By NOEL MURPHY
CITY HALL has bullied and sacked staff in a systematic culture going all the way to the highest levels of Geelong local government, say Liberal MP Andrew Katos and union boss Richard Duffy.
The political odd couple agreed workplace bullying at City of Greater Geelong was entrenched and doubted it would change after an in-house investigation.
“It’s fundamental to any inquiry or investigation that all involved parties must be at arm’s length from the investigation, no matter what the organisation,” said Mr Katos, South Barwon’s MP and a former Geelong councillor.
“If someone’s conflicted – they might work in a department or be a general manager in that department – how on Earth can they conduct the investigation?
“I wouldn’t mind seeing some terms of reference, who’s doing what, what powers they have — these need to be brought out into the open.”
Mr Duffy, Australian Services Union assistant secretary, “agreed 100 per cent” on the need for an independent, transparent inquiry.
“The council hasn’t even done us the courtesy to let us know there’s an inquiry or how it will be conducted or who’ll conduct it.
“It’s just another example of the council trying to do things secretly. They know they have problems with bullying and they’re trying to brush it under carpet, saying there’s nothing to see here when we all know there is.
“Geelong has already done a number of inquiries into bullying and this is just another secretive inquiry. They’re trying to cover it up and not deal with the situation.
“This will be inquiry number four and if it doesn’t get up there’ll be another, but what’s needed is a fully independent inquiry. That’s the only way to come up with something.”
Mr Duffy said bullying was so embedded at Geelong it must “go right to the top”.
“We’ve had our members bullied and then sacked after complaining.
“That kind of systematic bullying can’t go on without being accepted by senior management. They have the power to fix it but they won’t.”
Mr Katos suggested bullying allegations involving council were primarily against Labor-leaning councillors, so the Labor State Government could not be trusted to prosecute its own.
Council staff last week told the Independent they were afraid to speak out about bullying to the in-house inquiry for fear of further recriminations.
Workers said they did not believe their complaints would remain confidential, citing earlier incidents of payback.
