THE man responsible for the sacking of Brimbank Council in 2009 says the municipality is ready for a return to democracy.
Now-opposition local government spokesman Richard Wynne sacked the council while Labor was in government, following a damning report by the Ombudsman backed up by another from local government inspector, Bill Scales.
Mr Scales’ report showed a failure of councillors to reform their practices and address issues of probity and misconduct.
Incidents included an attempt by a councillor to inappropriately challenge a parking fine, leaking of confidential information, and an attempt at undue influence of councillors by an outside organisation.
Mr Scales said the sacking and three-year time lapse before elections was necessary “to ensure that power relationships and alliances that are, or have the potential to undermine good government and governance, are dissipated”.
Now only six months out from elections, Mr Wynne said that if Local Government Minister Jeanette Powell had any intention of keeping the council under administration, she should have spoken up by now.
“I would say that it’s too late in the election cycle for her to make such a decision,” he said.
“[The council] will have been suspended for three years and it’s time for a return to a democratically elected council.”
The Weekly reported last October that sacked councillors Marion Martin, Margaret Giudice, Troy Atanasovski and Sam David had all indicated they could stand as candidates.
Mr Wynne said there was nothing standing in their way of getting involved again at the October election.
“They are not precluded from standing. It will be up to the electorate to have their say.”
A spokesman for Mrs Powell said legislation to keep Brimbank under administration would have to pass Parliament by September 20.
