This was published 9 months ago
State appoints monitors to watch over Moonee Valley Council
By Kieran Rooney and Caroline Schelle
Municipal monitors have been appointed to watch over the City of Moonee Valley for six months to address what the Allan government flagged as governance issues.
Local Government Minister Melissa Horne confirmed two monitors were appointed on Monday, and would be in their roles until July.
The City of Moonee Valley Council chambers in Moonee Ponds.
“Governance issues at Moonee Valley City Council must be addressed and the appointment of monitors for the next six months will help bring this about,” Horne said.
“The council needs to improve and serve its community to the best of its ability – that is the purpose of local government and a role performed by scores of councils across the state.”
Phillip Carruthers, who has served as an executive at the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman, CSIRO and VicRoads, started his term as monitor on Monday, and his colleague will be announced at a later date.
The state government did not specify why the monitors were appointed, but pointed to terms of reference. They include improving governance practices such as confidentiality requirements, managing conflicts of interest, relationships between councillors and council staff, running meetings and decision-making processes.
Moonee Valley Mayor Pierce Tyson said he welcomed the appointment and wanted the council to be an important case study as the state considered reforms to local government.
“As the Victorian government undergoes possible reforms to the Local Government Act 2020 regarding individual accountability for elected officials, I trust Moonee Valley will serve as an important case study in professional and positive practices,” Tyson said.
He said Mooney Valley voters held elected officials to the highest standard, and he looked forward to demonstrating that over the next six months.
“I encourage our community, staff and councillors to assist the monitors in their duties,” he said.
Ten municipal monitors have been appointed across Victorian councils since the last local elections in 2020.
In September, The Age revealed the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) had seized the phones of four Mooney Valley councillors as part of an investigation into their relationship with a local soccer club.
Investigators raided the homes of councillors Cam Nation, Narelle Sharpe and Jacob Bettio while a fourth councillor, Samantha Byrne, handed over her phone after meeting with IBAC at another location.
The investigation was in its early stages, meaning it may not amount to charges. The Age does not suggest the councillors acted improperly.
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