List of accusations and controversies marks Geelong mayor Darryn Lyons’ term

DARRYN Lyons was the paparazzi king turned “comedy candidate” to be Geelong’s mayor, promising to revitalise the city he was born in, the city he loved.

• Celebrity mayor Lyons facing sack

DARRYN Lyons was the paparazzi king turned “comedy candidate” to be Geelong’s mayor, promising to revitalise the city he was born in, the city he loved.

But his somewhat short term in the robes has been plagued with controversies.

From accusations in his first weeks that he had hired a mate, to the costly Christmas tree that lit up Corio Bay or the T-shirt depicting a naked woman and offensive slogan that he wore to Oktoberfest celebrations, some of the colourful mayor’s shenanigans have raised questions as to whether he is fit to run the city.

Darryn Lyons’ short but controversial term as mayor could be coming to a close.

The defiant mayor escaped several calls for him to resign.

But it may be allegations bullying was rife in the council that bring him undone.

A Commission of Inquiry report will be tabled in Parliament recommending the whole council be sacked.

The State Government in November announced a commission of inquiry into the council.

The move came a month after former Human Rights Commissioner Susan Halliday handed down her findings into the council.

The Halliday report revealed shocking bullying. The words “aggressive, belligerent, threatening, disempowering, sexist, dogged, bombastic, arrogant, rude, spiteful, frightening, demeaning, belittling, objectified, exploitative, calculated, humiliating and intimidating” are used to describe the council.

Mayor Lyons and CEO Kelvin Spiller apologised.

But from then, it was hard to see how Cr Lyons and most of his council could survive.

The commissioner’s inquiry was like lighting a long fuse to the explosive Halliday report.

It has taken six months, but the fuse has finally run out.

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