Trailer of trouble

By Melissa Grant
RATEPAYERS Victoria president Jack Davis is calling for an investigation after it was revealed that newly-elected councillor George Blenkhorn borrowed a trailer from a developer during his election campaign.
Mr Davis said it was wrong for a prospective civic leader to take any kind of gift from a developer.
“My views are that you should not receive, take or entice any contribution, particularly from a developer, particularly during an election,” he said. “I ask the CEO (Garry McQuillan) to conduct an immediate investigation.”
Mr McQuillan said the matter of an investigation would be an issue for the Local Government Department, while Cr Blenkhorn did not comment on Mr Davis’s call for an investigation.
Cr Blenkhorn’s declaration document, seen by the Gazette when released on Friday, shows that Pakenham lawyer Edwin Hume tipped in $5000 to Cr Blenkhorn’s election campaign, while Parklea loaned him a trailer – a venture that PakHire valued at $443.
The Local Government Act decrees that a councillor who receives gifts of $200 or more must abstain from voting on issues concerning their supporter for the following five years.
However, the Opposition has publicly expressed concern about conflict of interest provisions, saying the State Government has made them more complex.
Cr Blenkhorn has conceded he may have an indirect conflict of interest in matters relating to Parklea, a company behind several developments in Cardinia, including the Heritage Springs estate.
Parklea principal Andrew Facey said his contribution to Mr Blenkhorn’s campaign was restricted to use of the trailer.
“I don’t regard it as a gift,” he told the Gazette. “I wasn’t using it. Anyone could have borrowed it if they asked for it.”
Former mayor Bill Ronald has questioned how Cr Blenkhorn funded his campaign, saying he believed it would have cost between $20,000 and $25,000.
Cr Blenkhorn has said he funded some of the campaign himself, but chose not to disclose how much his campaign cost.
Current councillor Collin Ross said the uncertainties over campaign funding issues needed to be resolved quickly, before people started to question the council’s transparency.
“The position that we as a council are now getting put in, could make it terribly difficult to make it look like we’re not compromised,” he said.
Pakenham lawyer Edwin Hume, who ran for council in the 2003 election, publicly authorised and contributed $5000 to Cr Blenkhorn’s campaign. Mr Hume, a former Cardinia Shire Councillor, also handed over $1177 to Cr Blenkhorn’s running mate Kate Hands.
Ms Hands also declared a $4000 donation from Andrew McNabb for newspaper advertising, Greens-party endorsed candidates Robert Campbell and Linda Hamilton declared donations of $1090 and $2746 respectively from Greens branches, while Cr Brett Owen declared $500 in discounted signage.
Bunyip Ward candidate Gloria O’Connor declared $650 in donations. When questioned at the time about campaign financing, Cr Blenkhorn told the Gazette: “Edwin Hume approached me to stand for council … he said a group of businesspeople would support my campaign. I specifically said I didn’t want to know names. Since then, I have become aware of two businesspeople.”
Cardinia Ratepayers and Residents’ Association president Gloria O’Connor said Cr Blenkhorn’s previous comments (Gazette, 19 November) seemed naive.
“I thought everybody realised you would compromise yourself if you took assistance of any kind from those type of people (developers),” she said.
“If he didn’t think of it before the election he will have to think about it now. The council is elected; he’s there, now he becomes very restricted in how he can vote.”
Cr Blenkhorn said conflict of interest provisions in the Local Government Act weren’t entirely clear and he would seek advice when necessary.