Federation Council removes Aboriginal flags from chambers
Contract extension for Bathurst GM David Sherley
Tender overhaul at Greater Shepparton after legal review
Yarra Ranges reiterates opposition to Kangaroo Harvesting inclusion
Merger proposed for Hobart and Glenorchy Councils
Huon Valley trialling weed control alternatives
Bogan Shire targets illegal tobacco and vape sales
$5M lost to scams targeting QLD councils
Last night’s Victorian mayoral election results
NSW: Federation Council has voted narrowly to remove Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags from its chambers, displaying only the Australian flag during official sessions, according to the Border Mail.
Mayor Cheryl Cook says the move ensures “civic neutrality” after strong community feedback, with the Indigenous flags only to be flown during NAIDOC and Reconciliation weeks.
Councillor David Harrison was one of four councillors to oppose the change, calling it “not a very nice message” and noting the 30,000-year Indigenous history in the area.
The council is now seeking public opinion on the draft protocols.
NSW: David Sherley will continue as Bathurst Regional Council’s general manager after securing an 18-month contract extension.
The Western Advocate reported that the council voted five to four in favour of reappointing Mr Sherley, who has held the position for 20 years.
Mayor Robert Taylor was among the five voting in favour of the extension.
The extension means he will remain in the role until at least mid-January 2028.
VIC: Greater Shepparton City Council has overhauled its tender processes following a legal review into a controversial engineering contract.
The Shepparton News reported that the multimillion-dollar contract was awarded to Pamecs Pty Ltd, a company formed just two months earlier by a former council employee with limited experience.
While the review found no wrongdoing in the procurement process, councillors will now be informed of tenderers’ names at internal briefings to prevent similar concerns.
The contract, believed to be worth over $2.4 million, remains valid with council citing projected service efficiencies and cost savings.
VIC: Yarra Ranges Shire Council has again written to the Victorian government expressing disappointment that the region remains part of the Commercial Kangaroo Harvesting Program.
The inclusion is despite community opposition and concerns about the program’s humanity and sustainability.
The council argues that alternative wildlife management strategies should be explored, noting that the Mornington Peninsula was successfully excluded from the program in 2021 following a similar community backlash.
Mayor Richard Higgins said resources would be better spent on reducing wildlife road toll rather than continuing kangaroo harvesting in the only metropolitan area included in the program.
TAS: A Hobart councillor is proposing merging the Hobart and Glenorchy councils into a new “City of Clark” to cut bureaucracy and improve efficiency, according to a report today from The Mercury.
Alderman Marti Zucco argues Tasmania’s 29-council system is outdated and wasteful, with too many highly-paid general managers.
The motion to be put forward at Monday’s Hobart Council meeting will have opposition from Councillor Louise Bloomfield who says the two councils have different priorities and characteristics.
Glenorchy Mayor Sue Hickey supports starting conversations about amalgamation to remove barriers to efficiency.
The state government has ruled out forced mergers but accepted recommendations to explore voluntary amalgamations.
TAS: Huon Valley Council is trialling environmentally friendly weed control methods in Cygnet and Franklin this summer, responding to community concerns about synthetic herbicide use on residential verges.
The trials will test organic herbicides, high-pressure water treatments, and innovative paving materials as alternatives to glyphosate-based methods currently used to maintain public footpaths and roadside areas.
Council will evaluate the cost, effectiveness, and environmental impact of these new approaches to help inform future vegetation management decisions across the region.
NSW: Bogan Shire Council and NSW Police Force have conducted a major enforcement operation in Nyngan targeting illegal tobacco and vape sales at a Pangee Street premises.
Following a vehicle intercept that uncovered prohibited tobacco and nicotine vapes, authorities issued an Emergency Stop Use Order and sealed the premises, with prosecution action under review for serious offences.
The Council says it will continue working with NSW Police and NSW Health to eliminate illegal tobacco and vape trading.
QLD: ABC News reports on how two Queensland councils have lost over $5 million combined to AI-enhanced scams targeting their financial systems.
Gold Coast City Council was hit first in November 2023, losing $2.78 million when fraudsters successfully changed a legitimate supplier’s bank details through phone calls and written requests.
Almost a year later, Noosa Council lost $2.3 million in December 2024 using deepfake technology to impersonate council personalities, with only $400,000 recovered.
Despite the Queensland Audit Office issuing recommendations to all councils in March 2024 after the Gold Coast incident, Noosa Mayor Frank Wilkie says he was never informed of the earlier scam or the security findings.
Cybersecurity experts warn these AI-powered scams exploit human trust and are difficult to defend against, with most stolen funds never recovered.
VIC: Three Victorian Councils held their mayoral elections last night, all resulting in first time mayors taking office.
At Darebin, Cr Emily Dimitriadis has taken on the mayoralty, while at Knox after multiple attempts to achieve an absolute majority and several adjournments, Cr Paige Kennett was elected mayor.
East Gippsland Shire has elected Cr Jodie Ashworth as mayor.
The full list of Victorian council mayoral election results so far is available here.