Another senior executive suspended at troubled Hobsons Bay Council

The trouble-ridden Hobsons Bay Council has had yet another senior executive suspended, not long after the departure of their chief executive.

Director of Corporate Services Andrew McLeod was suspended on the same day as his boss, the chief executive Aaron van Egmond. Picture: Supplied

Another senior executive have been suspended at troubled Hobsons Bay council, following the highly-paid chief executive out the door, as investigations into workplace safety continue.

Director of Corporate Services Andrew McLeod was suspended on the same day as his boss, the chief executive Aaron van Egmond, the Herald Sun can reveal, although the reason for his suspension is unclear.

WorkSafe is continuing to monitor workplace issues at the council headquarters in Altona amid claims of systemic bullying.

Hobsons Bay Council corporate services director Andrew McLeod and chief executive Aaron van Egmond have both been suspended.

Mr van Egmond was suspended last week on full pay – the former Hepburn Shire boss continuing to pocket his salary of more than $410,000.

Staff were told councillors acted after becoming aware of “concerns about safety in the workplace and the CEO’s fulfilment of his duties more broadly’’.

Hobsons Bay CEO Aaron van Egmond refused to comment.

It’s also believed that at least two other staff who reported to Mr McLeod may have also left the council or been suspended.

Mr van Egmond refused to answer questions when contacted.

“I’m not really able to talk about it,’’ he said when asked about the suspension.

The whereabouts of Mr van Egmond are not known but several sources have told the Herald Sun that he may currently be on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.

Rachel Lunn, the director of Sustainable Communities, has been appointed acting chief executive.

The Herald Sun believes the state’s council watchdog, the Local Government Inspectorate, visited the council’s Civic Parade offices last September.

The inspector’s probe was to examine governance issues but then bullying-related matters were referred to WorkSafe.

Hobsons Bay council’s acting CEO Rachel Lunn.

Several workers are also understood to have signed deeds of release – similar to non-disclosure agreements – upon leaving the council in the past year or so.

Hobsons Bay councillor Daria Kellander was elected mayor last year.

As Hobsons Bay CEO, Mr van Egmond took six months off from his job in the first half of 2022, a mix of long service leave and unpaid leave, the council said.

Soon after his return he was granted a $20,000 pay rise.

In a joint statement to the Herald Sun, Mayor Daria Kellander and Ms Lunn said: “Councillors continue to take these matters very seriously and made the decision to suspend Aaron van Egmond, pending further investigations, following thorough and careful consideration.’’

Australian Services Union deputy branch secretary Zoe Edwards applauded the councillors’ action.

“The ASU had previously written to Mr van Egmond, outlining serious concerns about managerial behaviour toward staff at Hobsons Bay City Council. Our concerns went unheeded,’’ she said.

“We had also noted an excessively high turnover of staff at the council and had been informed by several staff about serious allegations regarding the treatment of workers.’’

ASU members have also contacted WorkSafe, Ms Edwards said.

“No CEO or manager or director at any council is above the law, and there should be zero tolerance of bullying, aggressive, or improper behaviour by any person.’’

Mr van Egmond had been questioned by the Local Government Inspectorate over his role in the Hepburn Shire Council’s development of the Rex Theatre in Daylesford in the late 2010s.

After a five-year probe, the inspectorate last year decided to take no further disciplinary action. The agency’s report has never been made public.

Originally published as Another senior executive suspended at troubled Hobsons Bay Council