The Fair Work Commission is set to rule on whether Greater Geelong council has properly consulted with around 300 aged care workers regarding the potential cessation of in-home care services, following claims that workers were “blindsided” by the recommendation.
The matter will be heard on Tuesday morning ahead of Thursday’s confidential council meeting, where councillors will vote on the recommendation to stop providing the services, while affected workers and unions are pushing for greater transparency and consultation time. Per Geelong Advertiser
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Hobsons Bay Mayor Daria Kellander has called for the release of a Local Government Inspectorate report into Hepburn Shire Council‘s governance issues, which was leaked on social media but never officially published.
The Mayor argues that the report’s release is crucial for transparency and could have helped prevent current issues in Hobsons Bay, while also seeking clarification on why it wasn’t published in 2022.
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Following a complaint about an illegal rooming house in Ashwood, two operators have been found guilty of multiple violations including operating without registration and overcrowding, resulting in convictions and fines totaling over $11,700.
Monash Council emphasised its commitment to protecting vulnerable residents by ensuring rooming house operators comply with regulations that maintain reasonable living standards and prevent exploitation.
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Liverpool Council has experienced an unprecedented spike in code of conduct complaints reaching 67 since September – a dramatic increase from just 5 complaints in the previous year.
Processing costs to deal with the complaints have been estimated at $346,386.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the situation is largely driven by ongoing tensions between Mayor Ned Mannoun and Councillor Peter Ristevski.
The matter is expected to come under further scrutiny during the upcoming public inquiry hearings scheduled for June.