There are two parts to the June business paper under Hilltops’ Council’s own heading, ‘Management of Allegations of Corrupt Conduct, Serious and Substantial Waste and Maladministration.’ Their words, not mine.
The first part of the business paper deals with a passage from a June 8 story which appeared in the Twin Town Times and concerns the appointment of the Information Technology provider, at a cost of over $1.5 million.
Newspapers have a responsibility to shine a light on the processes of local government. I have a duty to rate payers and readers to do so and I won’t apologise for putting Council or any other issue under the spotlight. I did the same thing when I was a Councillor, in reporting in the Twin Town Times, the contamination of Shea’s Pit at Demondrille by Harden Shire Council. I stand by my track record.
The second part of the business paper deals with an email I sent to Hilltops General Manager Anthony McMahon on January 31.
Its relevance to the Council business paper as a private email is unclear.
Both issues in the business paper have nothing to do with each other. It is an attempt by Council to insinuate some sort of link to explain my behaviour towards them. This is both both unprofessional and appalling.
Council is trying to play the victim in this case and it is laughable.
By including the email, they have attempted to damage my reputation 10 weeks out from the Hilltops Council election and attempt to sway public opinion against me. The email is what it is and I stand by it. It shows a person (me) frustrated at a complete lack of interaction, respect or willingness by the head of the Council to work with me for the benefit of my community and other nearby communities.
I have contacted the Shadow Minister for Local Government, Peter Primrose, who has written to the Chief Executive of the Office of Local Government seeking advice regarding the publication of the email in the agenda.
The June business paper contains a sad and desperate move by some at Hilltops Council to discredit me.
Both the Administrator and the General Manager were hand-picked by the state government and unfortunately we didn’t get the cream of the crop. We didn’t get the chance for hundreds of candidates from across Australia to apply for the roles and undergo a stringent process where the best candidates were chosen.
An email from Council’s solicitors Williamsonbarwick also alleges that my behaviour “amounts to bullying and harassment.” It appears Hilltops Council can’t handle a robust email from a newspaper editor. How then can they run a Council?
In the email I pleaded with the General Manager to treat all media the same.
I stated, “As head of the operational arm of Council you (Mr McMahon) are solely responsible for the decisions regarding advertising and have chosen to ignore my business as well as Fairfax Media who are established newspapers.”
Fairfax Media is a direct competitor of mine, I gain nothing from helping to row their boat other than more information for the ratepayer. I just want a fair go for all when it comes to Council information. I believe Council has done the community a terrible disservice over the last 14 months, with contempt for rate payers by not communicating Council news and advertisements more thoroughly. They are trying to skimp on advertising costs whilst the General Manager receives $272,900 a year in salary. It smacks of a double standard.
This issue isn’t about advertising or robust emails. Is it about trying to prevent someone who will hold the Council to account from being appointed to Council?
I don’t believe they want someone like me on there who will ask the questions which need asking and who will expose their short comings to the rate payer.
I welcome the investigation into Hilltops Council regarding ‘Management of Allegations of Corrupt Conduct, Serious and Substantial Waste and Maladministration’ by whoever is appointed, however, it will be undertaken by an investigator chosen by Council’s solicitors and will not be binding in any way shape or form. Hilltops Council should just get ICAC to do it. At least then it will have some semblance of independence about it.
