Local Government Minister Melissa Horne says an “extraordinary sequence of events” led to the decision to sack Moira Shire Council – a decision she says the government did not take lightly.
The minister’s comments have been reported today by the ABC.
The President of Victoria’s peak body for councils, the MAV, Cr David Clark, said on ABC Radio that the government intervention was overdue.
He spoke of the importance of acting early to address issues, and that that had not occurred in the case of Moira Shire.
The MAV has pledged to support the work of administrators to be appointed to Moira Shire Council and to work to return a democratically elected council as soon as practical.
It said the role of the administrator will be to ensure that Moira Shire is rebuilt so that it can fully serve its community’s needs.
The Australian Services Union, which represents some of the sector’s workers, has told the Age that there should be a clear-out of senior managers implicated in the inquiry.
ASU deputy branch secretary Tash Wark said she expected more members to come forward to share their experiences now that the issues at the council have been exposed.
There is no word yet on the appointment of an interim Administrator who will be expected to take the reins at Moira for the first three months of an expected five and half years of administration for the council.
Source: ABC; Municipal Association of Victoria; The Age