WHITTLESEA: Showdown becomes Shutdown
OPINION by Local Paper Editor, Ash Long
Whittlesea Councillors seemed largely unconvincing at their March meeting (Tues., Mar. 18) as they tried to explain away why they had failed to communicate with residents on how elected representative Mayor Cr Aidan McLindon had been banned by CEO Craig Lloyd from fully completing Mayotal duties.
The Council locked out the public from the 6pm meeting, with Councillors all appearing online. Cr McLindon’s non-appearance in the meeting was recorded as an apology.
Outside the Council building, a small crowd of residents gathered to hear Cr McLindon call for Mr Lloyd, and monitors Peita Duncan and Jude Munrom to resign.
The Councillors passed a motion attacking “a spread of false information and untruths”, yet failed to adequately explain why all of them had remained totally silent, despite repeated invitations for them to comment.
The Council failed to nominate on exactly who it was claiming was responsible for the “misinformation”.
Councillors voted to note that “we welcome appropriate scrutiny and support transparency and good governance in this sector but recently we have seen personal attacks and the spread of false information, and untruths about those working in this organisation”.
“The impact of this on people’s wellbeing cannot be underestimated. We call for it to stop immediately.”
The Council said that it would be lodging a formal complaint to the Office of the eSafety Commissioner in relation to the misinformation being published on social media pages targeting individuals and the City of Whittlesea.”
The Council desolved for Deputy Mayor Cr Daniela Zinni to write on behald of Council to relevant peak bodies – Local Governemnt Victoria, the Municipal Association of Victoria, the Victorian Local Government Association – seeking their support in combating misinformation and “personal attacks of this nature”.
Cr Martin Taylor (South Morang Ward), in moving the motion, criticised misinformation being “broadcast”. he said that the Council had been working hard for some time, and that the Councillors had been working collectively. he said the Council would not tolerate misnformation being spread. He did not specify what the misinformation was.
Cr David Lenberg, seconder, said Councillors were unable to make any comment, as matters were subject to arbitration. Details published had been unsubstaniated. “We are a united Council. We are putting the Council first.”
Cr Christine Stow said she had been disappointed social media commentary. Councillors were putting the City of Whittlesea’s interests first, and they were working collaboratively.
Cr Lawrie Cox said it was his opinion that Whittlesea Council was currently working better than it had previously. Misinformation was “beyond a joke”. He did not elaborate on the details on what he found to be misinformation. He criticised personal attacks, some of which he said had been published in major media: “Media outlets have the potential to disrupt good governance.”