Bass Coast councillor in corruption probe

Councillor in corruption probe

25/9/2020

By Catherine Watson

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.

The councillor under investigation is standing for re-election to the council.

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.”

37 Comments

Felicia

25/9/2020 11:53:20 am

First with the news once again. Thank you Catherine

Yvonne McRae

25/9/2020 12:23:44 pm

Well researched Catherine as usual. I hope there are more details BEFORE ratepayers are to vote in the upcoming election. Yvonne

ian Samuel

25/9/2020 01:23:51 pm

Unfortunately for the community a catch 22 situation.
As the accused is not guilty until proven, but if found guilty after the election this will require a by election to replace an elected councilor.

Brett Tessari

25/9/2020 12:42:43 pm

Just like to let everybody know it is not me being investigated, that is the only comment I can and will make at this stage. Regards Brett

TREVOR BROWN

26/9/2020 11:42:08 am

Well done Brett. Now we know one councilor it isn't. Perhaps if the rest of the innocent councilors could advise that it's not them we would have a better idea of who it is. So much for loyalty Brett????? All councilors who have put their hands up as it not being them should hang their collective heads in shame. Rather than this being a reason for returning them i would think it a better reason for not.

michael whelan

25/9/2020 12:46:46 pm

This is unfortunate and leads inevitably to speculation on the whole group. I can say that I have not seen any instance of corruption in my time and respect all of my colleagues on the Council. I am placed in a position of having to affirm my innocence and can further confirm that I was interstate at an Australian Coastal Council conference at the time the alleged incident occurred.

Mikhaela Barlow link

25/9/2020 12:50:20 pm

Thanks for bringing light to this important issue, Catherine. I hope we find out more before the election!

Jeni Jobe

25/9/2020 02:13:04 pm

The timing does make the accusation very suspect, I hope we are not having state style politics intruding into our local government democratic process.

Cr Clare Le Serve

25/9/2020 02:13:14 pm

It has come to my attention that the Victorian Local Government Inspectorate is investigating alleged corruption allegations of a Bass Coast Councillor.
I would like to state that I am not under investigation by IBAC. I fully understand the legal rules and responsibilities of being a Councillor and as this is a legal matter and I am unable to make any further comments.

Cr Bruce Kent

25/9/2020 02:14:52 pm

Just confirming that I am not under investigation by IBAC. I fully understand the legal rules that IBAC work under and it would be inappropriate and possibly unlawful for me to make any further comment.

Cr Geoff Ellis

25/9/2020 02:16:10 pm

I am aware that a media outlet has released comments that a Bass Coast Councillor is under investigation by IBAC.
I can confirm that I am not under investigation by IBAC.
I fully understand the legal structure that IBAC operates under.
It would be inappropriate and possibly unlawful for me to make any further comment.

Anne Heath Mennell

25/9/2020 02:57:56 pm

Wow. Shades of Hillary in 2016. Given the alleged incident was at least a couple of years ago (if under previous CEO) why is it being made public now and by whom? If every Councillor confirms it is not them, the person involved will not remain anonymous for much longer, with all that implies for the election campaign. What a terrible way to end a hardworking Council which has achieved so much.

Theresa A O'Dea

25/9/2020 04:21:19 pm

Hmmmm.. As a rate payer, there is a lot to answer, however, this would not be the first in the last 100yrs and won't be the last

Ronnie Bauer

25/9/2020 08:19:18 pm

The timing of this news is very unfortunate.
Especially since according to the Sentinal this complaint was lodged two years ago.
I sincerely hope that the Bass Coast elections doesn’t descend into gutter politics. All candidates should be judged on their promises and/or their track record in office.

Cr Geoff Ellis

27/9/2020 02:04:56 pm

Ronnie, I fully agree with your comment.

Julie Thomas

25/9/2020 08:39:43 pm

I think the leaking of this information is regrettable and that on-sharing of it is irresponsible, given that the person is not able to be named.

This puts other councillors in a position of having to publicly state their non-involvement, as seen in above comments.

By omission, the person under investigation may end up being identified. This is not fair and not helpful to the investigation process.

Ian

26/9/2020 10:31:47 am

This investigation has now been reported in detail in today's Age newspaper.
In view of upcoming council elections, the legal question is can a serving councilor continue to be on council or be nominated for re-election when subject to an IBAC investigation.
This needs urgent clarification by the bass Coast CEO Ali Wastie prior to election voting

christopher day

26/9/2020 10:38:36 am

Disgraceful action by who ever leaked this information. If it's right that this was in regard to "something that happened 2 years ago" even worse. If that proves to be right even more explanation by Bass Coast CEO is required or as suggested should go to IBAC.
Our Community overall has little trust in Bass Coast Council and the way it operates but for most of us there are more important things happening in our lives than local government issues. Great shame this election is being held at this time when a large number of rate payers can't even visit their property's in Bass Coast Area Yet the Bills keep flowing in!! After the "performance" of our 3 local Councillors in regard to the Public Meeting in San Remo on the Skate Park the 3 existing local councillors re standing for election are very lucky they are not standing against a number of candidates. Any other year they would
be.

Kevin Griffin

26/9/2020 11:27:29 am

I disagree with you Ian, that’s not a legal question that that needs to be answered because, surely the answer is already obvious.

Firstly, the allegations are unproven, and have not been yet tested by either IBAC or VLGI.

Secondly, the requirements of the Act will already be well known to Councillors, the CEO and council administrators.
Indeed, the Sentinel Times is now reporting that the matter was reported to IBAC back in October 2018, but went uninvestigated at the time. (Perhaps IBAC determined the matter did not merit further investigation?)

I have no doubt that the CEO and/or the Victorian Electoral Commission will have already made Cr. Larke aware as to what the legal requirements are. As Cr. Larke and other Councillors have publicly acknowledged, they are legally bound by confidentiality.

However it remains in the interests of justice that the following public questions to be put to CEO Ali Wastie:

• Will the CEO also refer to IBAC the allegation that a Councillor (or someone at council) leaked this sensitive and confidential information to the media?
• Will the CEO conduct an internal investigation into who at Council may have leaked this sensitive and confidential information to the media?
• Does the CEO have any idea already as to who at Council might have leaked this sensitive and confidential information to the media?

One question I’m certain that the community already knows the answer to is why the sneak(s) released this sensitive and confidential information to the media on the eve of Council elections.

ian

26/9/2020 02:09:00 pm

Kevin Yes Firstly I agree that the leak of this confidential and sensitive information must be immediately investigated as it improper and is prejudicial.
Secondly although it is no doubt already known by the CEO if there is a legal restriction on a candidate facing election, the community needs to be advised now that this has been leaked into the public domain so that elections can proceed without further damage being done to public confidence or individual integrity

Kevin Griffin

26/9/2020 02:56:51 pm

Ian, I have no doubt that if there were any legal restriction that point would have been flagged to the community and BCP from some source by now. Possibly even by the person(s) that leaked the information.

But as you point out, some community members would like to know the answer to your question, and quickly.

Now I’m willing to wager that Catherine has Ali’s number, and that Ali would take her call. On that basis I recommend that Catherine call Ali now.
That way Catherine gets the scoop, and the rest of us get to know the answer to your question as soon as is possible.
What do you think?

Kevin Griffin

26/9/2020 01:34:33 pm

Catherine I observe that you have censored out my questions to each of the comments published by the Councillors individually.

Do you wish to offer your readers the courtesy of an explanation of your action?.

Catherine Watson, editor

26/9/2020 02:08:13 pm

Kevin, I haven't censored you. You've made your point. Once is enough.

Mark Robertson

26/9/2020 08:13:59 pm

Before some post readers lose track of the issue at stake here I would like to pose several questions. Firstly, was it appropriate for a councillor to allegedly attempt to buy votes from other councillors in order to wear the mayoral robes? Secondly, was it the right thing to do to refer this to the proper authorities? Thirdly, was it sensible to keep this from ratepayers and voters for two years? Finally, I would ask readers to please not "shoot the messenger".

TREVOR BROWN

27/9/2020 09:23:50 am

Hi Mark, couldn't agree more that it is not appropriate for a councilor to allegedly buy votes from other councilors in order to wear the Mayoral robes. If in fact this happened it is the right thing to do to refer it to the proper authorities. It appears that this was done some two years ago and IBAC has not done anything about it. This would, at face value, suggest that there may not have been any substance to the allegation. Therefore it was probably proper to not have this matter in the public domain. We don't know who the messenger is and his or her motives for taking this action. I think that this should be referred to the proper authorities not because of what the leak was about but, because the leak occurred at all.

Sharon Harrison

27/9/2020 07:57:14 am

I have had first-hand dealings with Councillor Les Larke over the past couple of years. I have found him to be a diligent and committed Councillor. In my experience, he has returned phone calls and taken the time to speak to me. He has provided considered responses to requests for information and feedback, where other Councillors have not even responded. In my dealings with him, he has also referred matters I have raised with Council Officers and ensured that matters were addressed.

Trevor Brown

27/9/2020 08:01:18 am

Sharon, I totally agree with you in relation to councilor Larke. I have also had occasion to ask Councilor Larke for assistance. I found him responsive and informed and prepared to give concise and unbiased responses. It may be a coincidence but, at the time this matter was apparently referred to IBAC, Councilor Larke had been raising questions about the financial operation of the council. I also agree that it would be a crying shame if this councilor was not re-elected.

Sharon Harrison

27/9/2020 08:11:44 am

Councillor Larke has been an advocate of greater transparency. I note that at the Council Meeting on 18 September 2019 Councillors Les Larke and Julian Brown were the only Councillors to vote against the Motion by Councillors Pamela Rothfield and Geoff Ellis to block the Bass Coast Shire Council Meeting Livestreaming Policy 2019. Councillors Stephen Fullarton, Clare Le Serve, Brett Tessari, Michael Whelan and Bruce Kent all supported the motion to block the livestreaming of Council meetings.

Frank W Schooneveldt

27/9/2020 08:54:16 am

I totally agree with the questions Mark Robinson has raised.
I note that in the Australian High Court there is mandatory retirement of judges when they reach 70 years of age.
In my option this should also apply to all levels of government in order to reduce the likelihood of extraordinary decisions.
Cheers

Sharon Harrison

27/9/2020 11:17:46 am

I have to disagree with you here. The reason I voted for Councillor Larke at the last election is that he comes to the Council with a great deal of experience in financial management and governance. Councillor Larke is the former general manager at State Trustees and a certified practising accountant of CPA Australia.

Frank W Schooneveldt

27/9/2020 05:53:49 pm

Sharon,
Irrespective of these new allegations Les Larke has done so much damage to our Council particularly for misleading his follow councillors re the the Shire finances and his judgement that we were living beyond our means. Analysis of the various budgets showed that this was not so.
The overturning of the $17 million Cowes Cultural Centre is a case in point. Here we are four years later and we are only now starting the $19 million Cowes Cultural Centre.
That’s four years of wasted time and I hate waste. It’s time we never get back.

IBAC and the VLGI need to rapidly assess these serious allegations.

Sharon Harrison

28/9/2020 07:13:46 am

I agree with Frank W Schoonveldt regarding the need for an expedited resolution of the IBAC and VLGI investigations. I also concur with Kevin Griffin that, given that the alleged incident was referred to IBAC in 2018, perhaps IBAC determined at the time that action was not warranted?
Turning to the age of Councillors I would like to add the further comment that, given that according to the 2016 Census the median age in Bass Coast is 50 and we have higher number of senior citizens, we need older people's voices on our Council.
My final point is that while some in community may disagree with Councillor Larke's actions as a Councillor, ultimately it is up to the voters in the Bunurong Ward to decide if they will re-elect him, as he is elected to represent this Ward.

Robyn Smith

27/9/2020 11:50:37 am

I agree the timing of leaking this information is political, and indicative of dirty politics. The Councillors who have let us know it wasn't them, I feel, were forced to declare their innocence. Overall I find the BCC progressive, trying hard to cover issues of human rights, the environment and local infrastructure.

Kevin Griffin

27/9/2020 12:50:08 pm

Catherine, I see that your censorship of my posts is increasing.
Would you be so kind as to offer your readers and myself the courtesy of an explanation for your censorship actions?

John Coldebella

27/9/2020 06:51:44 pm

There are many things I have come to like about the Bass Coast Post since its inception eight years ago, but three stand out.

1. The number of people in our community with whom I have become acquainted through reading their articles and comments. Many of these I have not met physically, yet I feel I know them.

2. The standard that requires contributions to be made in a civil, respectful and non-defamatory manner. This is not an impediment to expressing ourselves passionately but it obliges us to express ourselves in a mature and responsible fashion befitting a civil society.

3. Every article is accompanied by the name of the person who wrote it.

Keep up the good work, Catherine, and thank you to all the contributors, including the Councillors, who have used this forum to keep us informed and to share their impressions and experiences of civic service.

Kevin Griffin

3/10/2020 09:02:48 pm

Good afternoon Catherine.

I hope this message finds you in good health.
Perhaps fortunately for both of us I, this will be my final correspondence to both you and your inappropriately named online blog.
In 2016 I quickly realised that you, as the sole editor of your blog, are far from balanced and impartial in your editorial approach, and that instead your approach and views are biased and partisan.
Your recent censorship actions, whereby you removed and blocked my comments to your blog, prove beyond doubt that you will not allow opinions and comments from community members who might hold a viewpoint that does not sufficiently align to your own.
You’ve made no attempt to explain the reasons for your ongoing censorship of my comments, but your reasons are quite clear to me, as I previously mentioned.
In concluding this brief message to you, I suggest that you might reflect on amending the opening banner claim on your blog to read as follows . . .
The Bass Coast Post is an online magazine by and for residents of Bass Coast. Our readers are also our writers. Comments and other contributions are only welcome where they serve to further the editor’s personal bias.
Farewell Catherine.
Sincerely,
Kevin G.

Neil Rankine

4/10/2020 04:44:42 pm

Catherine, it’s interesting that Kevin Griffin should accuse others of censorship. I would like to give you and your readers just a few snippets of background on him. In the lead-up to the 2016 election, Mr Griffin created and ran the Bass Coast Residents & Ratepayers Association as a political organisation to throw out the council of which I was a member. The Sentinel Times ran almost weekly articles ridiculing the council, often based on demonstrably false claims about council finances by Mr Griffin and his associate, Les Larke. The Sentinel Times declined to publish spreadsheets and other evidence that my council had actually turned the finances of Bass Coast Shire around, trebling the proportion of rates going into capital works. Nor would Mr Griffin relay a basic graph demonstrating the council’s achievements to the Ratepayers Association members. Les Larke was a direct beneficiary of this misinformation campaign as he was the number 1 pick on the BCRRA ticket and I was number 9 (last). The BCRRA campaigned against the sitting councillors in almost every ward, with predictable results.

I would like to point out here that the Ratepayers Association no longer operates in such a political fashion, and that Mr Griffin is no longer the president.

Of the current allegations against Mr Larke I can only say that the three witnesses, being two Mayors and a councillor not standing against Mr Larke, would seem weight enough for IBAC to investigate.

Yours as another former Mayor,

Councillor in corruption probe

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