By Luke Voogt
The results of 12 months of investigations have justified the sacking of Geelong’s council last year, according to the State Government.
Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins backed the findings, which last week’s Indy revealed as “four incidents of substantiated bullying and harassment” dating back “at least a decade”.
The Government sacked the council in April, citing bullying complaints.
This week Ms Hutchins declined to say whether the investigations had substantiated any claims against former councillors.
The Government was committed to the investigation, Ms Hutchins said.
“The people of Geelong deserve a first-class council that puts their needs first.”
Ms Hutchins also brushed off comments from Melbourne HR specialist David Simpson in last week’s Indy that the number of substantiated incidents at City Hall was “not high” for councils given the timeframe.
“The Government is not aware of another council in Victoria currently facing the issues Geelong faced,” Ms Hutchins said.
“But if we were we would make appropriate enquiries into the matter.”
Shadow local government minister David Davis said any bullying incidents at City Hall went back further than the sacked council.
“Long-term cultural problems at Geelong were overlooked for years in an effort to protect Labor councillors”.
Mr Davis said the Andrews Government “selectively focused” on Liberal-aligned Mr Lyons because of his “political stripe”.
“Things at Geelong council were far from perfect but it appears Labor sought to use this politically.”
Mr Davis rejected Mr Lyons’ accusation that the state opposition “lacked the backbone” to properly scrutinise the council’s sacking.
“The opposition as legislators made decisions on the best information available in the interests of Geelong,” Mr Davis said.
Mr Davis declined to say whether the investigation results so far justified the sacking.
But the sacking “may well have not been required” if previous state governments had addressed council’s “cultural problems” earlier, he said.
