Whittlesea councillors boycott Overland as Lawyer X scandal deepens

Five councillors have refused to attend tonight’s Whittlesea Council meeting in protest over Simon Overland continuing in his $400,000 a year chief executive role amid the Lawyer X scandal.

Simon Overland outside his home. Picture: Jason Edwards

Five councillors refused to attend last night’s Whittlesea Council meeting in protest over Simon Overland continuing in his $400,000 a year chief executive role amid the Lawyer X scandal.

Councillors Ricky Kirkham, Alahna Desiato, Caz Monteleone, Mary Lalios and Norm Kelly were no shows yesterday evening.

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There are 11 councillors at Whittlesea, so only one extra councillor would need to switch allegiances to force Mr Overland out.

Mr Overland appeared calm as he opened the meeting with the Lord’s Prayer.

CEO Simon Overland at Tuesday’s Whittlesea Council meeting. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Mayor Lawrie Cox followed with a statement of support for the CEO, also taking aim at the missing councillors.

“This council fully supports and endorses our CEO,” he said.

“I’m not going to be party to kicking one of our staff members.

“For councillors not to show up, I cannot accept that.”

He continued: “Disappointing aspects of attacks on our CEO by the media, to me as a mayor and on behalf of the council, are unacceptable.”

“You elect councillors, you pay them an allowance and if they don’t turn up that’s not acceptable,” Cr Cox said.

The Herald Sun has seen a video message that was sent by Mr Overland to council staff on Friday, in which he implores them to “ignore the rubbish”.

“I just want to acknowledge that there has been a great deal of publicity about my former roles with Victoria Police,” he says in the video.

“I’m not at liberty to talk about any of that publicly and so I won’t.

“It doesn’t actually relate to what we’re doing here at the City of Whittlesea and we just need to ignore the rubbish that’s happening out there and just stay focused.”

Justifying the council meeting boycott, Mr Kirkham told the Herald Sun.

“Five out of eleven councillors will not be attending council tonight,” he said.

“Simon has not responded to very serious concerns raised last Thursday. His silence is alarming.

“Any suggestion it is business as usual is simply not the case.”

Ricky Kirkham will boycott a council meeting over concerns about Simon Overland. Picture: AAP

It comes amid concerns about reprisals against Mr Overland due to his part in the Lawyer X police informer scandal.

Former police chief Mr Overland had regular meetings with Lawyer X when he was head of the Purana Taskforce and later when he was deputy commissioner.

He is accused of ignoring concerns from both handlers and senior colleagues though he denies that he knew she was informing on her clients.

Councillors have demanded that Mr Overland explain how he believes he will be able to continue as head of the council when the royal commission begins investigating the scandal.

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Mr Kirkham called for Local Government minister Adem Somyurek to step in if Mr Overland digs in.

“It is time for the Minister for Local Government to consider intervening,” he said.

“A special council meeting will be called for next Tuesday to force this issue to a head — ratepayers deserve better.”

Mr Overland told staff in an email last Friday afternoon that he would remain focused on the job despite the unfolding legal and political storm.

Mr Cox has repeatedly defended Mr Overland, who was subject to a death threat after he was appointed in August last year.

Alahna Desiato has raised safety concerns about Mr Overland. Picture: Supplied

Whittlesea councillor Caz Monteleone will join the boycott. Picture: Supplied.

He said in a statement on Friday the Lawyer X affair would not impact council business. “This week’s announcement of a royal commission into events affecting the Victorian Police force and subsequent court proceedings are really a matter for lawyers to argue,” Mr Cox said.

“This does not and will not impact upon the operations of the City of Whittlesea including council, staff and the community we serve.”

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