THE state government-appointed monitors overseeing Kingston Council have ended their tenure. The two monitors departed on 14 August, the most recently decided date for their departure, after two extensions to their term.
The date was chosen to allow the monitors to remain at council while the Melaleuca Ward by-election took place.
The results of the by-election were declared on 14 August, although an investigation into the integrity of the by-election was also announced that day (New councillor for Kingston, but investigation launched, The Times 19/8/26).
Kingston Council was under the watch of monitors for just under a year with the first monitor, John Tanner, taking up his position on 25 August 2025, and John Watson on 16 October 2025.
They were originally scheduled to leave council on 31 December last year, but had six months tacked onto their stay during the Christmas break. Then on 30 June this year, the day they were set to depart, their term was extended for a second time through to the declaration of the results of the by-election.
The two monitors were paid for by Kingston ratepayers at a cost of more than $1000 a day.
The monitor’s stay was spotlighted last month with news Kingston Council would refer invoices submitted by the monitors for independent auditing, with a referral to the Local Government Inspectorate and Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Commission to follow.
The referral came after “administrative errors” were discovered in invoices submitted by Tanner.
Among the points of concern were that Tanner had invoiced council for work undertaken on 30 February and 31 February, dates that do not exist (Council confirms ‘errors’ in monitor payments, The Times 29/7/26).
It is now expected the monitors will prepare a report for the Minister for Local Government, Tim Richardson MP, relating to any steps or actions taken by the Council to improve its governance and the effectiveness of those steps or actions; any recommendations for the Council to ensure the proper performance of its statutory role, including in relation to the conduct of Councillors; and any recommendations in relation to the exercise of any Ministerial powers under the Act.
First published in the Frankston Times – 25 August 2026
