WHITTLESEA: Mayor calls for Royal Commission
Cr Aidan McLindon, Whittlesea Mayor, appeared on national television on Sunday (Mar. 23), callingf for a Royal Commission into the local government.
Cr McLindon – who has been locked out of Whittlesea by municipal CEO Craig Lloyd – said he would be calling on both major politicial parties to follow through with an inquiry into the structure of Victoria’s 79 municipalities.
Cr McLindon was appearing on the Outsiders TV program on Sky News. The show is currently co-hosted by editor of The Spectator magazine Rowan Dean, The Friday Show host Rita Panahi, and The Daily Telegraph opinion editor James Morrow.
Cr McLindon later said: “It’s been one month now since my access to the council precinct has been restricted.
“This is a questionable attempt to suffocate democracy which has now set a dangerous precedent for all elected representatives.
“Over the past few weeks, councillors and mayors from across Victoria, NSW and Queensland have contacted me in support and have advised me that this type of behaviour in the local government sector is a widespread problem (but not to this extreme).
“It is presenting to be a systemic problem in Victoria as a result of the Andrews Labor Government’s intentionally undermining Local Government Act of 2020.
“Today I called for a Royal Commission into the Victorian local government sector as it is my firm belief that the ‘processes’ in place are being exploited and corrupted across Victoria.
“This is being enabled throughout the 79 councils at varying degrees. All CEOs and high-level bureaucrats should be put on notice that the status quo will not be accepted by the people who pay their wages. ‘
“If there is nothing to hide, there is nothing to worry about.
“If we want to protect and restore democracy in Victoria we must start with the foundations of the pyramid – local government,” Cr McLindon said.