DEBATE on caucusing was open – to a point – at last week’s ordinary Mitchell Shire Council meeting.

Cr Ross Lee’s motion, originally listed as an “in confidence” item at a previous meeting, was re-listed for debate and vote last week.

The motion moved that councillors “will undertake personally that they will not comply with any municipal caucus, but deal with matters in council with an open mind, based upon their merit, and in accordance with law upon all issues including fire”.

The motion was lost in a 7-2 vote, supported only by Cr Robert Parker but not before some heated debate among councillors. Cr Lee said his motion came about after he learned of the publication of “Municipal Rules Victoria Branch ALP”, which dictated that all ALP-endorsed candidates to any municipal organisation would form, vote with and report to a caucus on any local government issues.

The municipal rules also stated that a non-endorsed candidate who was a Labor Party member may join a municipal caucus.

Mayor Bill Melbourne reiterated that he had personally asked all councillors whether they were involved in or knew of any caucuses being conducted within the ranks of council, with all councillors responding in the negative.

Cr Sue Marstaeller said she had served on Mitchell Shire Council for six years and in her time was not aware of any ALP-endorsed candidates being elected to council. She said Cr Lee had used his motion to orchestrate a “big blow-up in the papers” to “cast aspersions” on councillors who did not vote with him on certain issues.

Cr Lee said his motion was neither personally nor politically motivated, but instead aimed at showing council as a truly transparent local government body. - Kristy McDonald