EXCLUSIVE All nine of Frankston’s councillors may be forced to stand down next month due to an administrative blunder. Councillors across Victoria had until 4 July at the latest to sign a revised councillor code of conduct but Frankston councillors’ signatures were not witnessed by council CEO Dennis Hovenden as stipulated by the Local Government Act. The Times understands the Local Government Investigations and Compliance Inspectorate advised several councils across the state this week that documentation submitted to the inspectorate failed to meet Section 63 of the Act. The revised code of conduct for councillors, introduced by the state government as…
Author: Neil Walker
SOME councillors across Victoria – including one in Frankston – may be forced to step down next month because they did not sign a code of conduct within a one-month deadline. The Local Government Investigations and Compliance Inspectorate began contacting councils this week to order councillors be effectively sacked on 1 September if they did not sign a revised Local Government Act councillor code of conduct before a state government mandated date of 4 July at the latest. The Times understands the inspectorate has notified Frankston Council that a Frankston councillor did not sign the amended code, according to their records,…
OPPOSITION to budget cuts and job losses at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation’s climate change research laboratories in Aspendale is back on the agenda in the aftermath of July’s federal election. The CSRIO Staff Association claims the Coalition government has “a shaky election mandate” after seeing its winning margin reduced to just one seat, pending a possible legal appeal by the Liberal Party in the ultra-marginal Queensland seat of Herbert. Former federal Liberal Environment Minister Greg Hunt was appointed Industry, Innovation and Science Minister – with responsibility of oversight of the CSIRO – last month by Prime Minister…
ONGOING tensions between western nations and China over disputed territory in the South China Sea has seen a Kingston councillor express misgivings about Kingston forming a Sister City relationship with Chinese city Quanzhou. Councillors at this month’s public council meeting voted to join the Australia China Business Council to hopefully boost business opportunities for Kingston companies but Cr Rosemary West said she had “mixed feelings” about a proposal to formalise a Sister City agreement with Quanzhou despite China being “a major trading partner” with Australia. “I have real concerns about the implications of the rise of China,” Cr West said.…
CRIMES by youths across Melbourne and its suburbs mean people increasingly feel unsafe in their own homes according to state Liberal opposition leader Matthew Guy. Mr Guy visited Seaford last week and said it is unacceptable that young offenders are released on bail, especially for violent crimes including home invasions and carjackings. Some of those released show no respect for the law and reoffend upon release. “We need to get tougher on law and order in this state by changing the bail laws, particularly for juvenile offenders who can’t now be held,” he told The News. “You don’t give a…