By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
A wave of anger swept Geelong on Tuesday morning as ratepayers woke to find their council would be sacked by the Andrews government for four years.
Feedback on social media ran high as residents slammed what many saw as high-handed political tactics from the Labor state government against liberal leaning mayor Darryn Lyons.
In another selective leak, local government minister Natalie Hutchins said the council had become so dysfunctional there was no other choice than to sack all councillors.
Ms Hutchins said she would move a bill in state parliament on Tuesday to dismiss council for “failure to provide good government”.
A report by the government commission of inquiry would also be tabled.
A statement from Ms Hutchins’ office reportedly said the grounds for dismissal included:
· Failure to provide good government, with the council so dysfunctional it was unable to work together in the city’s best interests;
· Failure to develop a long-term strategic plan for the city;
· Failure to respond properly to the Halliday report.
Parliament would be asked to dismiss the council until the October 2020 elections and an administrator appointed for four-and-a-half years.
“It is not a decision that has been taken lightly,” Ms Hutchins reportedly said.
“The people of Geelong deserve better. The city is too important for it to be run by a dysfunctional council that is simply unable to work together.”
But the reaction on social media ran 90 per cent against the state government move.
Residents backed Mayor Darryn Lyons and decried the lack of democratic process in the sacking.
They also questioned why Geelong voters would be disenfranchised for four years and why no council officers were being removed.
Kayla Lee said: “I think that he has done amazing things for Geelong and truly wants the best from this town. Like him or hate him, he loves Geelong.”
Melissa Griffiths said the council had been dysfunctional way before (Cr) Lyons was elected as mayor.
“They just don’t like the way he takes charge. You may whinge at the amount of money that is spent but this town looks 100 per cent better than any previous council has given us.”
Bruce Julian slammed: “Daniel Shamdrews and the ALP, or perhaps we could call them the Communist Party” and accused them a political interference.
“How about you keep your grubby mitts off Geelong and try achieving something positive for a change. “The people elected this council and, rightly or wrongly, the people should have an opportunity to elect again at THIS year’s council election if the situation is so dire.”
Alfonso Zampogna said Geelong’s Mayor, whether people like him or not, had done more than any other mayor for the city and region.
“Now don’t go acting like bullying does not exist in other workplaces. Not fair, let him stay and the people choose.”
Janine Frith pondered: “Hmmmmm…. ‘failure to provide good government’… doesn’t that apply to most politicians?”
Maria Adema bemoaned the unfairness of the move.
“Our mayor was chosen by the people and should not be allowed to be sacked. He put Geelong on the map. It is a pleasure to show friends around in Geelong, it has become a beautiful place, a town to be proud of; sad and annoyed.”
But Kimberley Wood was happy to see the back of the council.
“Good riddance to bad rubbish – except for the mayor. The mayor has done so much hard work trying to restore Geelong to its former glory.
“He is the only one who does not deserve this. He walked into an environment which had already been hostile for more than 20 years and he got caught up in it all. The rest of the councillors, though, should have been sacked years ago.”
Ken Hirst hoped the full details of the report would be made available to the people of Geelong and that all names were made public.
“Maybe if the councillors were not dysfunctional the mayor may have been more effective.
“I can’t help feel that he is being made a scapegoat. He is the best thing that has happened to this city in living memory.
“Time will tell if the government appointed administrators can take this city forward. We can’t afford to lose the momentum that Darryn Lyons has begun.”
Trav Zimmer said the move was a “good reason to vote against the Daniel Andrews government in the next election.
Dean John said Geelong had descended into becoming a circus.
Sarah Lee said: “I guess now Geelong can go back to being boring and conformist grey like all the other regional cities.”
A petition calling on state government to reinstate Cr Lyons as mayor on change.org gathered 58 signatories within an hour of being set up.
