Nic Street extends the deadline for the Dorset Council Board of Inquiry

A northern Tasmanian region will continue to be without a functioning council, after an investigation into suspended members was extended. Find out why.

Former Dorset council GM Tim Watson and Mayor Greg Howard in happier times. Picture: Facebook/ Dorset Council

Fresh allegations have come to light about the conduct of the suspended Dorset Council, which has led to an investigation into the council being extended.

The council was stood down in July last year, and a Board of Inquiry (BoI) was established to look into the dealings of the council.

Mayor Greg Howard, of Tasmania's Dorset Council, who is currently suspended.

The decision came after an initial probe by Director of Local Government, Mathew Healey, who suggested there had been governance failings.

The BoI was due to report back to Local Government Minister Nic Street at the end of February, but in light of the “a number of emerging issues”, the date has been pushed out to April 30.

Mr Street said the issues were uncovered after a large number of members of the public made submissions to the BoI.

“It is very important that the Board has the appropriate time to thoroughly investigate and consider all significant issues raised through its investigation before it reports to me with its findings and recommendations,” he said.

Minister Nic Street. Picture: Alex Treacy

There were a number of concerns raised in Mr Healy’s report, which the BoI was tasked with looking into, according to the BoI’s terms of reference.

This included the possibility that councillors or the general manager allowed “retributive action” against people who disagreed with the council, that conflicts of interest were not properly managed by council officials, and that the council allowed the general manager to operate “without due regard for the law”.

In August, Mr Street said there BoI being established should not be taken as a finding of wrong doing.

While the council is suspended, Dorset Council operations have been taken over by Commissioner Andrew Wardlaw, who was appointed in August.

The council’s General Manager, John Marik, who was appointed in December 2022, has continued in his role since the council was stood down.

In an answer to a question from a community member, published last month, Mr Wardlaw said Mr Marik was not obliged to resign or reapply for his position.

“The current suspension of councillors does not retrospectively affect the legitimacy of Mr Marik’s appointment,” Mr Wardlaw said.

“His contract remains legally binding.”

Originally published as Nic Street extends the deadline for the Dorset Council Board of Inquiry