Spending spat counter claims

By Lia Bichel
CASEY councillors have claimed a local MP has shunned their invitation to meet and discuss claims made in regional and metropolitan newspapers this year.
But Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan said he was happy to meet with the council chief executive officer Mike Tyler if he called his mobile.
Casey council said it has tried six times to make contact with Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan to confront him after he told the Berwick News and the Herald Sun in July that councillors were misspending ratepayers money.
The articles focused on three councillors who were found to have spent up to $200 each for horse riding lessons for the Riding of the Bounds event – which the Herald Sun originally reported was up to $800 each.
Another claim was that some councillors unnecessarily took a boat cruise around Western Port which included a lunch and beverages.
Casey councillors said that it was not a cruise, rather an education boat trip to teach councillors about the marine national park and the benefits of its mangroves system.
Cr Sam Aziz said Mr Donnellan’s actions were “mischievous” and that he was “the only member at Casey constantly coming out and attacking our council”.
But Mr Donnellan said he thought the July invitation was “a bit of attention seeking” and thought they should focus their efforts on other issues in the municipality.
On Tuesday, Cr Aziz raised another motion that the council write to the leader of the opposition and speaker of the Legislative Assembly to express its disappointment over Mr Donnellan’s lack of response.
He also moved that the council write to Mr Donnellan and again offer to meet him at Parliament House if a meeting in Casey is inconvenient.
Mr Donnellan lives in inner Melbourne.
“To have six contact points and not get a response is really disappointing,” Cr Aziz said.
“When a city council puts out an olive branch to a local MP, even though they have been slighted by him in the media, and not get a response is really disappointing.
“I’m really not sure of his motives and if he really wants to work with this council.”
Cr Kevin Bradford said he did not support Cr Aziz’s move to again write to Mr Donnellan and said it was a “ridiculous motion”.
“It just shows how determined Cr Aziz is to emphasise that the member of Parliament does not live in Casey,” Cr Bradford said.
“I’d like to know how many councillors have bothered to call or drop into Mr Donnellan’s office.”
Councillors voted six to three in support of the motion, with Cr Bradford, Cr Lynette Keleher and Cr Beverley Hastie voting against it.
Cr Wayne Smith and Cr Simon Curtis were absent from the meeting.
Mr Donnellan, who also made headlines this week for uttering profanities in Parliament and referring to two Liberal MPs as “blonde smiling cherubs”, said he had a very good relationship with the Casey council.
“My relationship with the council is strong,” he said.
“If Mr Tyler wishes to meet me he has my mobile phone number and I am happy to meet him face to face.
“I am happy to work with him and the council. This appears to be more of a stunt from the Liberal Party.”
Mr Donnellan said he could not comment on the language he used in Parliament to avoid breaking Parliamentary privilege.