Councillor’s shock latest move after ‘work’ strip club visit

A Whitehorse councillor has made a surprise return to town hall years after he resigned over an expenses bungle where he tried to charge ratepayers for his visit to a strip club.

Cr Peter Allan has been returned to council 16 years after he resigned over a strip club expensing scandal.

A Whitehorse City Councillor elected in last year’s election had previously resigned from the role more than 15 years ago after admitting claiming a trip to a Canberra strip club as a work-related expense.

In 2008, Peter Allan resigned as a councillor for Whitehorse after he admitted that in 1999 he mistakenly claimed a visit to a Canberra strip club as a work expense.

“I have always been passionate about representing the residents of Whitehorse and I feel that this incident may cast a shadow over the reputation of a council that I have been proud to serve on,’’ Mr Allan said in 2008, when he resigned.

At the time, he said he filed the expense claim in 1999 in error and immediately reimbursed the council when the mistake was discovered.

When he resigned in 2008, Mr Allan called time on a 19-year council career.

Mr Allan, who was elected in last October’s council elections, said the mistaken expense claim was not illegal and was refunded.

Peter Allan was re-elected at the most recent council elections. Picture: Facebook

Mr Allan had been a councillor for 19 years before his resignation in 2008.

“I’m not going to comment as all was said over 16 years ago except to say I was set up by members of the ALP!”

“I did nothing illegal.

“Clumsy with the claim I would agree, which I refunded when asked.

“I left Council as I changed employment at that same time and that work would have impacted on council duties.”

On the Whitehorse council’s website, Mr Allan has listed his key principles as: “Transparency, work to resolve issues, teamwork, honesty, inclusiveness, outcomes for majority support, always contribute, straight forward action!”

In the most recent election, Mr Allan did not mention that he had previously resigned from the council more than 15 years ago due to the strip club scandal.

However, he campaigned on delivering a freeze on council charges and fees, no sell offs of council assets, cleaning up the streets and working with police on public safety solutions.