Guidelines for speakers at meetings and forums

As part of our democratic process, you can talk about your concerns in person.

Published 12 February 2026

Secretariat

Council Committees

Local Planning Panel

Central Sydney Planning Committee

Local Pedestrian, Cycling, Traffic Calming and Transport Forum

Council and committee meetings

Council and its committee meetings are reserved for councillors to discuss and make decisions on matters before them. While members of the public can attend these meetings, they cannot address the committee or Council.

To speak about an issue before Council or one if its committees, you can attend a public forum.

Speaking at meetings and public forums

To hear a wide range of views and concerns in the limited time available, we encourage people speaking at public forums before Council committee meetings, and the Central Sydney Planning Committee or Local Planning Panel to:

register before 12pm on the day of the meeting – early registration is encouraged – by contacting Secretariat on email (preferred) or by phone
check the recommendation in the committee report before participating as it may address your concerns already
note the 3-minute time limit for each speaker and prepare your speech to cover your major points within that time
avoid repeating what previous speakers have said and focus on issues and information the committee may not already know
nominate 3 speakers if a large number of people are represented.

If you wish to address the Local Pedestrian, Cycling, Traffic Calming and Transport Forum, you’ll need to register by email.

Meetings are held at 10am in the Council Chamber, Sydney Town Hall at level 1, 483 George Street, Sydney. They’re not live streamed.

You’ll have 3 minutes to speak. All comments must be addressed to the chairperson. When external speakers attend, their items are usually heard at the start of the meeting.

The forum’s report will be available on our meetings website after 5pm on the Thursday before the meeting.

Guidelines for speakers at public forums

The Office of Local Government has mandated that public forums should not be held as part of a council or committee meeting. Council or committee meetings should be reserved for decision-making by the council or committee of council.

Public forums are recorded and webcast live on our meetings webcast site.

Members of the public attending a public forum may have their image, voice and personal information (including name and address) recorded, publicly broadcast and archived for the rest of the council’s term or at least 12 months after the meeting, whichever is the longer period.

Consent

By attending a public forum, members of the public consent to the use of their image, voice and personal information.

Disclaimer

Statements made by individuals at public forums, and which may be contained in a live stream or recording of the meeting are those of the individuals making them, and not of the City of Sydney. To be clear, unless set out in a resolution of council, the City of Sydney does not endorse or support such statements.

The City of Sydney does not accept any liability for statements made or actions taken by individuals during a public forum that may be contrary to law, including discriminatory, defamatory or offensive comments. Such statements or actions are not protected by privilege and may be the subject of legal proceedings and potential liability, for which the City of Sydney takes no responsibility.
1. The City of Sydney Council will hold a public forum before meetings of its committees for the purpose of hearing oral submissions from members of the public on items of business to be considered at the meetings of its committees.
2. Public forums will be held from 2pm for up to one hour, with meetings of committees of the council to commence at 3pm.
3. Public forums are to be chaired by the Lord Mayor or their nominee.
4. To speak at a public forum, a person must first register with Secretariat in line with the information on this webpage under ‘speaking at meetings and public forums’. Applications to speak at the public forum must be received by 12pm on the day on which the public forum is to be held and must identify the item of business on the agenda of the committee meeting the person wishes to speak on, and whether they wish to speak ‘for’ or ‘against’ the item. The chairperson will determine the order of speakers at the public forum (generally by order of agenda item and registration), as required.
5. If there are no registrations to speak at a public forum at 12pm on the day on which the public forum is to be held, the public forum will not be required and this will be noted on the City of Sydney’s meetings website.
6. Speakers should avoid repeating what previous speakers have said and focus on issues and information that Council may not already know. If there is a large number of people interested in the same item, speakers should try to nominate 3 representatives to speak on their behalf and indicate how many people they are representing.
7. Each speaker will be allowed 3 minutes to address Council. Speakers at public forums must not digress from the item on the agenda of the meeting they have applied to address Council on. If a speaker digresses to irrelevant matters, the chairperson is to direct the speaker not to do so. If a speaker fails to observe a direction from the chairperson, the speaker will not be further heard.
8. A councillor (including the chairperson) may, through the chairperson, ask questions of a speaker following their address at a public forum. Questions put to a speaker must be direct, succinct and without argument. The chairperson may limit the number of questions that can be asked of speakers to ensure as many registered participants as possible can be heard.
9. Speakers should address the public forum and Council with respect and refrain from inappropriate behaviour.
10. The chairperson may require people to leave the public forum if they are disrupting the meeting in line with part 15 of the code of meeting practice.
11. Councillors (including the Lord Mayor) must declare and manage any conflicts of interest they may have in relation to any item of business that is the subject of an address at a public forum, in the same way that they are required to do so at a Council or committee meeting. Council is to maintain a written record of all conflict of interest declarations made at public forums and how the conflict of interest was managed by the councillor who made the declaration.
12. The rules for the conduct of public forums can be varied from time to time at the discretion of Council to ensure the efficient and effective conduct of the public forums. The failure to comply with these guidelines does not constitute a breach of the code of meeting practice or the Local Government Act 1993 and does not invalidate any subsequent decision of Council.
13. Public forums are recorded and webcast live on the City of Sydney meetings webcast site. We livestream meetings in line with clauses 5.35 to 5.55 of the code of meeting practice.

Attending and speaking at meetings and forums

Public forums, meetings of Council and committees, the Central Sydney Planning Committee, Local Planning Panel and Local Pedestrian, Cycling, Traffic Calming and Transport Forum are held in person. The Council Chamber is in Sydney Town Hall, level 1, 483 George Street, Sydney.

If you have accessibility needs, contact Secretariat as soon as possible.

You can also provide written comments about relevant committee/panel items to be provided to committee/panel members. This material must be sent to Secretariat before 10am on the day of the meeting.

Public forums, Council and committee meetings, and meetings of the Central Sydney Planning Committee and the Local Planning Panel, including your speech, are recorded and broadcast live on our website.

If you’re addressing a public forum or meeting, your image, voice and personal information, including name and address, will be recorded. This is publicly broadcast and archived for at least 12 months after the meeting or for the balance of the council’s term, whichever is the longer period.

By attending or speaking at a meeting, you consent to this use of your image, voice and personal information.

You can ‘attend’ public forums, planning, Council and committee meetings by watching online.

Watch a livestream of a public forum, planning, council or committee meeting.

Key links

A group of people in formal and semi-formal attire stand on the steps of a grand building, posing for a photo. One person is dressed in historical costume holding a scroll.

Lord Mayor and councillors

Council meetings

Code of meeting practice document cover page

Policies & proceduresCode of meeting practicePublished 5 February 2026

Guidelines for speakers at meetings and forums

Secretariat

Council Committees

Local Planning Panel

Central Sydney Planning Committee

Local Pedestrian, Cycling, Traffic Calming and Transport Forum

Council and committee meetings

Speaking at meetings and public forums

Local Pedestrian, Cycling, Traffic Calming and Transport Forum

Guidelines for speakers at public forums

Webcast

Consent

Guidelines for City of Sydney public forums

Attending and speaking at meetings and forums

Live streaming

Key links