Dubbo mayor Ben Shields condition remains unchanged

A state MP has called for an independent investigation into Dubbo Council after a majority of councillors asked the mayor Ben Shields to resign.

Dubbo state Nationals MP Dugald Saunders says he has “serious concerns” about the operations of Dubbo Regional Council and wants an independent investigator to conduct a full review of the council’s operations.

Mr Saunders made the call in a letter sent to council’s interim chief executive officer Dean Frost on Monday, after a tumultuous week left the council split and left community members concerned.

Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders has called for an independent investigation into Dubbo Regional Council.

On Wednesday last week, six councillors signed a public statement calling on mayor Ben Shields to resign and members of the community who had “inappropriate interactions” with any councillor to come forward.

Following the release of the statement to the media, Cr Shields made a public Facebook post which said “I have only ever done what is right for Dubbo” and a short time later paramedics were called to his home.

Cr Shields was rushed to Dubbo Base Hospital in a critical condition and placed on life support.

A day before the medical incident, Cr Shields told media outlets “this is an absolute nonsense that is going on, I challenge anyone to point out anything illegal that has happened and if something illegal has happened — take it to the higher authorities”.

“There has been nothing pointed out that’s been illegal,” he said.

Dubbo mayor Ben Shields is in hospital recovering after a medical incident. Picture: Toby Zerna

On Saturday hundreds of community members attended a vigil at Dubbo’s Victoria Park to show Cr Shields he had their support.

Family spokesman and fellow councillor, Greg Mohr, issued a statement on Monday saying Cr Shields had been taken off life support and remained in hospital being treated for other conditions which he developed after the incident.

On Tuesday, Mr Mohr said there had been no change in Cr Shields’s condition.

An interim CEO, Dean Frost, replaced Michael McMahon after his retirement. Picture: Dubbo Regional Council

In his letter to Mr Frost, Mr Saunders said he wanted to meet to discuss serious concerns he had about the council’s operations.

“I realise the mayor is now on indefinite medical leave, but the questions surrounding behaviour and operations at council remain and I believe they should be addressed as quickly as possibly,” Mr Saunders wrote.

“Concerns have been raised around a lack of due process and I have also been contacted about several cases of improper conduct, along with a number of serious allegations of bullying and harassment.

“There are now many questions around the processes within council, including the function of the internal ombudsman, the bullying of staff and complaints which seem to have been hidden over recent years … I would suggest council consider employing an independent investigator to conduct a full review of council’s operations including codes of conduct and both internal and external complaints.”

Acting mayor Stephen Lawrence said he met with Mr Frost on Tuesday to discuss a way forward for the council and a request from councillors to hold an extraordinary meeting.

“Tentatively I’ll be calling the extraordinary council meeting for next Monday, April 12,” Cr Lawrence said.

“We’ll of course be receiving information about Ben Shields’s health and we’ll obviously take that into account in terms of whether the meeting proceeds and what is discussed at the meeting.”

Dubbo’s deputy mayor Stephen Lawrence is acting as mayor. Picture: Christian Gilles

Cr Lawrence said he understood some members of the community were concerned about council’s leadership issues being discussed publicly, however he said the decision to speak out was one councillors stood by.

“We are privileged to hold office as public officials, by its nature the things that go on are public and I make absolutely no apologies for having spoken publicly and done what I did.

“I regret that the circumstances were such that we had no choice but to act, but I am absolutely confident that we have done the right thing.”