WHETHER councillors should undergo federal police checks and working with children checks will be the subject of debate on Tuesday night.
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Orange councillors Jeff Whitton and Glenn Taylor will raise the idea, also asking Local Government Minister Gabrielle Upton to make the checks compulsory for councils across the state.
While the role of a councillor is not usually child-related work, they can be sent to a diverse range of events.
Cr Whitton said the checks had become customary for board members and while councillors could be rules ineligible to stand for election if they filled out a form wrongly, there were no checks .
“I believe state and federal members of parliament have to do some sort of check and for the same reasons, local government representatives should,” he said.
It’s not a witch hunt – that’s not the exercise.
- Councillor Jeff Whitton
“Certainly directors have probity checks and police checks and a lot of that incorporates child protection checks.”
Asked whether he thought any irregularities would be found on the current council, Cr Whitton said he did not believe they would.
“It’s not a witch hunt – that’s not the exercise,” he said.
“It’s about putting a good message to the community that the people running the city are of good character.”
Orange City Council staff are subjected to police checks depending on the role they fulfil and their level of access to confidential information and vulnerable clients and whether they perform a financial function.
Those entering NSW Police or NSW Ambulance are required to complete the checks, as are those who work face-to-face with children on a paid or voluntary basis for extended periods.
They can either be cleared for five years or be barred from working with children.
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