Date: 24 June 2026

Two councillors in Melbourne’s west have been suspended from their duties this week following separate internal arbitration processes — with both findings citing breaches of the Model Councillor Code of Conduct.

Melton: Cr Ashleigh Vandenberg — two months

Melton Councillor Ashleigh Vandenberg has been suspended for two months and ordered to complete social media policy training after an arbiter found she repeatedly breached the Model Councillor Code of Conduct through a series of Facebook posts.

The determination was handed down by Arbiter Diana Price on 16 June and tabled at Melton Council’s meeting on 22 June. The arbitration process began following complaints lodged by eight of Melton’s nine other sitting councillors, relating to Facebook posts made between February and August 2025.

Ms Price found that Cr Vandenberg’s posts repeatedly implied corruption within council without foundation, published misleading material relating to council decisions and infrastructure matters, and unfairly targeted fellow Councillor Phillip Zada and his ward. Ms Price said she considered general and specific deterrence an important consideration in her determination, noting that Cr Vandenberg’s conduct had continued even after arbitration applications were made, and that it was necessary to convey to all local councillors that persistent conduct of this type would result in similar sanction.

The two-month suspension follows a previous arbitration process in 2024 in which Cr Vandenberg was also found to have engaged in misconduct and was suspended for 14 days.

Cr Vandenberg said she disagreed with the findings but respected the legal process. She told the council meeting she had never been afraid to speak on behalf of residents, question decisions, or advocate for transparency and accountability, and that her commitment had always been to the people who elected her. She stated that during her suspension she would continue attending community events, responding to residents, and advocating on issues, and that the only practical difference would be that she would not receive a councillor allowance while doing so.

Cr Vandenberg has also announced she will contest the seat of Sydenham at November’s state election.

Star Weekly Melton & Moorabool and ABC News have reported on the suspension.

Wyndham: Cr Josh Gilligan — two weeks

Wyndham Councillor Josh Gilligan has been suspended for two weeks — his second suspension in four months — after an arbiter made a finding of misconduct against him. The suspension commenced on 24 June, following the tabling of an internal arbitration report at Wyndham Council’s meeting on 23 June.

The arbitration process was initiated by fellow Councillor Robert Szatkowski in response to comments Cr Gilligan made to The Age on 4 February, in which Cr Gilligan declared the council was prepared to go to “DEFCON1” to oppose the potential conversion of defence land at the Point Cook RAAF base to housing. Cr Szatkowski alleged the comments breached the Code of Conduct because council did not have an official position on the matter at the time, and that Cr Gilligan had created a misleading impression that he was expressing a settled council position.

A second allegation concerned the tone of a subsequent email Cr Gilligan sent to Cr Szatkowski, which was alleged to have been dismissive and belittling and to have failed to treat the fellow councillor with dignity, fairness, or respect.

Arbiter Meredith Gibbs found Cr Gilligan had breached the code on both counts. She ruled his media comments had created a clear impression that council had a settled position on the RAAF base matter, and that his email to Cr Szatkowski was disrespectful. Dr Gibbs also ordered Cr Gilligan to apologise to Cr Szatkowski at a council meeting and to undergo training on the role of mayor in making media statements.

The suspension follows a one-month suspension in February, which arose from a finding that Cr Gilligan had called a former colleague a “raging lunatic” in a Facebook post. That earlier suspension also resulted in his removal as mayor.

Star Weekly Wyndham and Wyndham TV have reported on the decision.