By Esther Lauaki
Tensions are showing at Brimbank council with accusations of gagging and “sweeping things under the carpet” following a vote of no confidence in mayor Georgina Papafotiou.
At last week’s council meeting, Harvester ward councillor John Hedditch requested a review of the Local Government Inspectorate’s recent investigation into a complaint which cleared the mayor of any misconduct.
But the motion, which was supported by only Cr Virginia Tachos, was voted down by the majority of councillors without debate.
Cr Hedditch followed up with a vote of no confidence in the mayor and which was also voted down.
“Cr Tachos and I were gagged,” he told Star Weekly.
“I was not even 60 seconds into my speech when I was shut down by the factional group.
“There was no opportunity for the public to hear what is really going on in this council.
“The toxic culture that is there is being swept under the carpet and there is a clean up needed of the people that are doing this.”
Star Weekly previously reported that Cr Virginia Tachos had raised a complaint with the inspectorate, claiming she was ordered to take a COVID-19 test by the mayor following receipt of an anonymous email.
Cr Tachos missed a council meeting and an important confidential vote while taking the test on April 29.
The Local Government Inspectorate later informed the council that no further action would be taken in relation to the complaint.
Cr Papafotiou said earlier this month that she was the victim of a “politically motivated attack”.
“I can tell you now that the actions of some, however hurtful, misdirected, and destructive they might be … will not distract me from my work,” Cr Papafotiou said.
“Rather, those acts of distraction and subversion only strengthen me to call them out, to keep going and, where appropriate, to push back.
“There is simply no place for this type of behavior and attitude.”
