By Mandy Oakham
Former Geelong mayor Darryn Lyons has slammed a threat to reopen investigations into sacked councillors’ alleged bullying as an “absolute disgrace”.
State MP Christine Couzens warned in last week’s Indy that any former councillors with unresolved bullying allegations against them would go under investigation if they returned to council at October’s elections.
“It is an absolute disgrace to threaten good councillors in this way,” Mr Lyons said in response on Thursday.
“This is a disgusting, not-so-veiled threat to stop good people standing for election.
“I know there are some fantastic people who are going to put up their hands and who want to do good things for Geelong and they should not have to deal with this rubbish.
“It’s an horrendous threat and the people of Geelong rightly feel betrayed by this whole sham of a process.”
The Andrews Government sacked the 13-member council last year amid allegations of a bullying culture at City Hall.
The Indy reported earlier this year that a panel investigation had confirmed four bullying incidents, with the consequent departure of “several” staff from City Hall.
Mr Lyons said the investigations simply revealed “robust, political behaviour” but “destroyed” Geelong in the process.
He was still considering whether to stand for re-election as a councillor.
“Every day I get people from every age, ever demographic, every political persuasion including die-hard Labor people, who come up to me and say please stand again,” Mr Lyons said.
“I’m exhausted and I have so much work on my plate at the moment but I’m about to go on a long holiday and I still think about the possibility of standing again every day.”
Mr Lyons defended his performance as mayor.
“I did what I could for Geelong. I was JFK and they had to assassinate me.”
Another sacked councillor, John Irvine, said any threat of investigation would fail to deter him from standing again.
“I was certainly aware of totally unacceptable behaviours by some people in the past and I was prepared to talk about it publicly and in the media.
“I stood up in council and challenged those behaviours.”
Mr Irvine said he supplied details of bullying he had witnessed to a panel investigating the allegations.
“I welcomed the investigation and would’ve thought that the people identified would’ve been removed and then the rest of us, who were elected councillors trying to do the right thing by people, could have just carried on with our work.
“I sleep with a clear conscience and I am definitely standing again and I am not fearful of any future investigations.
“I was disappointed with the blanket decision to sack all councillors and I still have to believe people go into politics to do the right thing.”
