Editor’s note: This story has been updated. An earlier version stated “Agirtan was further found to have made comments Saab believed were referring to him implying that Saab was following her, calling him a “little worm” and a “chamber lurker”. The term “little worm” was not made by Agirtan, but was a comment by a third-party in response to her post. The update has also added further context to the Arbiter’s decision relating to Agirtan.
TWO Kingston councillors will face consequences after being found to have behaved inappropriately after arbitration decisions handed down this month.
Both of the complaints that led to arbitration were made by Cr Hadi Saab.
In the first arbitration, heard on 6 July and published on 13 August, Cr Jane Agirtan was found to have engaged “in misconduct by failing to comply with the standards of conduct”.
The complaint stemmed from a social media post where she wrote “Let’s talk about men who creep”.
Saab claimed Agirtan was referring to him and members of his family as stalkers, creeps or lurkers.
Further, Agirtan made comments Saab believed were referring to him, implying that Saab was following her, and was a “chamber lurker”.
As part of a mediation process, in March 2026, Agirtan deleted posts and comments and issued a retraction, but did not use the suggested wording of the mediator which included an apology and did not acknowledge any hurt or harm caused to Saab or his family.
The arbiter found Agirtan’s posts breached Clause 2(1)(a) of the council’s Model Councillor Code of Conduct which prevents specific conduct which, amongst other things, insults, name calls,
or threatens someone. The arbiter also found Agirtan’s posts breached Clause 2(1)(b) which prohibits deliberate behaviour contributing broader social harm because the person belongs or is perceived to belong to a particular group.
The arbiter found Agirtan’s posts did not breach Clause 4(1) which requires an overarching obligation to act with integrity, exercise reasonable care and avoid conduct which may diminish public trust and confidence in the integrity of local government. Clause 4(1)(a) prohibits conduct which brings discredit upon the Council and Clause 4(1)(b) prohibits conduct which deliberately misleads the Council or the public.
As sanction for the finding of misconduct, Agirtan was ordered to make an apology to Saab at the next Kingston City Council meeting containing a clear acknowledgement of the conduct and its impact, acceptance of responsibility and a commitment to not repeat this inappropriate conduct either in person or online.
Agirtan was further ordered to complete social media training, within three months, specifically relevant to the role and responsibilities of a councillor under the council’s Model Councillor Code of Conduct.
In the second arbitration, heard on 2 July and published on 19 August, Cr Caroline White was found to have breached the relevant standards when she implied that Saab improperly received a financial benefit from a grant to the Druze Community Charity of Victoria.
The arbiter found White made this allegation without evidence and that in doing so she breached clause 2(1) of the council’s Model Councillor Code of Conduct.
The sanction handed down to White in relation to this breach was suspension from the office of councillor for a period of two calendar months commencing the day after the next council meeting.
The arbiter also found White breached the relevant standards when she endorsed a Facebook comment that implied, without evidence, that Saab was worthy of suspicion from Kingston City Council monitors.
The sanction for that breach was the requirement to undertake training on the appropriate use of social media.
The latest decisions come after another arbitration decision in June, this time initiated by Saab against the mayor Cr Georgina Oxley, was thrown out after being branded “vexatious”.
Another two arbitration matters between Kingston councillors have been published this year. Agirtan made an application against Saab, and Oxley and Cr Sarah O’Donnell made an application against Saab. Each application was dismissed without a finding of misconduct.
Kingston Council had been overseen by two state government-appointed monitors, before their departure on 14 August.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 26 August 2026
