Whittlesea council mayor Aidan McLindon suspended after municipal monitors’ report

A former Melbourne mayor has slammed a decision to suspend him for six months, saying the move “should send a shiver down the spine” of all elected councillors.

The City of Whittlesea’s independent mayor Aidan McLindon has been formally suspended.

A former Melbourne mayor has slammed a decision to suspend him for six months, saying the move “should send a shiver down the spine” of all elected councillors.

Whittlesea mayor Aidan McLindon was handed an immediate six month suspension on Wednesday in a “necessary” move following an internal report by the council’s municipal monitors, meaning he will no longer hold any power to be a councillor.

Mr McLindon will not be allowed to perform any of the functions and duties of being a councillor, including attending council meetings, delegated committees or be at council premises.

Reasoning behind Mr McLindon’s suspension cited the “protection” of the health and safety of his colleagues.

The suspension comes six weeks after he was banned by chief executive Craig Lloyd from attending council premises in person — including the meetings he chaired — after he was accused of intimidating staff and other councillors.

In response, Mr McLindon called for Mr Lloyd and the two municipal monitors resignation, alleging “power abuse”.

Aidan McLindon

In a press conference outside Parliament House on Wednesday, Mr McLindon slammed the decision to suspend him.

The suspended councillor said 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.

“I have had a political machine from both the Labor Party and the pride movement to undermine everything I’ve done as a mayor,” he said.

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

“(The suspension) should send shivers down the spine of every democratically elected councillor in this state to say your jobs are no longer safe,” he said.

“Because what we have witnessed now is that if you ask a question, if you ask where the money is going … they will mobilise bureaucracy against you.”

Mr McLindon also accused Whittlesea council of having a “toxic culture” and called for a royal commission into local government in Victoria.

When asked if he had any regrets about the comments that resulted in his suspension, Mr McLindon said “absolutely not”.

“I went to the polls with a very clear policy,” he said.

Former Whittlesea Council Mayor Aidan McLindon outside Parliament House on April 16. Picture: Himangi Singh.

The suspension comes as the government announced a commission of inquiry into Whittlesea council to address “potentially serious and systemic” governance issues.

The independent inquiry will allow a detailed examination of matters affecting good governance at the council and any legislative, regulatory or other reform needed to address the issues occurring since the local elections last year.

Local Government Minister Nick Staikos said local councils played a “vital role” in communities across the state and Victorians “rightly” had high expectations of their councillors.

Mr Staikos said he believed a commission of inquiry was needed after receiving a letter co-signed by 10 councillors asking for an urgent intervention.

“The situation at the City of Whittlesea is unprecedented — including the unanimous no-confidence motion in the mayor and his subsequent ban from council premises for occupational health and safety reasons,” he said.

“We want Victorians to have confidence in their local councils. This inquiry will help to identify any changes needed to ensure the council is operating as required and in the best interests of its local community.”

In a media statement, the City of Whittlesea said the council welcomed “any process” which further strengthened “good governance” and "supported the safety and wellbeing” of the council and staff.

Deputy mayor Daniela Zinni will perform mayoral duties until a new mayor is elected at a future council meeting.