A REQUEST for an “urgent investigation” into an alleged Gannawarra Shire Council bullying case was put to state government, after Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh attended Victorian Parliament on Tuesday night.
Raising his concerns of bullying within local council, Mr Walsh called on the state government to appoint a commission of inquiry into the performance of the Gannawarra Shire Council and its chief executive officer.
“Despite the problems at the highest level of the council, the staff delivering council services to the community continue to do their best for the community, but council appears to be unable to take the actions that are required to lead that council because they will not take the systematic bullying of some of the councillors seriously,” Mr Walsh said.
However, Gannawarra Shire Council CEO Tom O’Reilly said bullying was taken very seriously, noting “Gannawarra Shire Council does not tolerate or accept any form of bullying”.
“Bullying is totally unacceptable and should be called out, always, without fear,” Mr O’Reilly said.
“Gannawarra Shire councillors, and in fact every councillor across Victoria, may confidentially report any concerns to the Local Government Inspectorate to initiate a full and proper investigation.”
The bullying details were allegedly further divulged in parliament but due to parliamentary privilege were not made public.
Gannawarra councillor Sonia Wright was at State Parliament on Tuesday night.
She told the Gannawarra Times she “sadly agrees” with every word local MP Peter Walsh said.
“As a councillor of the shire, I have witnessed firsthand everything that was addressed by Peter Walsh,” she said.
“In my opinion, my community deserves better.
“At local council level, there is definitely bullying taking place.”
Cr Wright welcomed the push for an inquiry.
“I think it will be good to have some neutral eyes investigating council and I welcome the inquiry and will accept whatever findings there are for all of us,” she said.
Minister for Local Government, Adem Somyurek, has 30 days to respond to the inquiry request.
