Dubbo Council’s independent investigator report remains top secret

A damning report into Dubbo Council’s handling of complaints, commissioned after months of infighting and the dramatic resignation of the mayor, remains hidden from the public.

A scathing report into a regional council’s flawed handling of complaints could be delayed until October, the council’s interim chief executive officer has said.

After months of infighting and the dramatic resignation of former mayor Ben Shields, Dubbo councillors were handed a confidential report prepared by independent investigators Pinnacle Integrity, which looked into allegations council had been failing to properly deal with code of conduct complaints.

Supplied Editorial Dubbo Regional Council offices. Picture: Ryan Young

The findings of the report, which the public have been denied access to, were so alarming they prompted former Councillor Dayne Gumley to resign.

Snippets of the reports findings were alluded to during the July 26 meeting, with Mayor Stephen Lawrence saying “serious systemic failures” were identified and that complaints had been dealt with by unauthorised people.

Dayne Gumley resigned after he saw the report. Picture: Facebook/Councillor Dayne Gumley

Councillors agreed to seek legal advice about whether all or some of the report could be made public and a report on the issue was set to be brought to the meeting due to be held on September 27.

With less than three weeks until the meeting, Dubbo Regional Council’s interim CEO Murray Wood said the organisation was still waiting for legal advice.

“The decision around this advice will be outlined in an upcoming council meeting, preferably at the September ordinary council meeting … however, there is also the option to have it presented in October if necessary,” he said.

“Councillors will participate in a workshop to discuss the advice provided to council, when it is finalised in the coming weeks.”

Dubbo Mayor Stephen Lawrence wants the report released to the public. Picture: Ryan Young

Mayor Stephen Lawrence said he was “absolutely determined” to have the report released “in some form”.

“The findings of the independent investigation report were so devastating … that I believe the community is entitled to get a better understanding of the findings.

“I think it’s crucial that the community have a full understanding of why and how our code of conduct processes were so subverted and undermined during this term of council.

“I’m confident that we have exposed and dealt with and corrected the causes of the subverting of our code of conduct process over the term of council, but it still remains crucial that the community when they vote in December have a good understanding of what happened and how it happened because that could influence what candidates they vote for.”