Orchestrated shaming
At Wednesday night’s council meeting, a core group of four councillors engaged in a planned and orchestrated public shaming exercise.
Internal processes were bypassed to enable them to smear two of their fellow councillors.
This was a vain, self-serving attempt to deflect government attention from their own behaviour and the concerns of a worried community.
We will continue to represent our community and attempt to work for our community.
We welcome independent oversight and look forward to a full and thorough investigation.
Councillors representing their community and speaking on their behalf should be praised and not targeted.
Gannawarra Shire Council has never experienced the low community satisfaction levels that currently exist.
Our community groups are being bypassed.
Consultation with some community groups we are affiliated with, including Cohuna progress, Kerang progress, Gannawarra liveability chamber and the Kerang Agricultural Society are at an all time low.
Our community’s future should be put before some councillors’ desire to silence their peers and subvert their ongoing attempts to ensure council remains open, transparent and accessible.
We support our local state member of parliament’s call for a monitor to be placed in the Gannawarra Shire Council until the next elections in October 2020.
Our community deserves better.
Cr Mark Arians
Cr Sonia Wright
