Commission of inquiry launched into troubled Whittlesea council

The state government has stepped in to investigate Whittlesea council, rocked by dodgy ballots, suspended mayors and claims of toxic leadership.

Whittlesea council offices

A commission of inquiry has been launched into one of Melbourne’s most trouble-plagued council to address “serious and systemic” governance issues.

Local Government Minister Nick Staikos on Monday launched a commission of inquiry into Whittlesea City Council to ensure it could “provide the best possible service to the local community”.

Mr Staikos said an inquiry with broad powers was necessary to address “potentially serious and systemic governance issues” within the council.

“Victorians deserve a council that represents their best interests and serves them with respect, and we are ensuring our councils uphold these values,” he said.

Prue Digby has been appointed inquiry chair, while Jim Gifford was named commissioner.

Ms Digby and Mr Gifford will lead the inquiry for a period of four months to “better understand the council’s current governance practices” and determine if reform will be needed to address ongoing issues.

“We are taking immediate action to ensure the Whittlesea community can have confidence in their council moving forward,” Mr Staikos said.

Municipal monitors Jude Munro and Peita Duncan, who were appointed to the council in November 2024, were thanked for their work as they stepped down.

Former Whittlesea Council Mayor Aidan McLindon outside Parliament House on April 16, 2025, following his immediate suspension from the council. Picture: Himangi Singh.

The inquiry follows the suspension of mayor Aidan McLindon.

In April, Mr McLindon was suspended for six months from his Whittlesea mayoral duties in a “necessary” move following an internal report by council municipal monitors.

Mr McLindon slammed the decision to suspend him saying he was being punished for speaking up for rate freezes and against rainbow flags being hoisted at childcare centres which no one else had the “courage” to do.

Earlier this year, Whittlesea council chief executive Craig Lloyd banned Mr McLindon from attending council chambers and council meeting in person citing his “aggressive” language and inappropriate conduct towards senior staff.

Mr McLindon also denied being a “bully” and “aggressive”, saying he had no arguments with staff and the accusations against him were false.

The announcement also comes just days after the Herald Sun revealed Lalor ward would go back to the polls after a Victoria Police and Victorian Electoral Commission investigation found duplicate ballot papers were submitted in the 2024 election.

The investigation found 24 fraudulently cast duplicate votes all put last-place candidate Nicholas Hajichristou as first preference.

Nicholas Hajichristou

A further 57 stolen ballots also likely had Mr Hajichristou as the first-place candidate, but those ballot papers had already been counted and could not be recovered.

Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal found the “system of fraud” might have affected the outcome of the election, which saw now-former Counsellor Steven Kozmevski elected by just 39 votes after the distribution of preferences.

There was no evidence implicating Mr Hajichristou as being “involved in, or responsible for” the fraud, even though it benefited his failed campaign for office and the Herald Sun is not suggesting Mr Hajichristou was even aware of the campaign.