Sacked councillor taking care of ill husband wants to 'see changes' at council level
The leave regulations of King Island Council were thrust into the spotlight after a councillor recently lost her job because she had to take care of her husband.
Sarina Laidler lost her position as councillor after she missed three consecutive council meetings in July because she had to take care of her husband, Kevin, who had brain tumour and whose health deteriorated last year.
But Tasmania's Local Government Act states that a councillor will lose their seat if they are absent without leave for three consecutive council meetings, according to reports.
This was the case of Laidler, who told ABC News that a leave of absence is something that one has to say in advance.
"[These] were emergency situations, they weren't situations where you had time to sit down and fill out a form and send it through to council," she said as quoted by ABC News.
According to Laidler, losing her position added further distress after her husband eventually passed in December.
"It did add to the trauma, and it has added to my recovery time," she as quoted by ABC News.
Now, Laidley is seeking greater flexibility for councils to grant leave on compassionate grounds.
"I want to see changes in regulation and procedures at a council level," she as quoted by news.com.au.
Council's defence
Brian Barrett, acting general manager of King Island, called Laidler's situation as "unfortunate." He told ABC News that the council legislation on leave allowed employees to forecast months before they seek leave of absence.
"She had just kind of slipped up on one occasion, and that was enough to lead to the vacation of her office," the acting general manager said.
In another statement, Barrett also told news.com.au that the leave of absence was simply a "simple form."
"The result of that was that at the third meeting she sought to fail to attend without a leave of absence she simply ceased to be a councillor," Barrett said. "She simply forfeited her office."
Reforming leave regulations
Local Government Association of Tasmania president Mick Turner said they have already asked the government last year to amend the leave of absence to put in exemptions, such as injury or illness.
The local government of Tasmania has expressed openness to exploring the requirements for councillor leave arrangements, according to ABC News.
Local Government Minister Nic Street is even encouraging councils to be compassionate in using the leave of absence provisions and ensure that councillors are aware of their obligations.
Laidler said she will be recontesting her old position, which is now vacant and will be filled with a by-election.
