Council clean-up

By Belinda Nolan
THE Victorian Government has ordered councillors who work for MPs to stand down from either role within months, in a bid to curb corruption following the Ombudsman’s startling revelations into Brimbank City Council.
In a secret meeting with Local Government Minister Richard Wynne, Attorney-General Rob Hulls and Industrial Relations Minister Martin Pakula, Victorian councillors were told they could not continue to serve two masters and would have to resign from one position this year.
Legislation is being drafted that would ban electorate officers and ministerial and parliamentary advisers from standing as councillors, forcing current councillors to make a speedy decision about their future.
In Casey, the ruling would force Edrington Ward Councillor Daniel Mulino and Mayfield ward Councillor Kevin Bradford to step down from either their role on council or resign from their employment at ALP offices.
The move is one of several damage control measures implemented by the Brumby Government in the wake of the Brimbank scandal, which revealed several high-profile MPs had inappropriately interfered in council affairs.
Although recommended by the Ombudsman, the plan faces a backlash from councillors who say they are being unfairly targeted for the sins of a single rogue council.
The Community and Public Sector Union last week confirmed it was taking action of behalf of disgruntled councillors, claiming the changes were unconstitutional.
CPSU spokesman Julian Kennelly said the union would be fighting the new laws in court.
“We’re arguing that it’s unconstitutional and we’re going to be fighting this all the way,” he said.
“It’s basically smearing every councillor who worked for a Member of Parliament and we think that’s completely unfair.”
The Gazette believes some councillors are considering seeking compensation for lost income if forced to resign their positions.
A State Government spokesman last week confirmed councillors had been told to make a choice, with the government planning to introduce the legislation in Parliament this year.
“The Brumby Government has accepted all of the recommendations of the Ombudsman’s report including removing the appearance of any potential for conflict of interest to exist by simultaneously serving as an elected councillor and working for an MP,” the spokesman said.
Delegates at the ALP state conference on Saturday asked the government to consider delaying the legislation to take effect in future council elections but the bid was quashed.
A spokesman yesterday confirmed the government’s intention to carry out the Ombudsman’s recommendations.