Brimbank councillor calls for new election





HARVESTER Ward councillor Geraldine Brooks has unleashed a stinging attack on Brimbank City Council, calling for the immediate sacking of the current councillors and a re-election for the municipality.

In an explosive letter to Star, Cr Brooks claimed the ALP influences over the council exposed by the Victorian Ombudsman’s report were still apparent in the current council and said all councillors should be sacked, including herself.

“We need an immediate election and a genuine alternative for Brimbank,” Cr Brooks said.

“Let the people of Brimbank decide.”

In an interview with Star, Cr Brooks said she did not believe a State Government appointed administrator would address problems at the troubled council.

“I think what could potentially happen is that it would be about keeping a lid on things that would allow some of these corrupt practices to continue into the future,” Cr Brooks said.

The Greens councillor said although she had been reluctant to make her opinion public, she had decided to come forward in the best interests of her community.

“Of course I don’t particularly want to go through another election process but I feel very strongly that it would be a better solution for the community.

“We’re at a time when the council is very much in the community’s notice and I think people would really scrutinise who they’re voting for.

“I think an election would be in the community’s interests and I don’t want to back away from that.”

Cr Brook’s letter has stunned fellow councillors still reeling from the scandal surrounding the Ombudsman’s scathing report.

Deputy Mayor Tran Siu accused Cr Brooks of fanning the flames of community discontent.

“This is just inflaming the situation,” Cr Siu said.

“I’m surprised to see a councillor kicking their council rather than supporting it.”

Taylors Ward councillor Heidi Seitz said a re-election was unnecessary.

“Sacking the council was not something that was recommended by the Ombudsman.

“I personally think it’s disrespectful to the community to say they haven’t put any thought into who they voted for.”

Cr Sam David suggested Cr Brooks could be pushing a Greens Party agenda.

“It could have been a party request,” Cr David said.

Two weeks ago, community groups called for the sacking of Brimbank councillors, following the Ombudsman’s scathing report into the former council.

The much-anticipated report revealed a troubled council plagued by corruption, political alliances and dodgy dealings.

The report condemned the former council, naming previous and current councillors, along with local state and federal MPs and Ministers.

Former three-time Mayor Natalie Suleyman was slammed in the report, which accused her of pursuing her own interests to the detriment of the community.

The report exposed the council as “generally dysfunctional and marked by infighting and personal conflicts.”

Mr Brouwer accused Labor MPs of interfering in council decisions, including Ms Suleyman’s father Hakki, who has since been suspended from his position in Planning Minister Justin Madden’s office.