A Sunbury-based Hume councillor has warned new standards that would let the state government stand down a councillor for up to six months to allow a panel to hear serious claims could further politicise councils.
Cr Jack Medcraft, who was suspended for 28 days earlier this year following claims he tussled with a ratepayer over a sign and yelled at a number of people, said changes announced by Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins on Wednesday were ‘‘heading towards dictatorship’’.
‘‘If you have a council dominated by a political party, they can go and set up another councillor and have them rubbed out for six months for what turns out to be hearsay,’’ Cr Medcraft said. ‘‘It’s a very dangerous situation.’’
Cr Medcraft was stood down in April following a probe into claims he breached the code of conduct during a heated meeting about Sunbury’s separation from Hume.
The Municipal Association of Victoria hearing, which followed an independent inquiry held earlier this year, followed complaints made after the Broadmeadows Town Hall meeting last September. Cr Medcraft, who has described the two-person MAV panel as a ‘‘kangaroo court’’, said the government had to ensure councillors were given a fair hearing.
‘‘If they’re going to stand councillors down as a result of panels, are those panels going to be properly constituted?” he asked. ‘‘Are [witnesses] going to be under oath when evidence is given?’’
Under the proposed rules, councillors would be required to agree to codes of conduct before taking office. Councils will have to establish formal procedures to deal with allegations.
Ms Hutchins said the changes, to be introduced to State Parliament during the next month, would clarify expectations and ensure councils could quickly respond to misbehaviour.
‘‘The proposed bill will give councils and the government a broader range of powers to deal with councillors in breach of their codes of conduct,’’ she said.
‘‘I have consulted widely about the need to improve the current councillor conduct rules and I’ve heard loud and clear that we need a system that can respond quickly and appropriately.’’
