On a new episode of the Roundup out today, a hearing into alleged voter fraud wraps up; the auditor general finds an increase in errors in council financial reports; a former councillors’ emails reveal at Christian crusade; the curious case of the missing councillor; a reprieve for ousted South Australian councillors; a council workplace on notice over councillor behaviour; and much more.
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Transcript (with story links):
Hi, this is Chris Eddy, with the latest from the Local Government News Roundup.
On the podcast today – a hearing into alleged voter fraud wraps up; the auditor general finds an increase in errors in council financial reports; a former councillors’ emails reveal at Christian crusade; the curious case of the missing councillor; a reprieve for ousted South Australian councillors; a council workplace on notice over councillor behaviour; and much more ahead on the Local Government News Roundup.
The VEC has told a hearing into allegations of voter fraud at the 2020 Moreland council elections that former councillor Milal El-Halabi was unduly elected through fraudulent votes.
In its final submission to VCAT, the VEC said the election results should not be thrown out as the former councillor had since been replaced.
The Age reports that expert evidence was submitted estimating 300 fraudulent ballots were probably included in the count.
It is open to the tribunal to void the result and force a new election. The judge, Michael McNamara, has reserved his decision.
Victoria’s auditor general’s office has released a report on the outcomes from the latest round of audits of councils and local government agencies, and noted an increased number of errors in council financial reports.
At the end of January, one council’s financial report and performance statement was still in progress, along with 7 agencies’ financial reports.
10 councils did not finalise their reports by 31st October, which meant their annual report could not be presented at a council meeting by the legislated date. A further 9 did not have audit opinions finalised in time.
VAGO says the reasons for timelines not being met included a nationwide shortage of finance and accounting professionals, and of auditors, affecting the timing of the execution of audits.
Staff turnover at councils was also said to be a factor.
The VAGO report includes details of an increased number of errors in council financial reports.
A sex workers’ rights organisation has obtained hundreds of emails of former Melton City Councillor Moira Deeming, revealing what are described as extreme views and a Christian crusade against sex workers and the transgender community.
The emails were released by the Council under FOI to Sex Work Law Reform Victoria, which has called for the new parliamentarian to be dumped by the Victorian Liberal Party.
They are said to show that while a councillor at Melton, Ms Deeming was intent on changing abortion laws, opposing LGBTIQ rights and sex workers’ rights, as well as attacking the transgender rights movement.’ They also demonstrate a belief that she won Liberal Party preselection as an act of divine intervention.
In light of the release of the emails, and following Ms Deeming’s maiden speech to Parliament this week, Liberal Party leader John Pesutto has declined to condemn her views, while saying he does not agree with them.
A unique campaign has been launched by Warrnambool City Council encouraging retired people to re-engage with the workforce.
The “Unretire the ‘Bool” campaign is a response to labour market shortages, and Mayor Debbie Arnott said the council was keen to see if local employers can tap into a pool of retired people with invaluable expertise and skills.
The program will start with a free session on 7th March, with information available to address any concerns people might have about the implications of returning to the workforce.
The City of Casey has adopted a Climate Action Plan this week, setting out how it will achieve net zero corporate emissions by 2030 or sooner.
The plan also supports the community to achieve a regional target of net zero emissions by 2040.
The council says it heard from more than 10,000 community members in developing the plan, which has actions grouped around six broad themes.
Briefly:
The third round of funding for councils to develop new local recycling projects has opened this week.
$2M will be put towards increasing recycling capacity and to divert tonnes of waste from landfill. Previous rounds have seen $3.8M go towards over 50 projects around the state, estimated to have prevented more than 55,000 tonnes of waste going to landfill.
Applications are open to councils and alpine resorts.
A new Ballarat region tourism partnership is taking shape, with Ballarat City Council this week voting to support the formation of a grouping of local councils and the tourism industry.
The partnership will be a whole-of-region body supporting visitation to Ballarat and neighbouring regions.
The partnership has been co-designed with five local councils, and with state government support.
Latrobe City Council has opened its 25th kindergarten this week.
The new facility at Morwell Park is situated adjacent to Morwell Park Primary School, and will offer three year old and four year old kindergarten programs.
Across its 25 kindergarten centres, Latrobe will this year cater to over 1150 children in the three year and four year old programs.
And Hume City Council is running a competition to name its new waste mascot. The council says unique, creative and pun-filled suggestions are welcome.
The winning name will be announced on 5th March, with the person submitting it to receive a $250 gift card. More here.
Now for more local government news from around Australia.
The South Australian mayors and councillors who lost their positions for failing to lodge campaign returns will get a last minute reprieve.
Local Government minister Geoff Brock to allow an extra 10 days for the submission of the returns.
The legislation is understood to also ensure any council decisions made during the period of their ineligibility would not be invalid.
Minister Brock said the bill does not in any way excuse the 45 members who failed to lodge their returns, but removes the burden that communities would otherwise be paying to fix.
The cost to councils to hold by-elections to replace the councillors was estimated to run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The amendment Bill is expected to be passed in the lower house this week.
Parramatta City Council had been formally warned for failing to provide a psychologically safe workplace, following complaints about councillor behaviour, including yelling, ridicule and intimidation.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that SafeWork NSW has issued an improvement notice which is on display outside the council chamber. .
It requires councillor behaviour towards each other and staff to be improved to avoid potential prosecution and the imposition of penalties.
It’s understood the behaviour at the heart of the complaints has largely occurred at closed workshops and briefings.
It is alleged the behaviour is not being appropriately addressed. Acting chief executive Bryan Hynes said the council is working closely with SafeWork NSW on the matter.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald, 23 Feb 2023, p.11
A search for a NSW councillor and two other Liberal party members has continued this week, after two private firms were engaged to deliver summons to appear before an inquiry into impropriety at Hills Shire Council.
As reported by the ABC and others, the inquiry is probing links between the council, property developers and the Liberal Party.
The individuals sought include Virginia Ellis, a councillor at Hills Shire who did not attend the council’s latest meeting; her son, Christian; and Jean-Claude Perrottet, brother of NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet.
According to the ABC, one server has spent more than 17 hours in the Deniliquin area looking for Cr Ellis and her son.
The parliamentary inquiry has continued this week.
A petition to change the name of Macquarie Street in Hobart has not been supported by the city council.
The petition called for a change to Kunanyi Street or something else more appropriate, due to the connection of the current name to the former NSW governor who was purported to be responsible for a large number of deaths of Aboriginal people.
The council determined the name change could not be pursued as it does not comply with state naming guidelines.
It has encouraged the petitioners to continue investigation on the subject and to potentially apply for a Creative Hobart grant.
Meanwhile, also at this week’s meeting, the council voted to continue hire and ride e-scooter services in Hobart.
Future e-scooter license fees will be invested into shared on-street parking stations and transit lanes for bicycles, e-bikes and e-scooters.
Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds will seek state government support for the urgent construction of suitable lanes and better enforcement.
The council has published details about its e-scooter trial evaluation on its website. More here.
The Property Council of Australia wants the NSW state government to ‘red-card’ councils that fail to meet housing delivery targets.
Acting chief executive Adina Cirson says every council needs to pull its weight, and under performing councils should be identified and subject to step-in options to be exercised by the state.
news.com.au has reported the comments, which follow the release of a report warning of a sharp drop in home building this year. The article does not include a response from the local government sector.
A Queensland state government draft plan for the Wide Bay Burnett region has been criticised by Fraser Coast Regional Council.
The council says the plan does not properly address the region’s challenges, or unlock new opportunities, and requires more collaboration with councils.
The 25 year draft plan has come from a review process that started 4 years ago, led by the department of state development, infrastructure, local govt and planning.
It is currently out for feedback until 24 February.
The Western Australian government has announced the next tranche of planning reforms.
The reforms will include a change to the composition and operation of the Western Australian Planning Commission; and establish a permanent pathway for assessment of development proposals of state and regional significance.
Premier Mark McGowan said the changes would reduce red tape and make development processes more effective and efficient.
A new bill will be introduced to the Parliament later this year.
The reforms have not been welcomed by the local government sector.
WALGA President Karen Chappel told the ABC that the changes take away local decision-making, and are not fair to communities.
The Deputy Mayor of the City of Nedlands described the reforms as damaging for locals, and would make councils almost irrelevant.
Still in WA, where a Local Government Amendment Bill has been introduced to Parliament this week, signalling what Minister John Carey calls the most extensive local government reforms in more than 25 years.
The first tranche includes the introduction of optional preferential voting, public election of Mayors or Presidents of larger councils and the abolition of wards for smaller councils.
WALGA President Karen Chappell said, “Overall, the… reform package will modernise the Local Government sector and reduce unnecessary red tape, which is ultimately beneficial for ratepayers in all communities.”
However, some regional councils are concerned that the reforms will reduce rural representation due to the removal of wards. Boyup Brook Shire President Richard Walker told the ABC there was a concern that less rural and mainly town people would end up on council, and that residents don’t see any need for the change.
A Whitsunday councillor has been ordered to make a public acknowledgment of misconduct and contribute to investigation costs after claims of inappropriate conduct were substantiated.
According to the ABC, Cr Jan Clifford was the subject of three complaints, two of which related to public comments alleging nepotism in the appointment of a council staff member.
The council received the outcome of an external investigation, for which it paid $20,000, but had to make the final decision. With Cr Clifford absent from the discussions, the council resolved that there had been inappropriate conduct in relation to two of the three claims.
She will be required to make a public admission of her conduct, and contribute $500 to the investigation costs.
A separate allegation against councillor Mike Brunker was covered by the investigation and the Council has yet to consider the outcome.
In other Whitsunday news, the council’s CEO Rod Ferguson retires this week after three years leading the organisation, and over 48 years in the Queensland local government sector.
Career highlights for Rod have included leading the amalgamation of Southern Downs Regional Council in 2008, and the de-amalgamation of Mareeba Shire Council in 2013.
Warren Bunker takes over as the council’s new CEO next month.
Briefly:
WA’s Town of Cambridge has concluded its seven month search for a new CEO, confirming that Gary Tuffin has been appointed to the position this week.
Mr Tuffin will move from the CEO role at East Fremantle to take up the position at Cambridge in May. He was previously the CEO at three other regional Western Australian councils.
The federal government has confirmed the re-establishment of the Australian Council of Local Government- an annual forum for leaders of local government and the Commonwealth to directly discuss issues impacting the sector.
Federal Ministers Catherine King and Kristy McBain made a joint announcement with ALGA President Linda Scott this week, confirming that the forum will take place on 16th June in Canberra after the National General Assembly.
Northern Beaches Council has become the first council and first government agency in NSW to sign up for satellite broadband through the Starlink system.
The system, engineered by SpaceX, provides high speed connectivity from low earth orbit satellites – providing a reliable service that won’t be impacted by floods and fires.
A partners in government agreement between Queensland’s 77 councils and the state government has been renewed, with a signing this week at Parliament House.
The Premier and Deputy Premier joined the LGAQ President and CEO to sign the three year agreement which details key principles underlying the relationship between the two levels of government, and establishes the foundation for effective negotiation and engagement.
The agreement has now been in place for more than a decade. More here.
Now for today’s International Spotlight:
A UK council has amassed property investment debts of almost 2B pounds and is reported to be close to effective bankruptcy.
Woking Borough Council in Surrey has signalled it is close to being unable to meet its financial obligations, which may force central government to intervene to keep local services going.
According to the Guardian, the council is one of several in the country with big debt problems. It is currently subject to a government review of its finances, with at least three other councils currently under some form of government intervention or oversight.
The council’s borrowing commitments relate to investments including a shopping centre, residential towers and a Hilton hotel.
The Woking news comes following revelations that Liverpool City Council will likely be forced to write off nearly 230M pounds in outstanding debt, mainly due to failed collection of council tax and business rates.
The BBC reports that the debt situation was revealed in a finance report as the council works to save nearly 50M pounds in budget deliberations.
The report described some of the debt as ‘extremely old’ and that regular review of bad debts had not been done for some time.
To New Zealand, where councillors at Invercargill City Council have voted this week to replace its chief executive, Clare Hadley, ahead of her contract term expiring next month.
The Council has appointed its group manager of finance and assurance, MIchael Day to the position, in what the Mayor Nobby Clark said was a “tough decision.”
Mr Day came to Invercargill in 2020 from Christchurch, where he spent 14 years in senior roles.
And in more senior executive news from NZ, Auckland Council’s chief executive has resigned this week.
Jim Stabback is leaving midway through a five year contract amid reported tension between him and the city’s new mayor; and reports of councillor dissatisfaction with Mr Stabback’s leadership through recent weather events.
The New Zealand Herald report also suggests that the new mayor’s office may have left the chief executive out of the loop on certain decisions.
Mr Stabback is expected to stay on for six months to allow for an appropriate transition to new leadership.
And finally to the city of Victorville in California, where a councilwoman was arrested and removed from council chambers during a council meeting this week. And it’s not the first time.
The VIctorville Daily Press has the story of how Councilwoman Blanca Gomez was booked on suspicion of disturbing a public meeting and interfering with a lawful business after approaching the podium to speak as a member of the public about how other council members were conspiring against her.
She was taken to a detention center where she remained overnight.
Councilwoman Gomez was arrested on at least two occasions previously, including last year when she was charged in relation to disturbing a public meeting and other misdemeanours.
That’s the latest from the Roundup for the 24th February 2023.
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I’ll be back soon with more of the latest local government news.. Until then, thanks for listening, and bye for now.