Kons says critics can talk to him about why Overland is a good fit

A northern Tasmanian mayor says he’ll take the flak over the appointment of a high-profile former police commissioner as the council’s new general manager. “Love me or hate me – I make things happen,” he said.

• Tasmanian council appoints Simon Overland in top role
• Why Gobbo threatened to pull pin as witness

BURNIE Mayor Steve Kons says the no-nonsense approach of his council’s controversial and high-profile new general manager should see others in the Tasmania city “pull up their socks.”

Former Victoria Police Commissioner and Tasmanian Justice Department’s secretary Simon Overland has been working as a private consultant in Melbourne since being dismissed from Whittlesea Council last year.

Mr Overland, who led the Purana Taskforce on organised crime during Melbourne's gangland wars, has hit the headlines again recently as the Lawyer X royal commission continues.

The 58-year-old will replace Andrew Wardlaw who left Burnie City Council at the end of July.

31/08/20 Former Victorian commissioner Simon Overland near his home in Richmond. Aaron Francis/The Australian

He will move to Tasmania’s North West soon and take up the role at Burnie City Council at the start of November.

Mr Overland was one of 35 applicants for the position received from across Australia and New Zealand.

That number was whittled down to six and four applicants were interviewed before the council decided Mr Overland had the right skills, “experience, intellect and depth of knowledge” the city needed.

Mayor Kons says he does not care if he receives flak over the appointment.

“Love me or hate me I make things happen,” Mr Kons said.

Burnie Mayor Steve Kons in front of his newly developed IKON Hotel at Burnie

“I am happy to talk to anyone about the appointment and why I think it will be great for Burnie. At the moment some of the public criticism is just a populist attack which is not backed by facts.

“I have never met Simon nor have any of the other councillors. But I believe he will be a higher net worth general manager than what he will be paid.”

The salary band for a general manager at Burnie City Council is $240,000 to $260,000.

Mr Kons expects his appointment will see some at council and in the city more broadly “pull up their socks.”

Former Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland departs the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants at the Fair Work Commission in Melbourne earlier this year. (AAP Image/James Ross)

“I expect a flow on effect with standards being enhanced under his watch – including mine,” Mr Kons said.

“I don’t know what happened at Whittlesea Council but it appears it was a dysfunctional council which went through three genera managers in as many years.”

The council was later dismissed by the Victorian parliament.

In relation to Mr Overland’s connection to the infamous Lawyer X affair in Victoria, Mr Kons said from his perspective – as a lawyer – it was Mr Overland and his police team who had been smart getting information on criminals from lawyer Nicola Gobbo.

“It was she who was stupid to act as an informant on her clients. She should go to jail for what happened.”