By Brendan Rees
An ex-Casey councillor has called for all former councillors and mayors’ names to be removed from plaques and honour boards if found guilty of misconduct arising from an IBAC investigation.
Rex Flannery, who resigned as deputy mayor along with ex-councillor Tim Jackson just days before the State Government sacked the entire council in February, said council should consider the removal of former councillors and mayors names from plaques and all landmarks – including the honour board at Bunjil Place – if they were found in breach of council’s code of conduct.
The council was dismissed after a state-appointed monitor found widespread “governance failures” and a bullying culture across the council – which was also made in light of corruption allegations.
Mr Flannery, who holds he has kept his integrity and honesty during his term as councillor, posed the question at council’s 5 May meeting where Casey administrator Neolene Duff said council would consider its response to the IBAC findings at the conclusion of Operation Sandon.
“I’m thankful that IBAC has caught them out,” Mr Flannery said of his former colleagues including ex-councillors Sam Aziz and Geoff Ablett, both of whom are ‘persons of interest’ in investigations into dealings with a developer.
“If they are proven guilty … I want their names removed from any plaques,“ he said.
“If their names are not removed I will be putting forward a recommendation that my name be removed from their honour board from 2016 to 2020 and also from the wall plaque on Bunjil Place for the opening.
“I’m not there for honouring glory for anything – I’m there for honesty and transparency. I will be standing firm on it.
“I want my name removed because I don’t want to be associated with any councillor that has brought our council into disrepute.”
Mr Flannery also believed term ‘mayor emeritus’ – as former mayor Sam Aziz likes to be known – should be removed from landmarks as well as appearing on future letterheads under Mr Aziz’s name if his alleged conduct was to be proven guilty.
Casey Residents and Ratepayers Association spokesman Brendan Browne supported Mr Flannery’s calls saying: “We never want this to happen again“.
Meanwhile, council has revealed, to date, it has spent $310,823 on legal fees in relation to IBACs Operation Sandon – with a portion being recovered under council’s insurance.
Casey council director of corporate services Sheena Frost said former councillors and staff called to appear before the IBAC were entitled to legal representation as per requirements under the Local Government Act through council’s insurer.
“As this is an ongoing matter and legal costs are being covered by council’s insurer, we are unable to provide individual cost details,” she said.
“Given the Operation Sandon hearings were nearing completion and about to enter the expert witness phase, we don’t expect council or our insurer to be subject to any further major legal costs related to this matter. Council will provide an update on the legal costs incurred at the conclusion of this matter.”
The IBAC hearings has suspended its public hearings until further notice due to Covid-19.
