Hobsons Bay council CEO suspended

A western suburbs council has stood down their chief executive amid an investigation into workplace “safety” concerns.

Hobsons Bay Council chief executive Aaron van Egmond has been suspended. Source Hobsons bay

A western suburbs council has stood down their chief executive amid an investigation into workplace “safety” concerns.

Hobsons Bay City Council suspended their chief executive Aaron van Egmond “effective immediately” after an “unscheduled” meeting on Saturday.

Mayor Daria Kellander said councillors had become “aware of concerns about safety in the workplace and the CEO’s fulfilment of his duties more broadly” in a statement.

“Councillors take these matters very seriously and have made this decision following thorough and careful consideration, pending further investigations,” she said.

It comes one month after the Australian Services Union said they had received complaints from “numerous” members about the “behaviour of certain managers” at Hobsons Bay, and raised a formal dispute.

The union said WorkSafe Victoria was also “looking into these issues” and were “closely watching Hobsons Bay”.

“Numerous ASU members at Hobsons Bay have contacted the union with complaints regarding the behaviour of certain managers and consequential impacts on the health and safety of workers,” the statement said.

The union’s statement, issued a few days before Christmas, did not specify which managers they were referring to, and did not name Mr van Egmond.

Ms Kellander said the council would not make any further comments at this time, “given the sensitivity of these matters for all concerned”.

Originally published as Hobsons Bay council CEO suspended