Liberal MP Michael Pengilly calls for investigation into Kangaroo Island Council chief executive Andrew Boardman

KANGAROO Island council is under the “tyrannical rule” of its chief executive and should be placed into administration and investigated, a Liberal MP says.

Kangaroos pictured on idyllic Kangaroo Island in South Australia.

KANGAROO Island council is under the “tyrannical rule” of its chief executive and should be placed into administration and investigated, a Liberal MP says.

Launching a scathing attack on the council, and its CEO Andrew Boardman, in Parliament, Finniss MP Michael Pengilly called on Local Government Minister Geoff Brock to appoint an administrator and launch a “complete review” of its operations.

Using the cover of parliamentary privilege, Mr Pengilly — a former KI Council Mayor — accused Mr Boardman of being inexperienced, bullying staff and spending $235,000 on legal advice last financial year.

“This council is ethically bankrupt, it is almost financially bankrupt and the poor old ratepayers will have to pick it up and sort it out,” Mr Pengilly, whose electorate covers KI, told Parliament on Thursday afternoon.

“You cannot pay someone over $200,000 a year and have a disaster such that is occurring.

“The Local Government Minister has to do something about it and has to act immediately and move to put things right.”

In a statement, Mr Boardman said he would “not be commenting on this matter until we have taken advice on how best to address the gross inaccuracies, generalisations and wrong information provided by Mr Pengilly in his speech to Parliament.”

Mr Brock also provided a statement, but did not say if he would take action following Mr Pengilly’s comments.

“It’s concerning that Mr Pengilly has made a number of accusations against the council under parliamentary privilege,” he said.

“He should consider providing the Ombudsman with any evidence he has to back up his statements.”

Mr Pengilly said he was reluctant to raise his concerns publicly but was prompted by the outcome of a recent land deal.

The State Ombudsman found that the KI Council handled a land deal involving a stretch of foreshore at American River unlawfully.

Ombudsman Wayne Lines found that the council did not hold public consultation in relation to the use of the land, and did not draw up a land management plan.

“They are trying to put to one side the findings of the Ombudsman,” Mr Pengilly said.

He called for any administrator appointed to the council to be brought in from interstate.