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Today on the Local Government News Roundup: Listen to this episode now: Victorian Report Melton City Councillor Ashleigh Vandenberg has been suspended for two months, following an independent arbiter’s report into misconduct. The finding, which was tabled at last night’s council meeting, follows a complaint lodged by eight of her fellow councillors. The Age reported […]
Continue ReadingDate: 22nd June 2026 Loddon Shire Mayor Dan Straub has called for a fundamental shift in how the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is implemented. Speaking to Chris Eddy for an upcoming episode of VLGA Connect, Cr Straub said the current review process has become a political exercise that is ignoring both scientific evidence and the communities […]
Continue ReadingToday on the Local Government News Roundup: Listen to this episode: Victorian Report The Victorian Government’s new legislation aimed at strengthening council governance has drawn sharp criticism for failing to crack down on political donations. The bill follows years of integrity warnings, most notably from the anti-corruption watchdog’s Operation Sandon report into the Casey Council […]
Continue ReadingDate: 20th June 2026 Cairns Regional Council Mayor Amy Eden has been found to have committed misconduct on two separate occasions, after the Queensland Councillor Conduct Tribunal ruled she released confidential council information to a journalist while serving as a first-term councillor in 2023. In a decision published this week, Independent Assessor v Eden [2026] […]
Continue ReadingDate: 19th June 2026 The Victorian Government’s new legislation aimed at strengthening council governance has drawn sharp criticism for failing to crack down on political donations. The bill follows years of integrity warnings, most notably from the anti-corruption watchdog’s Operation Sandon report into the Casey Council scandal. While Local Government Minister Paul Hamer stated the […]
Continue ReadingGolden Plains Shire Mayor Cr Owen Sharkey has joined a coalition of western Victorian councils calling on the state government to reinstate a dedicated Country Roads and Bridges Program, warning that without additional funding support some bridges in the shire may have to be closed. Cr Sharkey is one of six mayors from the Greater […]
Continue ReadingToday on the Local Government News Roundup: Listen to this episode now: Victorian Report A bill before the Victorian Parliament would make it easier for councils to remove a sitting mayor. Right now, councillors can only force a vote to declare the mayoralty vacant if that mayor was elected for a two-year term. The Local […]
Continue ReadingToday on the Local Government News Roundup: Listen to this episode now: Victorian Report Mount Alexander Shire Council has appointed Michael Annear as its new Chief Executive Officer. Mr Annear currently serves as Director Infrastructure and Development, a role he’s held since 2021, and has more than 30 years of leadership experience spanning local government […]
Continue ReadingDate: 18th June 2026 Mount Alexander Shire Council has appointed Michael Annear as its new Chief Executive Officer, promoting from within its senior leadership team. Mr Annear has served as Council’s Director Infrastructure and Development since 2021, where he oversaw strategic planning and policy work, secured additional external funding, and led improvements in capital works […]
Continue ReadingDate: 17th June 2026 The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption has concluded its Operation Navarra public inquiry into the City of Parramatta Council, after 24 days of hearings examining the conduct of former chief executive Gail Connolly and a group of senior staff referred to in evidence as the “Pink Ladies”. The inquiry examined allegations […]
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