General News
21 October, 2025
‘Credibility’ key to council
IN my series on the ABCs of local government, each letter highlights a different part of what the council does and why it matters.
We have covered A for advocacy and B for basics. Now we come to C …
What a conundrum? There are so many essential actions that begin with the letter C which capture what local government is all about.
Community is at the heart of everything we do.
The council exists to serve people and a strong sense of community gives our city its character, resilience and future.
Consultation means listening and engaging meaningfully with residents, stakeholders and partners.
Good decisions are made when we take the time to understand the voices of those who are impacted.
Collaboration is about working together – councillors, staff, community groups, businesses and other levels of government – to turn good ideas into lasting outcomes.
Credibility is the foundation of good government, without it, everything else is meaningless.
Credibility is earned through consistency, by being clear in what you stand for, following through on decisions and fronting up when things are difficult.
Credibility is a collective responsibility.
Councillors set the strategic direction and make decisions that are principled, transparent and in the best interests of the whole community, with officers implementing those resolutions decisions.
Together we build credibility in the eyes of the people we serve.
That is why getting the basics right matters so much.
When rubbish is collected on time, when water is safe to drink, when footpaths and playgrounds are maintained, people see a council they can count on.
Credibility also matters in the bigger things. The way we advocate for funding, manage our budgets and plan for growth all depend on it.
Without credibility, our voice in Brisbane or Canberra carries less weight. With credibility, we can secure commitments that transform our region.
It is easy to stand in the spotlight when times are good. Real credibility is forged in the harder moments when budgets are tight, when tough calls must be made and when convictions are tested.
That is when honesty, accountability and consistency matter most.
So yes, C is for credibility.
With it, the council earns the trust and confidence to be the leaders the community elected us to be.
