Merri-bek Council elections: James Conlan claims he was denied resources to do his job

Controversial Merri-bek councillor James Conlan has declared he is not running for council again, claiming he was denied basic resources including an office and staff.

Controversial Merri-bek councillor James Conlan has declared he is not running for council again, claiming he was denied basic resources including an office and staff to properly do his job as a councillor.

Cr Conlan also fired off a parting shot about “groupthink mentality among councillors and the bureaucracy” at the Brunswick-based council.

“Unfortunately I can no longer dedicate the time, effort and resources to do the role as I would like, for another four years,’’ he said on his social media.

“The role of councillor is structurally designed to limit the influence of councillors over decision-making by paying us only a part time wage and denying us basic resources like an office, staff and community outreach materials.’’

Today I’m announcing that I won’t be running for re-election in the upcoming October 2024 Merri-bek Council election. Unfortunately I can no longer dedicate the time, effort and resources to do the role as I would like, for another four years🧵 pic.twitter.com/hU36rYxgMx

— James Conlan 🏳️‍🌈 (@JamesMConlan) July 9, 2024

The independent councillor last month proposed doubling rates for landlords to force them to sell.

Cr Conlan also failed in a move to ban police from using council facilities and blacklist them from receiving recognition for service, saying that the council had been “whitewashing police violence”.

The former Greens councillor was also under fire for dismissing a young Jewish mum’s impassioned plea amid growing anti-Semitism in Brunswick.

James Conlan was elected in 2020.

In his announcement, Cr Conlan, who was elected to the then Moreland council in 2020, said the lack of time and resources meant he could not keep on top of many complex issues.

Cr Conlan said the system was set up for “careerists from political parties’’ to use council as a stepping stone to state and federal roles.

“The system is structurally designed to keep out the left wing, community activists like Sue Bolton, Monica Harte and myself.

“It’s a shame the system is designed like this because I genuinely believe in the radical, transformative potential of local democracy.’’

In February 2023, Cr Conlan quit the Greens in solidarity with Senator Lidia Thorpe, accusing the party of “structural racism”.

Cr Conlan, who works in the not-for-profit sector, told the Herald Sun he would take a break and then consider his future.