ANDREW GILES MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR CITIES AND URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE
SHADOW MINISTER ASSISTING FOR IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP
MEMBER FOR SCULLIN
ROB MITCHELL MP
MEMBER FOR MCEWEN
DISMISSAL OF WHITTLESEA CITY COUNCIL
The Andrews Labor Government yesterday introduced a Bill to dismiss Whittlesea City Council following a report from municipal monitor Yehudi Blacher that found serious governance failures at the council.
The report highlighted:
- Failure to provide stability in the Council’s senior leadership with five CEO’s in five years and over $500,000 spent on legal disputes.
- Behaviours have not been consistent with the Councillor Code of Conduct and have caused significant harm to the council’s administration and reputation.
Many serious matters remain to be resolved. There are currently over twenty active investigations.
To dismiss the Council is the right decision. Whittlesea residents deserve so better than the recent dysfunction, and it is clear from the report that this is the only way to ensure this.We are keen to help rebuild confidence in local government and the vital services it delivers. Our thoughts are with the hardworking council staff, who’ve had to endure so much.
We also recognise the efforts of several councillors who put community first, selflessly, in a very difficult environment.