By Rob O'Brien

A report into alleged misconduct and corruption in a South Australian council is expected to be released soon, the SA minister for Local Government, Gail Gago, has said.

The investigation into Burnside Council was launched in July last year following inquiries concluded by the Office of State and Local Government Relations (OSLGR) into complaints of misconduct and bullying.

Burnside is the first SA council in 19 years to face an independent investigation.

The report, by former auditor-general Ken MacPherson, is in its final stages following an extension and an offer of extra resources from the State Government back in February.

The investigation has involved 72 interviews, the issuing of 144 summonses and received 80,000 pages of documentation.

Ms Gago said that those named in the report would be offered an opportunity to respond to the findings before it was submitted to the State Government.

“Mr Macpherson has not yet advised me when the report will be completed,” she said.

“However I’m advised that that the investigator is in the final stage of the report, which is providing natural justice to those named in the report, before it is provided to government.

“Individuals have this opportunity to respond to the investigator’s findings before the report is presented to Government.

“How long this takes depends on the availability of individuals, but clearly it’s in everyone’s interests to complete this as expeditiously as possible.”

The SA Local Government Act does allow the State Government to sack a council and put it under administration if it is found to have breached the act.

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