Celebrity mayor Darryn Lyons and Geelong council sacked

LATEST: CELEBRITY mayor Darryn Lyons has been sacked by the Andrews Government but he is already positioning himself for another tilt at politics. READ LYONS’ STATEMENT

CELEBRITY mayor Darryn Lyons has been sacked by the Andrews Government but he is already positioning himself for another tilt at politics.

The controversial mayor and the rest of dysfunctional Geelong council were dismissed after a scathing report unmasked Mr Lyons as an abusive bully during his time in charge.

Laws passed Parliament tonight after last-minute amendments allowed fresh elections to be held in Geelong next year, rather than Labor’s original proposal for elections in 2020.

But a defiant Mr Lyons said he had been “vilified and hounded from office” and promised to “continue to do (his) utmost for Geelong and its people”.

Geelong Mayor Darryn Lyons speaks to the media as he leaves State Parliament. Picture: Hamish Blair

He said he thought he’d instilled a sense of pride for his city, via “the Christmas tree, CBD lighting ... and through the enormous media exposure” he brought to the town.

“Contrary to what some doomsayers might tell you, Geelong is a far better place now than it was when I was voted mayor,” he said.

“Since I arrived, unemployment has dropped from 8.5 to 5.5 per cent.

“Geelong ratepayer satisfaction rating, as measured by the State Government, has climbed from 55 to 69 against a state average of just 53.

“But as we’ve seen, these were not wanted by certain featherbedded interests at City Hall, at the top end of town, and in higher political circles.”

“I will continue to work to raise the city’s profile, to broaden its jobs base, to attract investors and to enhance the community’s pride in this great place,” Mr Lyons said.

“Like it or not, you haven’t heard the last of me. I’m not going anywhere else.”

Darren Lyons says he’s “not going anywhere”. Picture: Hamish Blair

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said he would not be surprised if Mr Lyons tried to reclaim his place as mayor next year, when elections will be held after a period of administration.

“Would he win? He’s probably still pretty popular in Geelong,” Mr Guy said.

“I think he’s got a fair following ... and it wouldn’t surprise me if he stood again and won.”

Asked if he would run for mayor again, Mr Lyons said it would depend on the new council model installed in Geelong.

Government MP Philip Dalidakis said in Parliament that councillors who felt “disaffected” would have the opportunity to put their case to the Geelong community at next year’s elections.

The Commission for Inquiry into Geelong council found Mr Lyons’ bullying of his staff had damaged their health and wellbeing and forced some to be relocated.

Darryn Lyons faces the sack as Geelong Mayor. Picture: Jay Town

He once asked if staff were “f---ing dumb” and suggested one should be “picking up dog s---”.

On another occasion, Mr Lyons said: “F--- me, I’m the mayor”.

But he defended himself, claiming he had been brought down for political reasons.

“I didn’t suffer fools and I demanded accountability. I did bring the passion, vision and change that I promised the electorate,” Mr Lyons said.

“Facts have been twisted and tarnished. The real villains holding back City Hall and Geelong have escaped unscathed. People championing Geelong have been vilified and hounded from office.”

Mr Lyons had met with crossbench MPs in a last-ditch bid to save his job but a source said he had not convinced the minor parties.

“He is certainly good at tap dancing around what are pretty serious issues,’’ they said.

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DARRYN LYONS’ STATEMENT

I stand here today with a mix of emotions.

I want to thank from the bottom of my heart so many people who have helped me, supported me, over the past two and a half years as Mayor of Geelong.

Members of the community, co-workers at the City of Greater Geelong, my friends and family, fellow councillors - well, most of them. They have been magnificent.

Contrary to what some doomsayers might tell you, Geelong is a far better place now than it was when I was voted mayor.

And remember, I was voted to clean up deeply-rooted problems at City Hall that were holding business and investment back. To resurrect a dying CBD.

To fix the entrenched problems that drove Keith Fagg, a good man, from office.

Since I arrived, unemployment has dropped from 8.5 to 5.5 per cent since I was voted mayor.

Geelong ratepayer satisfaction rating, as measured by the State Government, has climbed from 55 to 69 against a state average of just 53.

Geelong’s civic pride has been rejuvenated through such things as the Christmas tree, CBD lighting and greening, through the enormous media exposure I’ve brought the town.

Investor interest in Geelong is huge, multiple major constructions projects are going ahead in the CBD, confidence has been renewed. There is more than $1 billion in construction projects poised to start in the city centre.

Geelong is a flourishing smart city driven by exceptional enterprises in health, education, scientific, research, commerce and new manufacturing. It did not look like this when I became mayor, with Ford and Alcoa in the gun, uncertainty about Shell.

It still has challenges, no doubt. But Geelong is far better placed for the future now than it was two and a half years ago.

I have worked with some brilliant people over my term as mayor. I didn’t suffer fools and I demanded accountability. I did bring the passion, vision and change that I promised the electorate.

But as we’ve seen, these were not wanted by certain featherbedded interests at City Hall, at the top end of town, and in higher political circles.

In fact, they’ve stopped at absolutely nothing to ensure that public mandate could not be delivered.

Facts have been twisted and tarnished. The real villains holding back City Hall and Geelong have escaped unscathed. People championing Geelong have been vilified and hounded from office.

Even so, I hope the State and Federal Government’s supposed attempt to clean out the institutionalised problems at City Hall has more success than I did.

If it can manage to divorce its own political interests from the job at hand it might have some luck. I can’t say I’m confident but I wish it well.

Most importantly, though, I wish Geelong well. It is a magnificent city and a magnificent community of people.

It deserves much better than the fate it is being served today. And I hope voters remember this day at the next State election.

In the meantime, I will continue to do my utmost for Geelong and its people.

I will continue to work to raise the city’s profile, to broaden its jobs base, to attract investors and to enhance the community’s pride in this great place.

Like it or not, you haven’t heard the last of me. I’m not going anywhere else.