Port Phillip Greens councillors face probe into alleged conflict of interest
As IBAC probes corruption claims at Casey Council, Port Phillip’s three Greens councillors come under the spotlight for a complaint they allegedly failed to declare a conflict of interest.
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Three Port Phillip Greens councillors are facing claims they allegedly failed to declare conflicts of interest in matters involving a major party donor.
The Leader has been told councillors Ogy Simic, Katherine Copsey and Tim Baxter are the subjects of a complaint that they allegedly neglected to recuse themselves from voting about matters that affected the party donor.
The Leader has been told Port Phillip Council has started inquiries into the complaint but the council has refused to confirm publicly that the complaint will be formally investigated.
A source told the Leader the formal complaint centred around a council vote on the installation of paid parking restrictions in parts of Fishermans Bend, including outside skateboarding apparel and equipment brand Globe International.
Employees of Globe, owned by former champion skateboarder Stephen Hill, were among those to lobby the council not to impose the parking restrictions to ensure they had access to free all-day parking near work.
A council officer’s report recommended on-street parking fees in that part of Fishermans Bend but Cr Simic successfully moved an alternate recommendation to keep parking free.
Crs Baxter and Copsey voted against Cr Simic’s motion.
Public records show Mr Hill donated $4000 to the Greens’ bid at the 2016 council election, as well as tipping more than $19,000 into the party’s coffers in the past three years.
The Leader also understands the complaint includes claims the three councillors attended a meeting about whether to slap heritage controls on sites, including the Globe building in Fennell St, Port Melbourne.
The Leader is not suggesting Mr Hill has attempted to influence councillors or that the allegations against councillors Simic, Copsey and Baxter are true, only that they have been made.
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Port Phillip mayor Cr Bernadene Voss would not deny or confirm an investigation into the three councillors’ conduct.
“In the event any investigation was undertaken this would be confidential, unless resolved otherwise, to support the principle of natural justice,” she said.
Under the Local Government Act, councillors are required to identify and disclose conflicts of interest, as well as declaring any election campaign donations.
Councillors found to have breached the Act, including by failing to disclose conflicts of interest when they should have, face a fine of $99,132 or five years’ jail — or both.
Crs Simic, Copsey and Baxter did not respond to the Leader’s request for comment.