Counsellors for councillors

Greater Dandenong councillor Maria Sampey is calling for a support service for councillors.
She has written to Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins about the issue and is awaiting a response.
Cr Sampey referred to a controversial investigation into her conduct that took place three years ago.
“Council has never paid of me attending a psychologist,” she said.
“There’s no support in place for a councillor in case there’s an investigation.
“There has to be some authority.
“The MAV (Municipal Association of Victoria), they’re only an advocacy group.
“I would like to see that if a person needs a psychologist or something like that, that if someone is under stress, that there’s something in place for counselling or mediation or something.
“There needs to be someone that the councillor can ring and say ‘I’m not coping with council’.
“Maybe a mentor is a better word.
“I would like to see the State Government provide it.”
The Journal last week reported that Cr Sampey had signed a new councillor code of conduct on Monday 27 June despite pledging a month ago that she would refuse.
“I signed because I want to stand at the next election,” she said, referring to this year’s 22 October poll.
“I just found it hypocritical. Councillors have to sign a code of conduct and abide by it but State Government MPs don’t and council staff don’t.”
So she asked the council’s executive team to sign the document as a show of good faith, and they agreed.
“By them doing it, it’s showing leadership,” she said.