By Luke Voogt
The State Government plans to monitor Geelong’s new council are “a massive vote of no confidence” in the city’s residents, according to local MP Simon Ramsay.
“It shows total disrespect for both those who will be elected to the council and to the citizens of Greater Geelong,” the Western Victoria MP said.
Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins announced on Wednesday that the government would appoint two “municipal monitors” to assist Geelong’s “transition” to a new council following the October elections.
“Ultimately the people of Geelong have the power to elect their new council and the monitors will be in place to help ensure the council remains on track,” she said.
But Mr Ramsay said the plans unfairly targeted the “unsuspecting” Geelong residents “who will bravely dare to put (themselves) up for election”.
Ms Hutchins “pre-empting the lawful outcome of elections” by appointing monitors to oversee the conduct of councillors was “bizarre”, he said.
“This threatens to be back-door external administration of the council until 2020.”
But Ms Hutchins said the monitors would help the new council “get on its feet and give ratepayers greater confidence in its future direction”.
“It’s just another way that we’re working to give Geelong the council it needs and deserves.”
She added that monitors would ensure the new council would improve governance processes – recommended by the Commission of Inquiry.
The Commission of Inquiry labelled City Hall “dysfunctional” and noted “an entrenched culture of bullying”.
The Indy reported in January that the panel, led by Susan Halliday, had resolved 55 complaints resulting in four substantiated cases of bullying in an organisation of 2700 people.
The panel had resolved no further cases since, the Indy revealed last week.
Council hopeful and sacked councillor Ron Nelson described the appointment of as a waste of money.
“I’m not sure why she’s assuming the new council needs monitoring,” he said.
“They are pre-empting something that hasn’t happened.”
Mr Nelson said he had not been investigated for bullying and would be happy for the monitors to investigate him.
But he was unsure if the monitors would be “keeping an eye” on councillors or council employees.
“Are they saying the City employees aren’t doing their job?” he said.
“The CEO is there being paid $400,000 to ensure the employees at Geelong council are doing what they’re supposed to do.”
