The new 2025 Model Meeting Code has been published in the Government Gazette and is expected to be prescribed under the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021 (the Regulation) shortly.
Councils must livestream meetings of the council and committees comprising wholly of councillors from 1 January 2026 using an audio-visual recording. Recordings of meetings must be published on the council’s website
for the balance of the council term or for 12 months, whichever is the later date.
The provisions governing attendance by councillors at meetings by audio-visual link have been made mandatory and the option to attend meetings by audio-visual link has been restricted to where councillors are prevented from attending a meeting in person because of ill-health or other medical reasons or because of unforeseen caring responsibilities.
Councils may determine standards of dress for councillors when attending meetings. The draft presented includes the standard of dress is to be business attire including councillor jackets and ties.
Under section 361 of the Local Government Act 1993 (the Act), before adopting a new code of meeting practice, councils must first exhibit a draft of the code of meeting practice for at least 28 days and provide members of
the community at least 42 days in which to comment on the draft code.

Comments and submissions can be addressed to General Manager, Hay Shire Council, 134 Lachlan Street, Hay NSW 2711, or emailed to mail@hay.nsw.gov.au up until 4pm Friday 12th December 2025