EIGHT City of Greater Dandenong council candidates are under investigation for failing to declare donations during last year’s local government election campaign.
But those in the firing line told the Start that not submitting the mandatory Campaign Donation Returns was simply “an oversight”.
They are among 165 across the state who did not return the form and are subject to a Local Government Investigations and Compliance Inspectorate investigation.
They face a fine of up to $8450.
Local Government Minister Jeanette Powell said transparent disclosure of campaign donations over $500 by all council election candidates was important to ensure the integrity of local government elections.
Those under investigation include Lightwood Ward candidate Minh Luan Lam, Red Gum Ward contender Dalibor Saula, and six of the 14 people who put their hand up for Paperbark Ward – Victor Victor, Brad Woodford, Robert Bisset, Brenda Chamroeun, Huy Tran and Natalia Supel.
Greater Dandenong CEO John Bennie said that under the Local Government Act, the candidates were responsible for submitting campaign donation returns to him.
“Candidates are informed of their responsibility to do this by the VEC (Victorian Electoral Commission) in pre-election material provided to every candidate and through optional candidate information sessions,” he said.
“The CEO’s role is to receive the donation returns and communicate the results to the minister, including any failure by any candidate to lodge a return – this requirement has been satisfied.”
Mr Saula said he was “disappointed to say the least” because he sent his form in November and had not been notified that it was not received. He has now re-sent the form.
“If I had known earlier that it has not been received I would have sent it in again prior to the matter being escalated,” he said.
Ms Supel said she “did not receive a letter from the local government in regards to the donations”.
“I did however have issues with the postal office of mail not been received to my postal address and since then the issue has been resolved,” she said.
Mr Victor said he had forgotten to submit the form after getting caught up “with too many things at the time – work, meetings, volunteering and exams”.
“Regarding the fine I believe that it isn’t fair as it’s a very high amount, but in some terms we were warned about it previously,” he said.
Mr Woodford said his failure to submit the form was an oversight and he had since contacted the Inspectorate to rectify the matter.
“In my discussions with the Inspectorate, they have informed me that it is still not too late for candidates to submit their Campaign Donation Returns to the CEO of their council, and I would highly recommend that those candidates who haven’t yet done so, do it as an immediate priority to avoid the fine,” he said.
Of the Greater Dandenong candidates who did declare their campaign funding, Jill Walsh topped the donation list with $26,000, including $10,000 from R.V. Parts and $5000 from South Steel Group.
Nina Springle collected $2160 from Australia Greens Victoria, and the group contributed $2860 to elected Red Gum Ward representative Matthew Kirwan.
Paperbark Ward’s Meng Heang Tak received $3000 from Khmer Buddhist Society, and also contributed $1000 to former mayor Youhorn Chea’s campaign.
Cr Chea declared $17,760 – the second highest of any Greater Dandenong candidate.
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