Bernie Finn petitioned Brimbank councillor to support his favoured candidates
Controversial Victorian MP Bernie Finn has been caught attempting to interfere in a local council in a move that could put his political future in doubt.
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Controversial Liberal MP Bernie Finn has been caught out attempting to interfere in a local council, petitioning to get his allies elected as mayor with the prospect they would return the favour later.
The saga could put further pressure on Opposition Leader Matthew Guy to reconsider the MP’s future following a history of contentious comments.
Audio obtained by the Herald Sun reveals Mr Finn asking a Brimbank politician to vote for councillors Virginia Tachos or Trung Luu for mayor, who he has vocally supported.
Interference by state MPs has become a regular issue for local governments over the last decade, and a scandal at the same council in 2009 triggered an Ombudsman report that criticised undue influence by state MPs.
The Liberal party was also criticised in 2013 over allegations of MPs meddling in Kingston Council and its mayoral elections.
In the audio, Mr Finn says: “I just wanna put a plea to you.
“I just hope you realise how important it is that we keep Brimbank out of Labor’s hands.
“If Virginia and Trung could get your vote this evening … I don’t usually do this and I’ve never done it before but it would be a marvellous thing for Brimbank.
“As I understand they have said they will vote for you next year, which would be very good.
“And if Labor have promised you anything they’re never going to deliver … they don’t stick to their deal.”
Neither of the councillors Mr Finn backed were elected mayor.
The Liberal MP did not respond when contacted for comment.
A Brimbank City Council spokeswoman said the mayoral election on November 17 had met all necessary governance rules.
But council officers had no statutory authority to investigate allegations of interference.
Another group linked to Mr Finn, the Brimbank Ratepayers and Residents Association, publicly threw their support behind Cr Tachos before the vote.
The Herald Sun has seen pictures showing Mr Finn meeting with Irene Stokes, the current president of the association.
In a submission to the state government earlier this year, the BRRA warned of interference by state politicians.
“It appears that since elected councils returned in 2016, state political interference has once again creeped in,” the group wrote at the time.
“Brimbank residents want their Councillors, and particularly their Mayor, to be free of any third party interference so that they perform their duties independently and solely with the interests of the ratepayers and residents that they represent in mind, not unrelated third parties, and particularly not government MPs who should be using their own (extensive) resources to support and represent their constituents.”
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