Dubbo mayor’s condition improves amid calls to sack council

After weeks fighting for life, Dubbo mayor Ben Shields’ condition has “improved immensely”, but a former leader of the council has called for it to be placed into administration.

The warring Dubbo Regional Council could be placed into administration, with the state government vowing to “consider all options” despite the improving condition of the council’s hospitalised mayor.

Mayor Ben Shields was on Saturday transferred back to Dubbo Base Hospital from Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred, with friends saying his condition has “improved immensely” after a week of close monitoring.

Cr Shields was found unconscious at home on March 31 and has been fighting for life ever since. Initially placed in an induced coma and then transferred to Sydney, he is now stable and being treated for an infection.

The condition of hospitalised Dubbo Regional Council mayor Ben Shields has “improved immensely”. Picture: Dylan Robinson

During the time he has been unwell seven of his fellow councillors have remained steadfast in their calls for Cr Shields’ to resign over allegations of “bullying and harassment”, and even welcomed an independent investigation.

But Cr Shields’ predecessor Mathew Dickerson believes the ongoing war within its ranks has now reached a point where the only remaining option is to place the council into administration.

“I wouldn’t like to see it happen, but the only choice I believe is administration,” Mr Dickerson, who was the last mayor of Dubbo City Council before its 2016 amalgamation with Wellington Council, said.

“I never like to see a council under administration because it robs you of that democracy, but you have a group of councillors who have proven themselves to be unworthy councillors in my opinion.

“I’m pretty disappointed our local member (Dugald Saunders) and (Local Government Minister) Shelley Hancock haven’t done something already.”

Local Government minister Shelley Hancock has vowed to “consider all options” over how to deal with the warring council, including administration. Picture: Christian Gilles/NCA NewsWire

The council has been in disarray ever since the first calls for Cr Shields resignation on March 29, two days before Cr Shields was found unconscious at home.

Despite his absence, the remaining nine Dubbo councillors held an extraordinary meeting last Monday at which they welcomed an independent investigation into the council and all complaints against councillors.

Commencing an investigation is ultimately a decision for Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Local Government Minister said: “The Minister is currently considering options available to her under the Local Government Act”.

Acting mayor Stephen Lawrence has sent a letter to Premier Gladys Berejiklian questioning whether Ms Hancock has “prejudged the issue”. Picture: Christian Gilles

But Ms Hancock’s comments have seen her come under fire from Dubbo Regional Council’s acting mayor Steve Lawrence, who has complained they could be taken as threats.

The Daily Telegraph has seen a letter sent to Premier Gladys Berejiklian by Mr Lawrence, a Labor councillor, complaining about public comments made by Ms Hancock.

In his letter to Ms Berejiklian, Cr Lawrence questions whether the local government Minister has “prejudged the issue”.

“I raise with you the following serious concerns... that Minister Hancock has thoroughly prejudged issues concerning DRC and threatened use of her statutory powers despite having so prejudged the issue,” the letter said.

“That Minister Hancock’s media statements have a direct tendency to discourage possible complainants from complaining about Mayor Ben Shields, or indeed any other councillor.

“That Minister Hancock’s statements could be seen as a threat or reprisal against a person making a police report.”

At a press conference last Monday, Ms Hancock defended Cr Shields while bluntly laying down the law to his political opponents.

“I’m absolutely appalled at the situation in Dubbo, I have had a lot to do with Ben Shields the mayor, I am really concerned about his welfare at the moment, I am concerned about some of the actions of councillors in regards to bullying and harassment,” she said.

“I am writing to the council today and the people who have moved a motion in the very strongest of terms to remind them of their obligations in the very strongest of terms.

Cr Shields has been mayor since 2017 during which time he has overseen the visit of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to Dubbo. Picture: Supplied

“I have never, ever witnessed anything so appalling quite frankly, in all my years, not only as minister for local government, but in all my years as a state member and also as a local councillor.

“I’m not going to sit back and allow this to happen, various enquiries will be undertaken about the actions to date, but at the end of the day as Minister, I am going to be making sure that the behaviour which has been evident in Dubbo among councillors, will come to an end – one way or another.”

Cr Shields has been mayor of Dubbo Regional Council since its creation in 2017, following the decision by the state government to amalgamate Dubbo City and Wellington Councils.

The decision to merge the two councils was one of 19 such amalgamations across NSW at the time.

Shadow local government Minister and former Dubbo local Greg Warren says there is no longer any doubt the amalgamation policy – put in place by Mike Baird’s Liberal government – has failed.

“Make no mistake, the government’s botched forced mergers policy has had a dire impact on many communities from Cootamundra and Gundagai, to the Central Coast and Armidale,” Mr Warren said.

“There has been no shortage of issues that have stemmed from the forced mergers policy. Even the Premier can’t pretend that the botched policy has been a success.”