Unchecked ‘discretionary spending’ exposes Victorian councils to fraud risks

By Paul Hemsley Federal parliamentarians might be hogging the limelight on dubious expenses claims, but the Victorian state government is hard on the trail of highly questionable purchases by councillors elected to local government positions. A report handed down by Victoria’s municipal watchdog, the Local Government Investigations and Compliance Inspectorate, has found that 32 out […]

Victoria sacks Wangaratta Council over “rampant bullying”

By Paul Hemsley The Victorian government has moved to turf out elected representatives from the Rural City of Wangaratta Council and appoint administrators until the 2016 council elections after two independent investigations found that the council was dysfunctional and “rampant” with bullying and intimidation towards staff and fellow councillors. The state government’s sacking of the […]

Bendigo mayor demands referendum clarity from Premier

By Paul Hemsley The mayor of Greater Bendigo Council has put the hard word on Victorian Premier Denis Napthine and Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews to come clean on their positions on Constitutional recognition of local government amid sniping from the state government over the looming referendum on the issue on 14th September, 2013. The demand […]

Victorian state and local governments split over referendum

By Paul Hemsley and Julian Bajkowski Victorian councils have slammed the state’s local government minister, Jeanette Powell, over claims that a referendum on financial recognition of local government in the Constitution could result in an erosion of state government power as deliberate scaremongering. In a broadside aimed squarely at his state government, Municipal Association of […]

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