Former Moonee Valley mayor Cam Nation makes dramatic exit following IBAC probe

A Moonee Valley councillor whose home was raided as part of an IBAC investigation has abruptly quit after complaining it was too hard to log into council meetings remotely.

Cam Nation was a former Moonee Valley mayor.

A former mayor whose home was raided as part of an IBAC probe has abruptly resigned during a dramatic council meeting.

City of Moonee Valley councillor Cam Nation blindsided colleagues when he announced on Tuesday night that he would immediately step down after serving more than a decade as a councillor.

“As everyone around the chamber can attest to, juggling council duties with work and family is an ongoing challenge, made even more difficult by the remuneration for Victorian councillors,” he said.

Mr Nation, who streamed into the meeting via video link, admitted he had been living outside of his electorate in regional Victoria for some time.

Mr Nation made the shock announcement on Tuesday night that he was immediately stepping down.

“It was my original intention to see out this council term but the reality is, it’s become more and more challenging to beam in from motels and hotels from regional Victoria and internationally,” he said.

Immediately after making the announcement, Mr Nation exited the council meeting.

Deputy mayor Narelle Sharp said: “Wow, he’s literally gone.”

“I wasn’t expecting any of that, obviously,” she said.

In a statement to the Herald Sun, Mr Nation said living outside of Melbourne limited his ability to “properly fulfil my role and to attend meetings, events and workshops”.

“As we’re still outside the six month window from the next council elections, stepping down now will still enable another councillor to be elected and for our ward to have proper representation particularly at budget time,” he said.

“It will also give the new Councillor a good run into the 2024 elections.”

Mr Nation was one of three councillors whose homes were raided last year as part of an IBAC investigation into the council’s relationship with sports clubs.

The others were Jacob Bettio and Ms Sharpe. Cr Bettio was later charged with drug offences by Victoria Police as a result of those warrants.

One source familiar with the investigation said Mr Nation’s resignation, while not unexpected, was abrupt.

“It seems like a ‘leave before you are shoved’ resignation,” they said.

“It seems like he saw the writing on the wall.”

In January this year, municipal monitors were appointed to watch over the council for six months.

Moonee Valley Council Mayor Pierce Tyson said Mr Nation’s resignation took immediate effect.

“The Minister for Local Government and Victorian Electoral Commissioner have been notified of the resignation and the VEC is expected to fill the vacancy as per the Local Government Act 2020,” Mr Tyson said.

Mr Nation had served three terms as representative for the Buckley and Myrnong wards.