By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
TWO Greater Dandenong councillors’ fight for the public release of a confidential probe into their conduct was the subject of a tense councillor briefing last Monday.
Crs Maria Sampey and Peter Brown appeared to win a concession from the council during the briefing – though Cr Brown said nothing had been formally decided.They are believed to have been offered a viewing of the privileged report – though with names of council officers concealed – rather than just the report’s findings.
The two councillors say a lawyer hired by the council emphasised the need to redact names in the investigation report to protect the privacy of council officers interviewed.
Cr Sampey, who didn’t front the investigation on legal advice, may be allowed to view the report – with names of witnesses removed – in Mr Bennie’s office but would not be provided with a personal copy.
She said she would press for an uncensored report, saying she needed to know the accusing officers’ identities as part of natural justice.
“Why can’t I have a copy of that decision to go and show my solicitor? Why won’t it be publicly released? It’s ratepayers’ money that has been spent on this investigation.
“You can’t even get it through freedom-of-information because it’s a privileged document.”
The probe related to Cr Sampey and Brown’s fight to fix a botched footpath built over a mound at Racecourse Road and Princes Highway, Noble Park. In a “private and confidential” letter from mayor Angela Long, it is alleged the councillors’ conduct caused council officers to feel “hurt and distressed”.
“There’s a report written against me. Tell me which officer whose feelings I’ve allegedly hurt,” Cr Sampey said.
“I’m getting phone calls from people upset at how Peter Brown and I are being made scapegoats.”
Mr Brown said he accepted the report should be redacted if released publicly – though he requested his own name shouldn’t be concealed. However unredacted copies should be provided to himself and Cr Sampey, he said.
“If the report is not made public, I’ll be applying to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal as a first recourse of action. An alternative option would be the State Ombudsman.”
Both councillors had sought a Local Government Inspectorate investigation into the matter but were denied because there were no alleged breaches of the Local Government Act.
CORRECTION
Last week the Journal incorrectly reported Cr Sampey had been preferenced last by Cr Long during last year’s council elections.
In fact Cr Sampey was preferenced last in Silverleaf Ward by Cr Long’s husband Barry.
Also as a clarification, Cr Brown didn’t nominate for mayoral elections against Cr Long – after estimating he didn’t have the numbers to win the position.
