By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
The state government was rushing and botching its proposed bill to sack Geelong council, according to opposition leader Matthew Guy.
Mr Guy said the bill would not go before the upper house until Thursday so there was no reason to rush it.
He said the bill also contained a new structure for the council – the addition of a directly elected deputy mayor – that would not be instituted until 2020.
“I don’t understand why this bill has to be rushed through with absolute urgency when it won’t apply until 2020,” Mr Guy said.
“More time should be given for everyone to read the (commission of inquiry) report and see the allegations put forward.
“If the strength of the allegations is that the mayor has been dreadful with his language then Kevin Rudd would have been sacked as PM.
“There is not a single council in the state that would on those grounds not be dismissed as well.”
Mr Guy said there appeared to have been some “average behaviour” at Geelong council but state government was rushing and botching “what should be a reform process” for Geelong.
“There is no doubt the Labor party has been trying to demonise Darryn Lyons for 12 months now,” Mr Guy said.
“How does it help when you have a political council, a political mayor and now you’re going to throw in a political deputy mayor into the process as well.
“This predates Darryn Lyons, it predates Keith Fagg and John Mitchell and it is all the more perplexing as to why the government is focussing on Darryn Lyons.”
Mr Guy said the bill – and the council – would remain in limbo until it reached the upper house.
“There are a number of options when it comes to upper house,” Mr Guy said.
“It can be passed, defeated, or go to a committee for a week. All options are live.
“There is uncertainty as to where the Greens might vote so we are in limbo and the government is botching the process before our eyes.”
Liberal upper house member Simon Ramsay said the state government was trying to “bulldoze” the legislation through both houses of parliament, stifling debate and jamming a representation model onto the people of Geelong without any consultation.
“This report’s authors did not recommend a model or a timeframe, as proposed in the legislation. This rushed approach shows total disrespect to the people of Geelong,” Mr Ramsay said.
“Now the question is not so much whether the council should be sacked, but whether a proper process is followed to examine the impacts of the proposed legislation to the communities of Greater Geelong.
“The Andrews Government has outrageously used its numbers in the lower house to gag debate and rush through the legislation, which is being opposed by all parties.
“To avoid debate on this important issue is to deny democracy and good governance – the very characteristics described in the Andrews Government’s accusations about the council.”
