Fine paid, now ‘shove it’

By Rebecca Fraser
CASEY councillor Paul Richardson has paid his council imposed fine, but not before telling council staff to “shove it.”
On Monday, Cr Richardson queued up at the City of Casey’s customer service centre in Narre Warren, with a jar full of small change and notes to pay the $100 fine.
The Four Oaks Ward councillor was fined after he branded Casey chief executive Mike Tyler an “idiot” at a June council meeting and then refused to withdraw the remark.
On Monday, Cr Richardson was heard telling council management and staff to take their money and shove it, before handing over the money and leaving.
Cr Richardson said he had brought along witnesses to oversee the cash handover.
He said he had deliberately gone to the bank and changed two $50 notes into coins and small notes as a sign of protest.
Cr Richardson said he did not feel that his actions were rude or inappropriate.
“It was not rude. I just said here’s the money, now shove it. There was nothing foul about it,” he said.
Council officials are now forming a report in relation to Monday’s incident, which will be presented to council at a later date.
Councillors will then have the opportunity to decide if they wish to take further action.
Casey mayor Kevin Bradford said Cr Richardson had been given two extensions to pay the fine, despite the fact that ratepayers are only given one extension to pay overdue council bills.
He said Cr Richardson had taken advantage of his position on council by gaining another extension.
Cr Bradford did not have much to say about Monday’s outburst, but said council would address the matter in due time.
“Obviously, it is an issue that council has to address at some stage. It’s appropriate that councillors act in a manner which residents expect them to behave in,” he said.