By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A LAWYER candidate has cried foul on a Casey Council media release targeting his election material late on 20 September.
Edrington Ward candidate Timothy Jackson, who works with Slater & Gordon, has called on the State Government and Victorian Electoral Commission to investigate an alleged breach of the Local Government Act.
Mr Jackson believed the media release – quoting the mayor Sam Aziz – was sent illegally during the election period.
According to the Act, the caretaker period began on the last day of candidate nominations on 20 September, Mr Jackson argued.
However, Casey Council has relied on a Local Government Victoria circular that states the election period starts at midnight at the end of 20 September.
At a 20 September council meeting – shortly before the issuing of the press release – Cr Sam Aziz targeted Mr Jackson’s election flyer that quoted metropolitan newspaper headlines damning the council.
The headlines referred to a “rates rort” in which Casey was criticised by the state Ombudsman over a special charge scheme, as well as a report finding the council made heavy use of closed camera meetings.
In a release, Cr Aziz said it was disappointing “some people” didn’t take heed that a municipal monitor had recently found the council took “swift and appropriate action” over the special charge scheme.
“Given the findings of the report were positive, it is disappointing that some community members are continuing to use adverse political commentary on this matter from June to criticise council.”
Mr Jackson said it was “grossly inappropriate” for the council to hold a meeting and issue “blatantly political” media releases “during the election period”.
“Behaviour like this is exactly why the State Government moved to appoint a watchdog for the City of Casey in June.”
Cr Aziz told Star News that Mr Jackson showed he had “no idea about the Local Government Act”.
“The media releases were issued by 9pm Tuesday 20 September, before the caretaker period commenced. There is no breach.
“They were issued to correct gross errors which Mr Jackson stated in his election material. He is the one that should be investigated for attempting to mislead the public.
“The appointment of a monitor was a cheap political stunt by the party to which Mr Jackson belongs, in an attempt to discredit the good name of City of Casey.”
