By Luke Voogt
A year-long investigation has confirmed four bullying incidents at City of Greater Geelong in “at least a decade”.
“Several” staff were sacked or resigned over the incidents, City Hall confirmed to the Indy this week.
Former mayor Darryn Lyons said the findings were “absolute b……t” justification for sacking Geelong’s council in April 2016, given the review covered the City’s 20-year history.
“It beggars belief, this,” Mr Lyons said.
“It should have never resulted in the sacking.
“Four cases over 20 years to me seems quite bizarre.”
A City Hall spokesperson confirmed the bullying incidents “date back at least a decade”.
City Hall released a statement earlier this week saying the review had resolved 38 cases and was still investigating seven complaints.
But following Indy inquiries the City confirmed that “four (of the 38) resulted in substantiated bullying and harassment”.
“Several“ staff left following related disciplinary actions, the City further clarified.
The City declined to put a precise number how many staff were sacked or resigned over the four confirmed incidents but ‘several’ is generally defined as “more than two but not many”.
The City has around 2700 staff.
Mr Lyons said the four bullying incidents did not involve councillors.
“People (councillors) raised their voice behind closed doors but at the end of their day that’s passion about their beliefs and what’s right for the city.”
But Mr Lyons said he received two bullying complaints about councillors from outside the administration.
“I had women on the other end of the phone crying.
“They were referred to the local government watchdog at the time. Appallingly – in my opinion – nothing was done.”
Melbourne HR specialist David Simpson described any amount of bullying as unacceptable.
But the four confirmed incidents in Geelong were “not high if they occured over a decade”, Mr Simpson said.
“Bullying is quite a serious charge in the workplace (but) you would find other councils with similar numbers and facing similar cultural issues.”
The State Government sacked Geelong’s council in April, citing an alleged “culture of bullying” described in an independent 2015 report on City Hall’s workplace culture.
The ongoing ratepayer-funded investigation continues to pour over claims in the Halliday report, including the seven bullying complaints yet to be verified.
City Hall declined to disclose the cost of the investigation so far but the spokesperson described it “as a very necessary investment”.
“Delicate processes such as these are very time-consuming and require expert resourcing,” the spokesperson said.
The review identified a further 19 issues that could not “be defined as bullying or harassment”.
