Labor Party expels ‘disloyal’ mayor Emilia Sterjova

Australia’s youngest female mayor has been expelled from the ALP after a disciplinary process.

Whittlesea Council mayor Emilia Lisa Sterjova has accused her critics of mounting a bullying campaign against her, in what is emerging as one of the most dysfunctional councils in Australia. Picture: Supplied

Australia’s youngest female mayor has been expelled from the Labor Party after a lengthy disciplinary process that started days after former Victoria Police chief Simon Overland was removed as the council’s chief executive.

Whittlesea Council mayor Emilia Sterjova, 22, was ousted from the ALP late last month after breaching caucus solidarity by ­accepting a non-Labor vote to help elevate her to the helm of the large outer Melbourne council.

The expulsion came as Ms Sterjova accused her critics of mounting a bullying campaign against her, in what is emerging as one of the most dysfunctional councils in Australia.

Labor confidentially launched disciplinary procedures against Ms Sterjova in December, just over a week after she announced that Mr Overland would be sacked from his $400,000 a year job in northeastern Melbourne.

Simon Overland. Picture: AAP

Ms Sterjova’s disciplinary hearings did not relate directly to Mr Overland but came amid wide concern that the council was not operating to capacity.

One of Ms Sterjova’s fellow Labor-affiliated councillors said Mr Overland had been a good CEO at the time he was dumped before giving evidence to the Lawyer X royal commission.

Mr Overland late last year again became embroiled in controversy over the Lawyer X scandal, where it has emerged police hired a high-profile criminal barrister to act as an informer, imper­illing the criminal justice system.

He announced on November 20 that he would be taking ­indefinite leave from the council but was punted soon afterwards.

Two Labor-aligned councillors had accused Ms Sterjova of breaking solidarity in her bid to win the mayoralty of the municipality that was hit hard by the Black Saturday disaster and has been the subject of significant infighting.

The ALP disputes tribunal sat several times to deal with claims of alleged disloyalty and then allegations from the 22-year-old that she had been bullied by Labor colleagues.

The process, whereby the bullying allegations were not substantiated, also will lead to an overhaul of the way party candidates are chosen nationally.

All ALP members who hold public office will also be informed about all facets of the ALP code of conduct.

The Labor tribunal found against Ms Sterjova, claiming she had been spooked by others into seeking internal council support outside the Labor Party.

“I hope that, at some future stage in life, a wiser and more ­mature Comrade Sterjova may ­reflect on her … behaviour and convince the party of her future commitment to be a team player,’’ a final decision read. The tribunal determination makes no mention of Mr Overland, who was ousted about ­December 10.

The council and Ms Sterjova did not respond to The Australian’s request for comment.

Mr Overland, in a statement posted on the council’s website, said the relations between councillors and between councillors and staff had deteriorated.

“Despite many attempts over the past two years, I have been ­unsuccessful in achieving improvement here, and in many ­respects the behaviours of some councillors have deteriorated, therefore increasing the risks to health and wellbeing,’’ he wrote.

Labor sources said the angst over Mr Overland had contributed to the council’s split but the main issue was whether it was possible to maintain Labor solidarity among the councillors.

While Labor punished Ms Sterjova, it acknowledged that she had concerns about her future and the potential of being ousted as a councillor at this year’s elections.