How can an interstate lot owner get their owners corporation to offer online meeting attendance?

Under Section 43(f) of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW) ('the Act'), the secretary of a strata committee has the authority to convene meetings of both the strata committee and the owners corporation. While the Act does not explicitly outline the specifics, it is implied that this authority includes setting the time, date, location, venue, and methods of voting.

It's widely recognised that increasing participation in strata meetings is beneficial for fostering a strong community within the strata scheme. However, as with many aspects of society, some individuals may resist or fear change.

To address your concern, you can submit a motion to the secretary, which must be included in the agenda of the next meeting (as per Schedule 2, Clause 4 of the Act), requesting that the owners corporation agree to allow attendance at future meetings via video conference.

Additionally, you could propose a motion for the owners corporation to seek legal advice and draft a by-law that permanently requires the option of video conference attendance at meetings. This approach would create a lasting change that is more difficult to reverse.

There is a possibility that the chairperson of the meeting could rule the motion out of order. The chairperson has the authority to do so if the motion conflicts with the Act, the by-laws, or another law or is deemed unenforceable. The chairperson might argue that the motion interferes with the secretary's power under the Act to decide the time, date, location, and voting methods.

However, this outcome is not guaranteed. You may find that the owners corporation is open to embracing this modern approach to meeting participation. If the motion passes, the strata committee and its secretary would be expected to adhere to the decision made by the owners.