Strathbogie Mayor Laura Binks said the council’s suspension followed months of divisive argument within the council. Photo: Strathbogie Shire Council.
The Victorian Government has passed legislation to improve local council integrity standards after the Strathbogie Council was suspended over governance issues.
Reforms under the Local Government Act 2020 have been implemented prior to the local government elections in October, bringing standards up for all 79 of Victoria’s councils as they enter a new term.
Since the last council elections in 2020, 56 councillors have resigned and 12 councils have had municipal monitors appointed – with one council suspended and one dismissed as a result of governance issues.
Minister for Local Government Melissa Horne said by improving governance and integrity standards in councils across the state, they were ensuring all Victorians could be confident in their local representatives.
“These reforms have been developed through extensive consultation with the local government sector and will help councillors perform their roles effectively.”
Following this year’s elections, councils will have a uniform councillor code of conduct to create consistent standards of behaviour and increase accountability. A program of mandatory training will also be introduced for councillors and mayors, including annual professional development.
The reforms introduce stronger sanctions for councillor misconduct and improved processes to resolve conduct matters earlier.
The Local Government Minister will also have strengthened powers to deal with councillors who are found to have created a serious risk to health and safety or are preventing their council from performing its functions.
The reforms have been developed in response to reports and recommendations of IBAC, the Chief Municipal Inspector and other interventions which highlighted the need for stronger processes and powers to resolve conduct issues and better training so councillors can perform their roles effectively.
Late last year the Strathbogie Shire Council was suspended for the remainder of its term in response to municipal monitor Peter Stephenson’s final report.
Mr Stephenson recommended its suspension after finding “the ongoing lack of respect and goodwill between individual councillors and between some councillors and officers” had impaired the council’s ability to perform its statutory role.
“Some councillors have demonstrated that they cannot move past previous conflict and repair relationships, have little trust in the administration and are unable and sometimes unwilling to perform the role of councillor in accordance with the act,” reads his final report.
After considering this report and responses received from the council and individual councillors, Local Government Minister Horne made the decision to suspend the council – claiming they had failed to fully appreciate and address the problems, resulting in the community receiving substandard service from its elected representatives.
Mr Stephenson was appointed as Strathbogie Shire Interim Administrator to provide support and continuity to the shire’s operations until the October election.
