Kristi High, Executive Manager – Public Affairs, is said to have resigned from the City of Whittlesea, within days of The Local Paper’s report last week on apparent governance failings at the Council.

According to Council records, Ms High had filed a ‘nil’ return relating to shareholdings of outside entities.

The Local Paper revealed that Australian Securities and Investments Commission records indicated that she was a shareholder of Puffafish Group Pty Ltd.

That company’s website listed her as a ‘Director’. The company shut down its website in recent days.

Whittlesea Council Administrators and CEO Craig Lloyd are maintaining their silence, repeatedly refusing to answer questions from The Local Paper.

The Council has stopped all paid advertising with The Local Paper; Ms High had previously written to The Local Paper indicating that it had been allocated 40 per cent of the local newspaper budget for the 2021-22 year.

The Administrators and CEO have refused to answer questions whether or not The Local Paper is being financially punished for publishing news adverse to the Council.

News of Ms High’s departure was confirmed by phone by the Council’s reception staff, who confirmed that she “resigned as of last week”.

Ms High’s name and photo have been removed from the Council’s ‘Executive Team’ page at the City’s website.