Debt collectors called by Tea Tree Gully Council to chase former councillor Paul Barbaro

An unpaid $642 bill has seen a controversial council hire muscle to collect the unpaid debt they say is owed to them by a former councillor.

The Tea Tree Gully Council has called in the muscle to recover a debt they say is owed to them by a controversial former councillor.

A $642 bill was issued to former councillor Paul Barbaro over costs to remove supplementary election corflutes, but as of July 14 that bill had not been paid.

The council asked former councillor Mr Barbaro to remove posters they claimed were contravening then-new state government corflute rules by December 1 last year.

But when he had not done so they sent council workers to complete the task.

Mr Barbaro, who has been a mayoral candidate, is alleged to have put up more than 100 supplementary election corflutes in contravention of council policies.

Former Tea Tree Gully councillor Paul Barbaro outside the City of Tea Tree Gully council building. Picture: AAP Image/Sam Wundke

The council asked Mr Barbaro to remove the posters by December 1 last year, but when he had not done so they sent council workers to complete the task.

“The council (continues) recovery of 100 per cent of the actual calculated costs in relation to the removal of the election signage and any associated additional costs associated with the recovery/collection of these costs,” a council report says.

The report, which was originally confidential but was released this week, shows Mr Barbaro was given a deadline of March 19 to pay the costs, but he did not – and, as of July 14, the bill remains unpaid.

The documents included legal advice from Norman Waterhouse lawyers which discussed how the council could potentially pursue prosecution against Mr Barbaro.

Council deputy mayor Lucas Jones backed the move to chase up the debt, saying it was in the ratepayers’ best interests.

“Ratepayer money should not be spent on taking down posters,” he said.

“It was unfortunate that council has had to take this action but I strongly believe ratepayers shouldn’t have to pay for the removal.”

A Paul Barbaro election corflute from late-2021 that was deemed not to be allowed. Picture: File

It was unclear as to how much legal cost was incurred by the council in pursuing advice on Mr Barbaro’s corflutes, however a council spokesperson said those additional fees would not be sought.

Mr Barbaro faced a fine of up to $5000 per poster based on the corflute legislation that was passed during the period of the supplementary election.

In May 2015 Mr Barbaro was found guilty of misconduct over comments he made in an email detailing a resident as “wacky” and a “lunatic” – something ratepayers forked out $8000 to investigate.

Mr Barbaro in 2020 also sued under-fire Mayor Kevin Knight over allegations he made defamatory comments about him.

The comments included labelling him “a knucklehead” and “a bloody idiot”.

The allegations were settled and Mr Barbaro was to receive an estimated claim of $20,000.

Mr Barbaro was contacted for comment.