisory Panel
NSW Country Mayors welcome LG Expert Advisory Panel
Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) chairman, mayor Rick Firman OMA (of Temora Shire Council) has welcomed the announcement of the 'Local Government Expert Advisory Panel' from NSW local government minister, Ron Hoenig. “It is particularly pleasing that our CMA is well represented in this new advisory panel,” said mayor Firman.
The panel is part of the state government’s response to a parliamentary inquiry into the ability of local governments to fund infrastructure and services.
“This shows our local government minister’s commendable humility and willingness to listen and learn. Minister Hoenig has decades of experience in local government, albeit in Sydney and, together with his senior staff, like Office of Local Government deputy secretary, Brett Whitworth PSM, has been genuinely consultative, which is appreciated. Despite this, a panel that can convey insights of current and emerging issues, especially financial sustainability, and policy experiences on the ground in local government is a very encouraging development,” mayor Firman said.
Representing rural, remote and regional councils and their communities on the Local Government Expert Advisory Panel members are: CMA board member and former LGNSW president, mayor Phyllis Miller OAM (Forbes Shire Council); CMA secretary and Temora Shire Council general manager, Melissa Boxall; and CMA member Eurobodalla Shire Council general manager, Mark Ferguson.
The expert panel also includes Mr Whitworth PSM (chairman); general manager of Randwick City Council, Ray Brownlee PSM (and former general manager Northern Beaches and Auburn City Councils); general manager of Blacktown City Council, Kerry Robinson OAM; and the manager of Industrial, Rules, Governance, and Compliance, United Services Union, Daniel Papps.
The panel members were appointed by minister Hoenig for a three-year term. Their role is to provide technical and practical advice on the implementation of reforms aimed at maintaining councils’ independence while ensuring their long-term financial sustainability.
According to the NSW Office of Local Government, the panel will also focus on developing a framework for councils wanting to permanently increase their rates; simplifying the special variation process to focus only on specific council projects; and providing advice on streamlining financial reporting to increase transparency.
“The CMA board and our members are committed giving the minister’s recent milestone policies, such as the new 'Code of Meeting Practice' a fair go but we’re confident that the expert panel will help to channel constructive feedback more efficiently and effectively than ever before,” mayor Firman said.
“Informing local government policies in the development phase, rather than lobbying for changes to legislation after it is in effect should prove to be a victory for common sense. We encourage the panel members to immerse themselves into the critical financial sustainability of our sector. We can’t underestimate the vital importance of this piece of work,” mayor Firman concluded.
