THE Victorian Local Government Inspectorate is investigating alleged corruption by a Bass Coast councillor.
Details of the incident that prompted the complaint have been leaked to media just weeks before the election.
The council’s chief executive officer, Ali Wastie, today confirmed the investigation but declined to name the councillor.
“Council is unable to comment on the specifics of the matter in order to afford fairness to the individual,” Ms Wastie stated.
In a statement in response to questions from the Post, Ms Wastie said the council’s chief executive officer reported the matter to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) as required by the legislation.
She did not state whether the referral came from her or her predecessor, Paul Buckley, who was in office at the time of the alleged incident.
“Section 57 of the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Act 2011 compels the heads of organisations to notify IBAC when there is reasonable grounds to suspect corruption is occurring or has occurred in the workplace,” Ms Wastie stated.
“IBAC subsequently referred the matter to Victorian Local Government Inspectorate for review.
“The matter solely relates to one councillor and does not involve the organisation nor the broader Councillor group in any way.”