Bradford under fire

By Bridget Cook
CASEY councillor Kevin Bradford has come under fire from fellow councillors in relation to a number of alleged “misconducts”.
At Tuesday night’s council meeting, Councillor Bob Halsall raised an urgent business item to refer 18 alleged matters regarding the conduct of Cr Bradford to a Councillor Conduct Panel.
Cr Halsall said while they were allegations, a lot of people had witnessed them and something needed to be done.
“The first step is a Councillor Conduct Panel and then we can go from there,” he said.
“The bullying has been endemic by Cr Bradford.
“We can’t operate as a council with allegations like these hanging over our head.”
Cr Bradford said the motion was typical of the council’s bullying; a view later supported by Cr Kelleher.
Matters to be referred to the Councillor Conduct Panel included the proven findings regarding misuse of position by Cr Bradford as outlined in the Ombudsman’s report to the Victorian Parliament in 2010 and his breach of confidentiality and leaking of confidential and sensitive council information.
Another matter to be referred was the proven bullying and misconduct towards former Council Director Jennie Lee throughout the period of 2005 to 2007, resulting in the end of her career, causing her depression, and resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars of ratepayer funds being expended in compensation.
As well as referring the 18 matters to the Councillor Conduct Panel, the council also resolved to write to the Premier of Victoria and request that the alleged misconduct of Cr Bradford and Narre Warren North MP Luke Donellan be referred to the independent broad-based anti-corruption commission (IBAC), upon its establishment to investigate alleged continuous meddling, interfering and undermining of the democratically elected council of the City of Casey for party political gain.
Attempts by the News to seek a response from Mr Donellan were unsuccessful.
The council also called on the State Government to investigate the circumstances that led to Cr Bradford’s sudden departure from Victoria Police and whether the conduct was befitting of the behaviour of an elected official and whether formal charges should be laid in relation to these circumstances.
Cr Kelleher backed Cr Bradford’s view that the motion was typical of the council’s bullying.
“This is another example of bullying of a councillor,” she said.
“Tonight has been an example of what’s going on in this council.
“This is another form of bullying that I have experienced myself.
“This was also a diversion tactic.
“It’s embarrassing and dysfunctional.
“Shame on this council.”
The motion raised by Cr Halsall for the investigation was passed with councillors Geoff Ablett, Amanda Stapledon, Shar Balmes, Wayne Smith, Mayor Sam Aziz and Halsall voting for it.