Knox Council quashes motion to call in IBAC on back of Casey Council investigation
All eyes have been on Casey Council and its grilling by the anti-corruption commission, and now a councillor from a neighbouring municipality wants his own colleagues investigated — but his idea has been met with opposition.
Outer East
Don't miss out on the headlines from Outer East. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission won’t be invited to investigate Knox Council despite a bid to prove councillors are “squeaky clean”.
In light of IBAC’s examination into Casey Council following allegations of corrupt conduct between councillors and property developers, Knox Council heard a motion to invite the watchdog into its offices.
Cr Darren Pearce said with the October 2020 election on the horizon he wanted to make sure every resident knew there was no doubt every councillor had acted in a proper way at all times.
However, other councillors did not agree an investigation was needed and the motion was quashed.
“That’s what I’m talking about, we say to the commission, we are so confident the nine of us execute our responsibilities properly and we want you to come investigate us, check our affairs,” Cr Pearce said.
As part of his motion to the council, Cr Pearce wanted any financial transactions or dealings with property developers who had business interests within Knox that might be in conflict with the Local Government Act investigated.
He also wanted the commission to look into any undisclosed financial contributions from property developers.
“This is all about full transparency and accountability,” Cr Pearce said.
He said it was about being proactive and telling the community the council was confident its representatives had acted properly.
But Cr Jake Keogh said any member of the community or at council, who believed there was an issue, could independently lodge a complaint with IBAC.
“I just want to put it on the record, I don’t think we should ever be doing anything just because it’s an election year, we should be doing it because it’s the right thing to do,” Cr Keogh said.
Mayor Nicole Seymour said she did not believe a “knee-jerk reaction” was needed by inviting an IBAC investigation to prove councillors were “squeaky clean”.
“I have enough confidence we are doing the right thing,” Cr Seymour said.
MORE: ‘DISTRESSED’: FEARS FOR PUPPY STOLEN NINE DAYS AGO
CHILDREN IN DESPERATE NEED OF SAFE HOMES, CHARITY SAYS
VIDEO SHOWS CAR SLAM INTO BORONIA TREE, SPLITTING IN HALF
“If there is any person in the community, or on council that has any foundation for any thought of impropriety then now is the time to come forward and take your concerns directly to IBAC.”
Cr Seymour said she understood if there was a problem at the council and a person was privy to that knowledge, then they had a moral responsibility to do something.
“If the CEO knows there is a problem it’s mandatory reporting, so therefore there is enough protocols in place to actually progress something, not for us to get on a soapbox and say ‘hey, hey look what we’ve done, we’ve invited IBAC, we’re squeaky clean’.”