South Australia’s anti-corruption watchdog recommends prosecution over alleged corruption at Burnside Council

THE state’s corruption watchdog has completed an investigation into Burnside Council and will seek a prosecution in relation to allegations of an “abuse of public office”.

Burnside Council.

THE state’s corruption watchdog has completed an investigation into Burnside Council and will seek a prosecution in relation to allegations of an “abuse of public office”.

ICAC Commissioner Bruce Lander revealed brief details of the investigation when he addressed the council at a public meeting last night.

“There has been one significant matter relating to the City of Burnside that has raised the potential issue of corruption,” Mr Lander QC told the meeting.

“That investigation has completed and the evidence that has been obtained in that investigation will be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions with an invitation to be prosecuted.

“The person … has been investigated, and in that case for abuse of public office.”

Burnside Mayor David Parkin told the meeting the council was aware of the investigation, which he said related to “a former employee”.

An ICAC spokeswoman would not comment further on the investigation today.

Burnside issued a statement saying the alleged corruption “occurred a number of years ago” and the council reported it to ICAC.

The council said the employee involved was dismissed.

Burnside CEO Paul Deb said the council took its responsibilities under the ICAC Act seriously.

“We do not tolerate dishonesty in our organisation and acted swiftly to address the issue at the time,” Mr Deb said.

“Any impropriety in our organisation will be dealt with honestly and correctly through the Commission.”

It follows an investigation launched by the Office of Local Government in May 2015 into claims of questionable accounting practices at Burnside.

The State Government demanded Burnside address several issues with its financial records, raised by its independent auditor.

A report by the auditor, Cory McGowan, raised concerns about how the council balanced its budget and prepared its annual financial statements.

A council spokeswoman said the two investigations were not linked.

The Eastern Courier Messenger is seeking comment from the Office of Local Government.

Allegations of corruption have plagued previous Burnside administrations.

Former state auditor-general Ken MacPherson spent two years and $1.3 million ­investigating allegations of wrongdoing at the council that sat between 2006-2010.

The State Government decided to terminate his investigation in 2011.

At the time, then local government minister Russell Wortley claimed the allegations were “petty, trivial and just local politics”.

However, during a public hearing before a parliamentary select committee, Mr MacPherson said the issues were not trivial and some conduct may have been of a criminal nature.

Six former Burnside Councillors took Supreme Court ­action in September 2010 to stop the publication of Mr MacPherson’s report.

The draft report remains suppressed for publication by a Supreme Court order.

Earlier this year, Burnside Council decided against launching a costly legal battle to obtain the report.