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Latest edition Edition date · Mon, 30 Mar 2026

Court date, CEO reinstated, and an unsettling crime wave – #569

  • Criminal proceedings against a CEO and Councillor hit court in Ballarat
  • Two councillor resignations in one week at a Tasmanian Council
  • The Federal Court orders the reinstatement of a sacked Council CEO in the NT
  • A new Deputy Mayor, and a new CEO announced, for Merri-bek Council
  • Councils monitoring services as fuel prices continue to climb
  • High level meetings to tackle rising crime in a rural NSW community
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Merri-bek finally has a Deputy Mayor

Merri-bek finally has a Deputy Mayor

It took three meetings, and five votes – but Merri-bek City Council finally has a new deputy mayor. The Council has tonight elected former mayor Cr Helen Davidson to the position, after it was vacated due to the one month suspension of Cr Jay Iwasaki. Cr Davidson was the only nomination for the role on […]

Federal Court Orders Reinstatement of Katherine Town Council CEO

Federal Court Orders Reinstatement of Katherine Town Council CEO

Katherine Town Council, in the Northern Territory, has officially acknowledged a Federal Court order requiring the immediate reinstatement of Ms. Ingrid Stonhill as Chief Executive Officer. The order, handed down on March 23, 2026, comes amidst ongoing legal proceedings regarding Ms. Stonhill’s employment. While the specifics of the dispute remain subject to legal privilege, the […]

Merri-Bek Council Appoints New CEO

Merri-Bek Council Appoints New CEO

Merri-bek City Council has officially announced the appointment of Ms. Kate McCaughey as its new Chief Executive Officer. Following an extensive and competitive recruitment process, McCaughey is set to lead the organisation starting June 15, 2026. With over 25 years of experience across the public and private sectors, Ms McCaughey brings a unique blend of […]

A stern rebuke, election fail, and a Solitaire scandal – #568

A stern rebuke, election fail, and a Solitaire scandal – #568

The Palestinian flag is coming down in Darebin · A leadership crisis at the City of Ryde stretches into a second week · Legal advice sought over a councillor’s claims at the City of Perth · Repeated attempts to elect a deputy mayor at Merri-bek Council fail to deliver a result...

Still deadlocked in Merri-bek

Still deadlocked in Merri-bek

Merri-bek City Council has tonight held a further meeting to elect a Deputy Mayor, after two failed attempts 24 hours previously. Nominations for the role were once again submitted for Cr Liz Irvin and Cr Katerine Theodosis. Those same councillors contested the vote the previous evening, each attracting five votes from the ten councillors present. […]