‘Extraordinary’: Wyndham councillor Jasmine Hill calls bullying allegations a ‘political game’

A deputy mayor alleged to have humiliated and screamed at staff has said the accusations are being ‘weaponized’ for political gain.

A deputy mayor at the centre of serious bullying accusations believes the allegations are being “weaponized” for political games.

Complaints by eight Wyndham City staff members alleging abuse, humiliation and harassment by councillor Jasmine Hill were revealed this month after Ms Hill asked for them to be made public.

“It‘s pretty clear I don’t believe I make (sic) anything wrong, but if I do (sic) I’m very willing to make changes to improve myself,” she said at the time.

At the city of Wyndham’s council meeting on October 26, fellow councillor Josh Gilligan put forward a motion asking council to refer the allegations to an independent panel.

“The evidence before us, now that we have a summary of allegations, was widespread and more serious than I initially understood it to be,” he said.

“What we’re talking about is extraordinary … we’re talking about 19 allegations.

“I do still believe that given the sheer series of allegations put that Cr Hill should still be stood down by the Minister or simply stand herself down, I know I would.”

Wyndham City Council Deputy Mayor Jasmine Hill has been accused of bullying.

Wyndham Council councillor Josh Gilligan.

The allegations originate from a confidential report initiated by newly-appointed chief executive Stephen Wall to examine the treatment of staff by councillors.

The confidential report was never shared with council, but led him to write to Local Government Minister Melissa Horne for advice and to implement training for councillors.

Allegations of intimidation, harassment, yelling and screaming have been directed against Ms Hill, however the “majority” of Wyndham’s councillors were allegedly named in the report.

The allegations against Ms Hill allegedly occurred between February 2021 and May 2022.

Ms Hill abstained from voting on the motion to refer the allegations to a councillor conduct panel and took aim at Mr Gilligan for his “political games”.

“For you to single me out and publicly shame me as if I was the only councillor contained in the report … I feel I have been judged guilty in the court of public opinion.”

“I sincerely want to understand the details of allegations against me, if I ever inadvertently offended anyone I hope they will tell me directly or by the CEO.”

She called on Mr Gilligan to ask for any allegations against himself to be made public to prove his “commitment to openness and transparency”.

The motion passed with 10 councillors voting in favour and Ms Hill abstaining.

In August, an independent councillor urged Wyndham’s councillors to “think about the expense to ratepayers” after infighting led to a costly arbitration process.

Several councillors have previously written to Local Government Minister Melissa Horne urging her to appoint an independent monitor to oversee the council amid the bullying allegations.