THE FACTS

The Brimbank City Council, representing an area in Melbourne’s northwest, has been engrossed in a scandal relating to improper conduct amongst Brimbank City councilors.

A report from the Victorian Ombudsman in May 2009 noted improper influence by unelected persons on council business, misuse of taxpayer-funded equipment and a culture of bullying and intimidation.

The Victorian Government has responded to the report by assigning a senior police officer to investigate allegations of criminal activity in the council.

Victorian Government MPs George Seitz, Theo Theophanous and Hakki Suleyman were all implicated as having inappropriately interfered with council business in the Ombudsman’s report.

THE VIEWS

Andrew Crook for Crikey.com.au:

“Extensive and apparently systemic rorting of ALP membership rules have rolled on, despite the Brimbank scandal and the spotlight on George Seitz’s activities within the Victorian ALP… Party insiders say there is now immense pressure on Premier John Brumby to conduct fully-fledged purge of all party stacks, after previous probes went nowhere.”

Michael Bachelard for The Age:

“Behind the Brimbank probe lies the persistent scandal of Labor and branch-stacking. The Ombudsman’s investigation into Brimbank Council may have laid bare the corrupted operations of one west suburban Melbourne council, but it falls far short of the emetic this state needs. This report is a demolition of the activities of a number of councillors most people have never heard of, and a couple of politicians they know quite well…

This is a problem for Victoria. It delivers dud candidates in safe seats, subverts democracy and wastes ratepayer money on vote-buying. It’s unclear whether the Ombudsman neglected to reveal all this from lack of will, lack of proof or lack of powers.”

BREAKING IT DOWN

A) Branch stacking is a serious problem that undermines democracy and needs to be stamped out.

It’s not acceptable for people in positions of power to use their influence for personal reasons or for factional reasons.

B) A full-scale purge of branch stacking practice in local governments needs to be carried out.

Voters have the right to have confidence that they are being truly represented. Branch stacking needs to stop.

WHAT’S YOUR OPINION?

Has the Victorian Government done enough to ensure that the truth about Brimbank City Council will come out?

Is enough being done to stamp out branch stacking?

What are ways in which local councils can be better monitored?

What would you like to see happen in order to promote democracy at local and State government levels?