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Latest edition Edition date · Tue, 23 June 2026

Suspended, resigned, and elected – and the mental health of elected members – #602

  • A two month suspension for a Melton councillor
  • Three councillor resignations in three days at a WA Council
  • Tasmania’s local government minister slaps down criticism of new sector reforms
  • VLGA board election results are in
  • Bass Coast Shire calls for government help as it loses another major event
  • Deamalgamation moves forward at Snowy Valleys Council
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Report: Bayside Council goes to court over activity centre planning documents

Report: Bayside Council goes to court over activity centre planning documents

Date: 23rd June 2026 Bayside City Council has filed in the Supreme Court seeking to compel Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny to hand over the ministerial briefs and advice that underpinned the state government’s controversial activity centre planning amendment. This is according a report today from The Age. The amendment overrides local planning controls across nine […]

News Victoria
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Kingston Council extends CEO Peter Bean’s contract

Kingston Council extends CEO Peter Bean’s contract

Date: 23rd June 2026 The City of Kingston has extended the contract of Chief Executive Officer Peter Bean for a further four years, with an additional one-year option. Council endorsed the extension at its ordinary meeting on Monday night. Mr Bean has led the organisation since 2021. Mayor Georgina Oxley said he had earned the […]

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23/06/26
New research links councillor mental health to decision-making quality

New research links councillor mental health to decision-making quality

Date: 23rd June 2026 Preliminary findings from the largest study ever conducted into the mental health and wellbeing of Australian politicians suggest the sector faces a governance challenge as much as a personal welfare one, with a significant proportion of elected representatives reporting that poor mental health is affecting their capacity to contribute fully in […]

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Loddon Shire Mayor calls for community-led reset of Murray-Darling Basin Plan

Loddon Shire Mayor calls for community-led reset of Murray-Darling Basin Plan

Date: 22nd June 2026 Loddon Shire Mayor Dan Straub has called for a fundamental shift in how the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is implemented. Speaking to Chris Eddy for an upcoming episode of VLGA Connect, Cr Straub said the current review process has become a political exercise that is ignoring both scientific evidence and the communities […]

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Donation fail, misconduct finding, and an accidental release – #601

Donation fail, misconduct finding, and an accidental release – #601

Victoria’s new local government bill criticised for failing to crack down on political donations · A call for an urgent review of Victoria’s domestic animals act · A rural mayor’s damning assessment of the Murray Darling Basin Plan review process · A Tribunal rules on miscondu...

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