New rules aimed at boosting transparency, accountability, and community confidence in local government have been announced in an overhaul of council meeting procedures.

The changes come with the release of a new Model Code of Meeting Practice, which all NSW councils must adopt by 31 December this year.

The updated code will take effect from 1 January 2026 and is designed to make meetings more open, reduce disorder, and ensure decisions are made in full view of the community.

Key reforms include requiring council meetings to be live streamed, limiting private councillor briefings, giving mayors more powers to remove disruptive councillors or members of the public, and making confidential decisions public once secrecy is no longer required.

Narromine Shire Council Mayor Ewen Jones said many of the changes are already standard practice in Narromine's chamber, but the push for consistency across the state is welcome.

“We don’t really have briefing sessions here, but we run workshops that are open so councillors can be informed on issues before making decisions,” he said.

Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig recently visited the west with Member for Barwon, Roy Butler, where they caught up with many council representatives, including General Manager of Brewarrina Shire Council, David Kirby.

“Confidential items are only kept that way until a decision is made, and then they become public, which is how it should be.”

One of the bigger shifts for some western plains councils will be the requirement for councils to live stream meetings.

“We’ve already resolved to buy the equipment, but we were waiting until Minister Hoenig’s report was released so we knew exactly what was required,” Mayor Jones said.

“We haven’t live streamed before, so that will be something new that comes out of this for us.”

While the new code also grants mayors stronger powers to eject councillors or members of the public for disorderly behaviour, Cr Jones doesn’t expect it will be often needed in Narromine.

“I wouldn’t think so, not with the councillors anyway, they’re a pretty good bunch."

"It might be more relevant if someone from the gallery was disruptive, but that rarely happens,” he said.

Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said the reforms are about restoring dignity and trust to council chambers.

“The council chamber should be a place of dignity, where debate and decision making takes place in full view of the community,” he said.

“Council and committee meetings must be effective, transparent and genuine, and strive for outcomes to benefit the community.”