In this episode of "The Court of Public Opinion," Jeremy Cordeaux speaks with Dean Hurlston from Council Watch about local government issues, the role of councils, and how citizens can influence council activities. Here’s a summary of their conversation:

• Introduction to Council Watch: History and transformation of Council Watch from Ratepayers Victoria to its current form.
• Scope of Council Watch: Monitoring councils across Australia, starting from Victoria and expanding nationally.
• Common Issues in Councils: Similar governance and organizational issues across different councils in Australia.
• Disconnect Between Councils and Residents: The gap between council administration actions and residents' expectations.
• Participation in Council Meetings: Example of active participation in council meetings, highlighting the case of Mitcham Council.
• Political Activities of Councils: Discussion on councils involving themselves in political issues, such as the Voice to Parliament campaign.
• Budget and Service Delivery: Critique of council budgets and the lack of expected service delivery.
• Strategies for Change: Importance of awareness, grassroots involvement, and holding councils accountable.
• Role of State Parliaments: Need for state parliaments to clearly define council roles and responsibilities.
• Neutrality of Councils: Advocacy for councils to remain neutral on political and international issues.
• Public Engagement: Encouraging public involvement and education to influence council actions.
• Upcoming Elections: Importance of candidates declaring their positions on key issues during elections.