Bully report in parliament

By Elizabeth Hart
LOCAL Government Minister Richard Wynne has told State Parliament that a 59-page report into bullying at Casey Council last year was “a matter for the council itself to deal with”.
The Government’s handling of the report was the subject of questions in the House on 25 June about when the minister first informed the Premier’s office of the report.
The report, which the council commissioned and sent to Local Government Victoria late last year, followed allegations that Casey councillor Kevin Bradford had bullied a City of Casey senior officer, who has since resigned.
Cr Bradford three weeks ago left his job at the electorate office of the member for Narre Warren North Luke Donnellan. Mr Donnellan is parliamentary secretary to the Premier.
National Party leader Peter Ryan told Parliament the report “found that Mr Kevin Bradford, a staff member for the member for Narre Warren North and parliamentary secretary to the Premier, had been engaged in behaviour that bullied, victimised, threatened and humiliated a Casey council staff member.”
Replying to the question without notice, Mr Wynne said Local Government Victoria had advised the council that a breach of its code was a matter for the council itself to deal with.
The status of the report remains unclear since amendments to the Local Government Act, which Mr Wynne said dealt with “exactly these sorts of questions around inappropriate behaviour by councillors or by council officers”.
Mr Ryan: “When (did) the minister advise the Premier’s office in relation to these issues that are referred to this report?
“Given that the Worklogic Consulting report details serious allegations of bullying, verbal abuse, humiliation and victimisation by Mr Kevin Bradford who was employed in the office of Luke Donnellan, parliamentary secretary to the Premier, did the minister raise these allegations with the parliamentary secretary to the premier?” Mr Ryan asked.
Opposition leader Ted Baillieu called for a “full and adequate investigation” into Casey Council, following the questions in parliament over the government’s handling of the report.
But Mr Wynne told parliament the Ombudsman was currently investigating Casey, originally in relation to “the tip matter” (Brookland Greens methane gas leaks) and that he had the powers to inquire into any matter he wished at Casey Council.
Cr Bradford represents Mayfield Ward, which covers the Cranbourne area.
The raising of the report in parliament coincided with Cr Bradford’s leaving his employment at the electorate office.