The Ultimate Sanction
Western Victoria MP Bev McArthur has taken action to ensure the Warrnambool City Council community are properly informed of the facts before they cast their vote in the forthcoming election.
“I believe Warrnambool residents and ratepayers have a right to know what has gone on in the Warrnambool City Council over many years and more recently, prior to heading to the polls on October 24, 2020.
“To that end I asked Local Government Minister, Shaun Leane a question in the Parliament relating to the current turmoil in the Council and I have also written to the Ombudsman and Local Government Inspectorate.
Western Victoria MP Bev McArthur said she was grateful for Minister Leane’s prompt response to her Constituency Question, which was well within the allowable time for Minister’s responses and in contrast to the usual tardy approach of his colleagues, but it was predictable in that it largely deferred to the outcome of current investigations and the ratepayer vote, come the election. (See the full response below)
Mrs McArthur had sought assurances from the Minister that all relevant information from reports being conducted by both the Ombudsman and Local Government Inspectorate would be available for consideration by Warrnambool City Council voters prior to the imminent local government elections.
The Victorian Ombudsman is investigating allegations of credit card irregularities by senior council staff while the issue of the sudden and questionable sacking of the well-regarded CEO by a majority vote of four out of seven Councillors in July is being investigated by the Local Government Inspectorate.
In a written response, Mr Leane said it would not be appropriate “to comment on any ongoing investigation by either independent body or to direct them in any way”. Mrs McArthur said she understands the Minister cannot directly intervene but she was hoping the Minister could impress upon these quasi-government authorities that deliberative outcomes would be helpful before October 24.
The Minister said the timing of the release of the reports was “a matter for the Inspectorate and Ombudsman respectively” and “that the council would not seek to appoint a permanent CEO prior to the council elections in October 2020”. He continued, “I encourage those in Warrnambool who are concerned about the council’s actions in this matter to apply the ultimate sanction at election time”.
Mrs McArthur said this is a strong message to ratepayers to think carefully before casting a vote. However, transparency of process and pertinent information is imperative for anyone to make informed decisions.
Mrs McArthur said as a result of the Minister’s response she has now written to both taxpayer-funded authorities requesting a date for the release of both reports and has said:
“It is critical all the information is available to the people of Warrnambool before casting their votes in October. The Ombudsman’s investigation goes back to December 2019 so COVID is not a verifiable excuse for inaction.”
“It would be a total sham for electors not to have seen the findings of these inquiries into separate and very serious allegations against the council and by councillors who may be seeking re-election and who may or may not have been implicated in misconduct.”
Mrs McArthur said she was now also aware that a case against the Council has been lodged in the Supreme Court by the former CEO, Mr Schneider. The costs to ratepayers of such action could be considerable which adds weight to the need for all investigations involving Councillors to be fully explained and accounted for by investigators.
18 September 2020