THE second monitor tasked with overseeing Kingston Council has been appointed. Last week, John Watson was named the second state government-appointed monitor for the beleaguered council. He will work alongside John Tanner, who began monitoring the council on 25 August, until the end of the year. The two monitors will report to the local government minister, who is responsible for any subsequent action taken.
In a joint statement, Kingston Council mayor Georgina Oxley and council CEO Peter Bean said “we have been working well with Mr Tanner since he started in August and look forward to meeting Mr Watson. “We will continue to do everything we can to assist them in their role as we go about delivering excellent service to the people of Kingston.”
The terms of reference for the council monitors read that they will assess “the councillors’ understanding and performance of their statutory roles and responsibilities” and “the relationship between councillors and between councillors and council staff, including councillor behaviour with respect to the Model Councillor Code of Conduct and processes for resolving disputes between councillors.”
The arrival of a second monitor has been planned since the first monitor was installed. A specific reason for the appointing of monitors has not been offered by the state government, and the decision has been slammed by opposition MPs. Local government minister Nick Staikos was contacted for comment.
It has been an eventful term for Kingston councillors, who were elected less than 12 months ago. Notable incidents within the first year of this council’s term include bullying allegations being publicly aired at a council meeting, the referral of a decision by the previous council to the Local Government Inspectorate for investigation, and the temporary standing down of a councillor after she was charged with breaching a personal safety intervention order. (“Monitor appointed to Kingston Council” The Times 22/8/2025)
John Watson has previously served as a monitor at Darebin City Council.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 22 October 2025