Whittlesea Mayor Aidan McLindon calls for CEO Craig Lloyd to step down amid power abuse allegations

The mayor of one of Melbourne’s most turbulent councils has demanded the immediate resignation of the council’s chief executive officer and two municipal monitors, alleging “power abuse”.

The City of Whittlesea’s independent mayor Aidan McLindon has called for the resignation of the CEO of monitors at Whittlesea council.

A mayor of one of Melbourne’s most turbulent councils has called for the immediate resignation of the council’s chief executive officer and two municipal monitors, alleging “power abuse”.

City of Whittlesea’s independent mayor Aidan McLindon on Tuesday evening convened a community gathering outside the council chambers on Ferris Blvd, drawing approximately 50 supporters.

Equipped with a television set atop a camp table and four speakers, the mayor broadcasted the council meeting’s livestream — a session from which both he and on Tuesday the public were barred from attending in person.

Whittlesea’s mayor Aidan McLindon set up a television to livestream the council meeting before getting booted out of the meeting online. Picture: Himangi Singh.

The mayor was kicked out of the online meeting when it began.

Mr McLindon said the council had been “playing games” with him and lacked the authority to ban him from council premises or revoke his privileges.

He said council officers had asked him not to refer to the Indigenous community as his “brothers and sisters” because it was “insensitive”.

He also claimed his criticism of LGBTQI+ community had led to “unfair treatment”.

“I will be told that the rainbow flag should be in chidcares and kindies — it’s an absolute disgrace,” he told the crowd as they cheered.

“It’s sick and I’m tired of governments exploiting the situation and rewiring the minds of our kids. And as a parent, I’m going to tell you now go to hell.”

About 50 people gathered in support of the mayor Aidan McLindon outside Whittlesea’s council chambers. Picture: Himangi Singh.

Mr McLindon also said the rainbow flag being hoisted at the chambers was “not inclusive but exclusive” and was offensive to “70 per cent of religious people” in Whittlesea.

“I’m sick and tired of tiptoeing down the line, saying ‘what I can say, what I can’t say?’,” he said.

“This is democracy and it brings me no joy to say that I will be calling on the local government minister to ask for the CEO and the two monitors to step aside immediately.”

It comes after the Herald Sun revealed last week Mr McLindon was banned from attending council premises in person — including for the meetings he chairs — after he was accused of intimidating staff and other councillors.

In a letter, seen by the Herald Sun, CEO Craig Lloyd said Mr McLindon had made “allegations of corrupt behaviour” against Whittlesea council, his colleagues and the chief executive himself.

Craig Lloyd is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the City of Whittlesea.

Citing the Model Councillor Code of Conduct, Mr Lloyd barred the mayor from attending council premises in person and banned him from contacting anyone from the council — other than himself and the councillor conduct officer — outside of discussions during formal meetings.

The mayor denies all allegations.

Whittlesea Council at its February council passed a unanimous vote of no confidence in Mr McLindon after tabling a petition signed by 1153 residents calling for his resignation.

The petition came after residents took umbrage with Mr McLindon’s decision to run for the recent Werribee by-election.

Municipal monitors Jude Munro and Peita Duncan were appointed to Whittlesea City Council in November to guide the newly elected councillors after the previous councillors were dismissed by the state government.

The government cited deeply dysfunctional relationships and personality conflicts for the council dismissal in 2020.

The Whittlesea council was contacted for comment.