Premier Jacinta Allan says government monitors are helping bring ‘good governance’ back to Geelong council

As Premier Jacinta Allan defends the government’s 12-month appointment of Geelong council monitors, the cost to ratepayers can be revealed for the first time. HAVE YOUR SAY

Victorian premier Jacinta Allan has defended the ongoing role of council monitors in Geelong. Photo: Alan Barber.

The state government will not commit to releasing a report written by monitors it appointed to oversee Geelong council at a cost to ratepayers of $1296 a day.

The ongoing presence of government-appointed monitors Peter Dorling and Prue Digby has irked some senior figures at City Hall, not least because council must foot the bill, as required under the Local Government Act.

A spokeswoman for local government minister Melissa Horne confirmed Mr Dorling and Ms Digby were being paid a daily rate of $1296.

She said the pair undertook an estimated “two to three days of work per week” between them.

Assuming this workload is accurate and consistent throughout their 12-month appointment, ratepayers would be slugged approximately $200,000.

An allocation for this expenditure in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 council budgets could not be located.

Premier Jacinta Allan defended the monitors’ ongoing role during last week’s visit to Geelong, her first since taking over from Daniel Andrews in September.

She said while the primary duty of the monitors was to oversee the appointment of a new chief executive, Mr Dorling and Ms Digby would continue in their roles until February.

“The new CEO has only started in August, so it’s only a couple of months in the role, and given the recent history, a period of stability is needed over this coming few months as the CEO beds into the role,” Ms Allan said.

City of Greater Geelong chief executive Ali Wastie. Photo: Mark Wilson.

Ms Allan said there had been widely-reported challenges in recent years.

“And that is why taking that step of having monitors appointed is important so that the state government can have confidence around the ongoing governance of the local council, but also too, it’s about giving confidence to the community,” she said.

Ali Wastie was named Geelong council’s new boss in June and commenced in late August.

Ms Wastie, employed on an annual salary above $400,000, and Liberal-aligned mayor Trent Sullivan declined to comment on what role the monitors played on a daily basis.

A council spokeswoman said questions should be directed to the state government.

The monitors are required to provide a report to Ms Horne, with its public release subject to legal advice.

It is understood a number of senior City Hall staff and councillors have grown weary of the monitors’ influence upon decision making, particularly as they were hand-picked by the Labor government.

Ms Allan denied it was attempt to exert influence over Geelong council.

“If you think about the role of the monitor it is to provide stability, to provide support for councils, and also to provide advice that, yes, there are the appropriate governance measures being taken to run council,” she said.

Mr Dorling, a business development manager at Avalon Airport, previously acted as an administrator and monitor of Geelong council from 2016-2019.

Ms Digby was monitor of South Gippsland council in 2021 and 2022, and Frankston council before that.

The pair were appointed to oversee the appointment of the chief executive role after an initial search was botched.

ANALYSIS

At $1296 a day, it’s good work if you can get it.

And for Peter Dorling and Prue Digby, it’s not the first time they’ve got it.

The pair have previously been the state government’s go-to choice to keep an eye on councils causing concern in the corridors of Spring St.

Mr Dorling has a long history of helping out when things go awry at City Hall.

He was front and centre after the Darryn Lyons-led council was unceremoniously sacked by Daniel Andrews.

Ms Digby held similar roles at South Gippsland and Frankston councils after finishing up as Victorian Building Authority boss in 2017.

No one is saying they aren’t qualified.

It’s what they’re doing now that needs to be explained.

The government’s own media release said the monitors were appointed, at the recommendation of the chief municipal inspector, to “guide the recruitment of a new chief executive officer at the City of Greater Geelong”.

That process concluded five months ago.

Now we’re told, by the Premier no less, they’re helping guide Geelong council back to “good governance”.

Call me cynical, but I would’ve thought that’s the role of an experienced chief executive being paid north of $400,000 a year.

Council won’t answer questions, pointing to the state government instead.

The Premier says monitors provide support, stability and advice.

But who’s having the final say on key decisions – councillors, executives or the monitors?

With an eclectic mix of egos in play, it’s hard to imagine this group of well-paid people sitting in a circle within the council chamber singing kumbaya.

All the while, Geelong ratepayers are forced to foot the bill for something they had no role in creating.

Originally published as Premier Jacinta Allan says government monitors are helping bring ‘good governance’ back to Geelong council