Huon Valley Council conflict of interest referred to police
It’s been revealed an alleged conflict of interest in the Huon Valley Council general manager recruitment process has been referred to police. LATEST >>
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A conflict of interest identified in the hiring process for Huon Valley Council general manager has been referred to Tasmania Police, according to the state government.
The Huon Valley Council came under fire earlier this year after it was revealed one of the lead candidates for the positions was in a relationship with the head of the agency contracted to assist in the recruitment process.
The candidate, Jason Browne, was successful in securing the role for five years, which includes a remuneration package of $246,175 per year.
There is no suggestion Mr Browne was not qualified for the role, or that he was not a deserving appointee.
The council commissioned a review into the matter, which found the council had not breached its code of conduct, the local government act or the Huon Valley Council governance framework.
An investigation by auditor-general Rod Whitehead found the council’s management of the conflict of interest was flawed and undermined public confidence.
Following the report handed down last month, member for Huon Bastian Seidel asked a series of questions in the Legislative Council which were taken on notice, including whether there should be a criminal investigation into the matter, if the recruitment process should recommence and whether the conflict warranted the dismissal of the council.
Responses to the questions have been published online, and it’s been revealed the matter has been referred to police.
“The Director of Local Government appropriately referred this matter to Tasmania Police for consideration,” Minister Jaensch said in the answers.
“This is now a matter for Tasmania Police to review.”
Tasmania Police confirmed the matter had been referred for assessment.
The council has not been required to restart its recruitment process.
“The government has not issued a ministerial direction to the Huon Valley Council to recommence the recruitment process for the council’s general manager,” Mr Jaensch said.
“The Minister for local government and planning is not presently empowered under the local government act to interfere with the contractual operations of a council in this manner.”
In relation to whether the minister believed councillors should be dismissed over the matter, Mr Jaensch remained tight lipped on his beliefs.
“Section 226 (dismissal of councillors) is only relevant if a board of inquiry has first been established by the minister,” he said.
‘Not going to go away’: Petition launched over Huon Valley GM
Huon Valley residents say they refuse to let a conflict of interest in the hiring process for the council’s general manager be swept under the rug, with a petition calling for a public meeting on the matter attracting hundreds of signatures.
Ratepayers were left fuming after it was revealed one of the lead candidates for the role was in a relationship with the head of the recruitment company contracted by council.
The candidate, Jason Browne, was later successful in securing the $246,175 per year role for five years.
There is no suggestion Mr Browne was not qualified for the role, or that he was not a deserving appointee.
A report commissioned by the council into its own handling of the process found there were no breaches of the code of conduct or local government act.
The council accepted a number of recommendations including to make improvements to the way it manages conflicts of interests.
An investigation by Auditor General Rod Whitehead found the process was flawed and undermined public confidence.
Nearly a month on from that finding, a petition has been launched, which calls for a public meeting to be held.
“This isn’t going to go away,” petitioner Archie Donley said.
“We want to call a public meeting so the mayor and the council can be answerable to the ratepayers about why they had the conflict of interest.
“I’ve sat at the markets in Cygnet and Franklin with this petition and the people who have come up to me are horrified.”
Mr Donley said he and others are also calling for the mayor to resign
“The mayor should take responsibility for this whole thing.”
“We’re stuck with a general manager who doesn’t have the confidence of ratepayers because of how he was employed.”
Mr Donley said he’d already collected enough signatures to call a meeting
“We only need 637 signatures, we’ve got enough for a public meeting,” he said.
“We’re somewhere between 900 and 1000.”
Mr Donley said he’d extend the invitation to local government minister Roger Jaensch, who last month said he would issue a ministerial order to clarify the standards for future general manager recruitment.
“I’ve invited the minister of local government because this has happened under his watch,” Mr Donley said.
“He does have the power to come down and listen to how angry the residents are.”
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Originally published as Huon Valley Council conflict of interest referred to police
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