Bradford has to choose

By Kelly Yates
CASEY councillor Kevin Bradford says he will have to choose between his day job and council duties, following the State Government’s plan to ban state and federal political staff from being councillors.
The news comes after a report into misconduct at Brimbank Council by Victorian Ombudsman George Brouwer recommended that councillors be banned from working as electorate officers, ministerial advisers or parliamentary advisers for state and federal MPs.
Cr Bradford told the News he would have to contemplate resigning from Casey council or give up his full-time employment, a decision he says will affect his family and the people who elected him to council.
“It’s still early days but when the facts become clearer I’ll have to make a decision one way or another,” Cr Bradford said.
Cr Bradford works as a full-time electorate officer for Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan, who has said he would support the government’s stance.
He has been working there for the past three years.
Cr Bradford said he found that working for Mr Donnellan gave him nothing but assistance during his time on council.
“Numerous residents walk into Luke’s office with both State Government and Local Government issues,” he said.
“Many have commented on the benefits it brings with receiving quality advice on both state and council issues.”
Cr Bradford said he had never been instructed or pressured by Mr Donnellan in any way on how to vote at council or make a decision.
“The people who see it as a conflict have political reasons behind it and nine times out of 10 it’s based on a political vendetta as opposed to the facts,” Cr Bradford said.
Cr Bradford said he was currently weighing up all of his options.
“It’s definitely not a decision I’m looking forward to,” he said.
The proposed bans will also affect Edrington Ward councillor Daniel Mulino who works for Labor Senator for Victoria Jacinta Collins.
Cr Mulino said that he understood the recommendations would impact on both levels of government.
“At the moment I’m considering my position in regards to working for Jacinta Collins,” he said.
Local Government Minister Richard Wynne announced the government would accept all of the recommendations, including restrictions on councillors working for MPs.
Springfield Ward councillor Sam Aziz said that a problem with councillors working for local MPs was that they found themselves working for two masters
“Because they work in an MP’s office, it becomes a requirement to apply party politics,” he said.
“The only consideration councillors should be taking into account is the welfare of the ratepayers and nothing else should ever compete with that,” he said.
Cr Aziz said the conflict acted as a hindrance rather than a help, due to the political interference.
Fellow Springfield Ward councillor Lorraine Wreford applauded the ban, which she unsuccessfully called for last year.
“We’ve seen this conflict for years in council yet it didn’t get the support when I raised it, and the main person who spoke against it was Cr Bradford,” she said.
Cr Wreford asked who are these councillors working for – an MP or the people of Casey.
“It’s not a good idea as there is the huge opportunity for interference, pressure and misuse of information,” she said.