Tuesday, 1 April 2025

Western Victoria Region

Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (13:09): (1509) My question for the Minister for Local Government concerns the latest report by the latest set of municipal monitors sent to the City of Greater Geelong council. I have consistently opposed this waste of ratepayers money, which duplicates the management the CEO and directors are paid very highly to perform, patronises elected councils and interferes with the democratic choice of local voters. The latest period of monitoring came just months after the previous one concluded, so clearly that did not work. We know that the last report cost ratepayers $107,000. The Geelong Advertiser notes the report:

… recommended the state government keep a keen eye on the council, to make sure councillors played nice with each other and with staff …

Incredible. Minister, how much did this amazing advice – at $1200 a day by two, in a five-page report padded out to seven pages – cost the ratepayers of Geelong?