Barky Regional Council investigation: Final report handed to Minister Chansey Paech

Suspended councillors and those named as part of an Alice Springs lawyer’s investigation into an ailing NT council will receive a briefing and have the opportunity to respond to findings.

Suspended Barkly Mayor Jeffrey McLaughlin. Picture: File

The final report of an investigation into the operations of an ailing Northern Territory council that was suspended last October has been presented to Local Government Minister Chansey Paech, who is now mulling whether to reinstate or dismiss the council.

Barkly Regional Council was placed under official management on October 17 last year after Mr Paech became “satisfied there are, or may be, serious deficiencies in the conduct of the council’s affairs”.

“It is imperative that the council is able to operate effectively so residents receive the services they need and deserve,” he said at the time.

Concerns raised included the council’s fiscal management and service delivery.

As part of the process, all councillors were suspended, with experienced mandarin Peter Holt placed in charge of administering the council in their absence.

Alice Springs lawyer Ruth Morley was tasked with conducting the investigation.

According to publicly available documents, Ms Morley has now presented her final report to Mr Paech, which occurred on March 12.

Barkly Regional Council's official manager Peter Holt. Picture: Barkly Regional Council

“This week face-to-face briefings for all councillors and those referenced in the report will be provided by Ms Morley at the Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet office, independent of council,” Mr Holt wrote in a report tabled during the council’s April 24 ordinary meeting.

“Those referred to in the report will have [an] opportunity over the following 21 days to respond to the report before the minister makes his determination.”

In a statement, Mr Paech said he won’t make his final decision until the three weeks has elapsed and submissions received, in order to ensure procedural fairness.

The options Mr Paech has open to him as minister are to reinstate the council or dismiss it.

If the council is dismissed, it is unclear whether the Barkly’s 8000 residents would be forced back to the polls; by-elections are only required under legislation if the vacancies occur further than 18 months out from the next election.

Barkly Mayor Jeffrey McLaughlin performing a citizen’s arrest on a 12-year-old boy. Picture: File

The next local government elections in the Territory will be held on August 23 next year – just under 16 months’ away.

Last year was an annus horribilis for the embattled council.

In March, chief executive Emma Bradbury quit suddenly after months of questions about the council’s management and a number of staff resignations.

The council is now onto its fourth chief executive in the space of 12 months, with current supremo, Jeff MacLeod, the long-serving former CEO of MacDonnell Regional Council, acting in the job until the end of May.

Applications for the new permanent CEO role closed on April 15.

Separate to the council’s difficulties locking down a permanent boss, suspended Mayor Jeff McLaughlin has also found himself in hot water.

Last year, he was charged with multiple drug offences – drug driving, possession and supply, and cultivating cannabis plants – all of which he has pleaded not guilty to.

He further courted controversy when he performed a citizens arrest on a 12-year-old boy on August 21 last year.

Originally published as Barky Regional Council investigation: Final report handed to Minister Chansey Paech