MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF THE TORRES SHIRE COUNCIL HELD IN THE SHIRE OFFICES, DOUGLAS STREET, THURSDAY ISLAND ON WEDNESDAY, 17 APRIL 2019 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ PRESENT Mayor Vonda Malone (Chair), Cr. Yen Loban (Deputy Mayor) Cr. John Abednego, Cr. Gabriel Bani, Cr. Thomas Loban, Dalassa Yorkston (Chief Executive Officer), Maxwell Duncan (Director Governance and Planning Services) Colin Duffy (Director Corporate and Community Services) and Nola Ward Page (Minute Secretary) The meeting opened with a prayer by Cr. Bani at 9.05 am. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Mayor Malone acknowledged the traditional owners of the Kaurareg people and all Torres Strait island elders both past and present. CONDOLENCES a minute of silence was held for: Mrs Vida Whyte Mrs Alice Veronica Loban (nee Seden) Mayor Malone, on behalf of Council, extended deepest condolences to the families of the loved ones who have passed. COUNCIL REGISTER OF INTEREST The Local Government Act 2009 requires a Councillor who has a “conflict of interest” (defined in the Act) in an issue to be considered at a Council or Committee meeting, to disclose the interest to the meeting and to determine whether the conflict of interest is: (a) sufficiently significant such that the Councillor ought to leave the meeting room and not take part in the meeting whilst the issue is being considered or voted on (b) not of sufficient significance that would lead the councillor to make a decision on the matter that is contrary to public interest and accordingly, the councillor ought to, in the best performance of the councillor’s responsibility of serving the overall public interest of the whole of the council’s area, continue to participate in the discussion and vote on the matter. The Local Government Act 2009 requires a Councillor who has a “material personal interest” (defined in the Act) in an issue to be considered at a Council or Committee meeting, to disclose the interest to the meeting and leave the meeting room and not take part in the meeting whilst the issue is being considered or voted on. DISCLOSURES OF INTEREST UNDER THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT - Nil CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES Min. 19/4/1 Moved Deputy Mayor Loban, Seconded Cr. Bani “That Council receive the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting 19 March 2019 and confirm as a true and correct records of the proceedings.” Carried BUSINESS ARISING AND MATTERS FOR ACTION FROM PREVIOUS MEETING CEO referred to the ‘Matters for Action following a Council Meeting document provided to Councillors with updated information on the 19 March 2019 meeting. Section in March Council Minutes - Apology Mayor Malone – was attending the Parliamentary Hearing on the Queensland Intrastate Shipping held in Cairns on Tuesday 19 March 2019 hence the apology lodged for the absence from the March Council Ordinary Meeting. COUNCIL MINUTES ORDINARY MEETING 17 APRIL 2019 1 BUSINESS ARISING AND MATTERS FOR ACTION FROM PREVIOUS MEETING (cont’d) CEO Report - Item JMTI Pty Ltd and Steven Mills Recovery of fines to be updated at the next Ordinary Council Meeting. Queensland Health – Primary Health Care Centre Development Agreement in principle has been reached on the regularisation of car-parking for Queensland Health employees and Primary Health care users. MAYOR’S REPORT Acknowledgement to the traditional owners of Kaiwalagal and of the Torres Strait & elders past and present PURPOSE To provide an update on representations undertaken by Mayor Vonda Malone for the period 20 February – 16 April, 2019. Women of the World, 5-9 March 2019 – London, United Kingdom I was privileged to be part of the Women of the World (WOW) event in London as part of the International Women’s Day (IWD) 2019 celebrations. WOW started in the United Kingdom in 2010 to mark the centenary of IWD and has grown into one of the biggest movements of women and girls in the world. In the lead up to IWD a series of smaller events were held to recognise women’s evolution and contribution: 1. BBC Radio 4 Women’s Hour – Interview with Jane Garvey at the old BBC Studios at Portland Place. The BBC has a massive audience, and this was an opportunity to share and give an insight to the UK about the Torres Strait. 2. The Hon. Julia Gillard – The former Prime Minister established the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership in 2018 at the Kings College, London. The Institute presented the research findings on the causes of women’s underrepresentation in leadership positions across sectors and countries and the way gender negatively impacts progress at every stage of their careers. 3. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall, Clarence House – It was an honour to be part of a dynamic group of women that had the unique opportunity for a meet and greet with HRH the Duchess of Cornwall at Clarence House. 4. International Women’s Day, WOW, What Now Royal Festival Hall – A line-up of special guests where featured over the 2 days including Julia Gillard, Annie Lennox (singer-songwriter), President Tarja Halonen, Finland, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, Angela Davis, Lily Allen (singer- songwriter), Naomi Klein, Dr Sandra Phillips and myself. Women of the World, 5-9 March 2019 – London, United Kingdom (cont’d) Additional side engagements were also held over the time allowing one-to-one smaller group discussions with Angela Davis and Naomi Klein. I would like to express my thanks to the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women, Torres Strait Ministerial Champion Minister Shannon Fentiman and Government Champion Michael Hogan for sponsoring my attendance at WOW London 2019. Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Cambridge, 12 March 2019 – Cambridge, UK Dr Anita Herle, Senior Curator at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology provided a private tour of Alfred Haddon’s Torres Strait Collection. Dr Herle has dedicated 25 plus years to the preservation of the vast historic artefacts collected by Haddon from 1888. A large percentage of Haddon’s collection stemmed from Mer and Mabuiag Islands and it was a humbling experience to see first-hand these items that are so far away from the Torres Strait but fortunately well preserved for us to still enjoy and value. COUNCIL MINUTES ORDINARY MEETING 17 APRIL 2019 2 MAYOR’S REPORT (cont’d) Commonwealth Youth Awards, 17 March 2019 – Marlborough House, London UK Through the High Commission of Australia, Australia House – London, I was invited to attend the Commonwealth Youth Awards. Lord Mayor of Birmingham City Council, 15 March 2019 – Birmingham, UK Through the High Commission of Australia, Australia House - London, a visit was organised in order to meet with the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Yvonne Mosquito. The meet and greet enabled direct engagement with the Lord Mayor at the Birmingham Council House to get an insight on the matters dealt with in Birmingham city. Matters Arising: • A letter of thanks forwarded to Lord Mayor Yvonne Mosquito on behalf of Torres Shire Council. Min. 19/4/2 Moved Cr. Bani, Seconded Cr. Loban “That Council forward a letter of thanks to Lord Mayor Yvonne Mosquito for hosting our Mayor’s recent visit to Birmingham City Council.” Carried Inquiry into a Sustainable Queensland Intrastate Shipping, 18 March 2019 – Cairns I appeared before the Queensland Legislative Assembly’s Transport and Public Works Committee, to put forward Torres Shire Council’s (TSC) submission to the Inquiry into a Sustainable Intrastate Shipping. I joined the collective group of councils of Cairns Regional Council, Torres Strait Island Regional Council and Torres and Cape Indigenous Councils Alliance. Torres and Cape Indigenous Council’s Alliance, 28-29 March 2019 – Cairns The Torres Cape Indigenous Council Alliance (TCICA) Inc held its first meeting for 2019 in Cairns on 28-29 March. Elected leaders from 14 local governing authorities across the Torres Strait and Cape including the gulf communities of Kowanyama and Mornington Island, discussed the progress of regional priorities and other common interests over the two days. Recommendation: 1. That TSC endorse the TCICA Financial Statements as at 31 March 2019. 2. That TSC endorse the TCICA Federal Election Priorities for the 2019 Federal Election. LGAQ General Meeting, 2 April 2019 – Brisbane A representation of 75 Queensland Councils congregated in Brisbane to discuss and vote on the LGAQ’s recommended motions pertaining to the legislative changes to the 2020 and 2024 Local Government elections. The changes imposed by the State Government has had little consultation and input from Councils and timing of the meeting to gauge the views of the collective Councils was imminent. The position of the Queensland wide Councils has been put forward to the Minister for Local Government and the Queensland Government. TSC State Government Deputations, 3 April 2019 - Brisbane TSC conducted a series of deputations with various State Ministers and Director Generals to advocate on the 10 key priorities for our Torres Shire. Recommendation: • CEO to follow-up on matters arising from the various State Government deputations. Other Representations 1. Year 12 Senior Badge Ceremony, TAGAI State College - 22 March 2019. 2. TSIMA Radio Interview, regular Council update - 25 March 2019. 3. Maritime Safety Queensland presentation of gift to Torres Strait Local Disaster Management Group (TSLDMG) for the successful Exercise Torres 2018 (Oil Pollution) - 10 April 2019. 4. TSC Australian Citizenship Ceremony of Pooja Rani – 16 April 2019. COUNCIL MINUTES ORDINARY MEETING 17 APRIL 2019 3 MAYOR’S REPORT (cont’d) RECOMMENDATION That Council: 1. Notes this brief. 2. Endorses matters arising and recommendations as per brief. That Council notes this brief. Min. 19/4/3 Moved Deputy Mayor Loban, Seconded Cr. Bani “That the Mayor’s Report be received.” Carried Adjournment: The meeting adjourned for Morning Tea at 10.25a.m and resumed at 10.55 a.m.