‘NORTHCOTE BUDGET’ EDITION
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MONITOR APPOINTED TO DAREBIN COUNCIL
Local Government Minister Shaun Leane said the monitor will address concerns about governance and councillor conduct at Darebin. The monitor will work to prevent issues from escalating and support councillors to perform their duties successfully. The monitor for Darebin City Council will also guide the council to appoint a Chief Executive Officer, with the departure of Sue Wilkinson from the top job. The municipal monitor will be appointed in coming weeks and will provide regular reports to the Minister on the council’s progress and recommend any further actions. The State Government is supporting and improving council culture throughout the state, last year conducting a wide-ranging study into what influences council culture as part of the Local Government Culture Project.
‘We’re serious’
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Local football back for 2022 PHOTO: ASH LONG
■ THE State Government has announced the appointment of a Monitor for Darebin City Council. The Monitor will support good governance and guide the Council to best serve their communities.
Mr Leane said: “We’re serious about improving culture in local councils. We want to encourage positive practices and stop negative behaviour. “Municipal monitors have proven to be effective at guiding councils to make improvements in governance that help them better serve their communities. “We expect councillors to maintain high standards and practice good governance – which is what people rightfully expect from their elected representatives.” Darebin City CEO Sue Wilkinson has left her position to go to the pro-Greens City of Yarra. Under her watch, planning permit applicants were banned from using The Local Paper for their advertising. Over two years, the Council refused to answer any questions from The Local Paper. The Council has tried to obstruct The Local Paper, as has the nearby Whittlesea Council, by denying any paid advertising.
● Shaun Leane, Local Government Minister, appointed the Monitor
‘Told you so’ ‘NORTHCOTE BUDGET’ EDITION Local and Independent. Not associated with any other publication in this area.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022
NOT GOOD ENOUGH, MAYOR MESSINA
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■ DAREBIN Mayor Cr Lina Messina has failed to satisfactorily answer governance questions put by this newspaper. Cr Messina was asked 14 questions by The Local Paper, after potential inconsistencies were discovered in the Biannual Return that Councillors and executives are obliged by law to answer. Kristi High, the Executive Manager - Corporate Affairs Manager of nearby Whittlesea City Council, left her position abruptly last year after inconsistencies were found in her return. The questions asked of the Mayor on Friday (Jan. 28) by The Local Paper were: “You are the Mayor and Councillor of the City of Darebin. The Local Government Act and other legislation, and various codes of conduct, require that holders of such positions are obliged to demonstrate the highest levels of candour, transparency and accountability. “In the interests of fair and balanced reporting, and to provide you with the opportunity to state your case, we ask a number of questions about matters that are of public interest. ■ Would you please confirm that the trade mark and the business name of 'Feminae' is registered to you at the address of Unit 1, 129 Darebin Boulevard, Reservoir? Would you please confirm that this is your current residential address? If it is not your current address, would you please list your current residential address? ■ Would you please confirm that your Trade Mark registration with IPAustralia for 'Feminae' is under opposition from the Barbaro IP Trust? Would you please advise if you conduct or have conducted business under the 'Feminae' name? ■ Would you confirm that the Barbaro interests filed their trade mark application on August 21, 2020? Would you please confirm that you filed your trade mark applications on March 10 and July 26, 2021.
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Governance worries
The appointment of the Monitor comes after months of instability following Mayor Cr Lina Messina’s deal with the pro-Greens Councillors to secure control of the Council. The 5-4 majority is held by Councillors Hannan, McCathy, Messina, Newton and Rennie. The four minority Councillors - Dimitriadis, Greco, Laurence and Williams - had run an ongoing campaign to throw a spotlight on irregular governance at the Council. Those four Councillors were denied membership of a committee established to review the work of the Council CEO, yet an independent citizen has membership and voting rights. Late last year, Cr Messina did a deal with the pro-Greens Councillors that she would retain her Mayoralty in return for her vote on vital matters. The minority Councillors say that citizens in the northern part of the municipality - north of Bell St - have been neglected by the Council.
● Ben Wilsmore had supremacy in the ruck for Yea against Yarra Junction in last Saturday’s Outer East Division 2 encounter. All the OE and NFNL results are on Pages 22-23.
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Darebin’s top Councillor fails to provide answers
● Cr Lina Messina, Darebin Mayor ■ Australian Securities and Investments Commission records appear to indicate that you hold a business name registration for 'Feminae'. Would you please explain why there appears to be no reference to your 'Feminae' business interest on your latest Darebin Council 'Biannual Personal Interest Return'? ■ In your candidate's notes in 2021 for Football Victoria, you describe yourself as the "Founder, Director [and] CEO of Feminae". You appear to have deliberately chosen the word 'Director', which has implications under Corporations law. However, you appear not to have declared this 'Director' position in your Biannual return. Please explain. ■ You have chosen to describe 'Feminae' on its Facebook page as a "charity organization". There appears to be no registration of 'Feminae' or yourself as a charity organization with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. Is 'Feminae a charity organization, as you publish? Is it a business, given that you have
registered a business name, and made a trade mark application in your own name? Please explain. ■ In your latest Biannual return (September 2021), you state you have 'nil' interest or beneficial interest in land. Is this still the case? ■ ASIC records show that you own 100 $1 paidup shares in each of two companies: Messina Ink Pty Ltd (January 30, 2020) and Ms Messina Pty Ltd (March 3, 2021). Your Biannual return offered a 'nil' answer in your September 2021 declaration about "shares you own or have a beneficial interest in". Please explain this apparent inconsistency. ■ In your Biannual return, you made a 'nil' declaration about "companies which you solely or jointly with family members hold a controlling interest", you answered 'Nil'. Given that you own the 'Feminae' business, and that you are the sole director and shareholder of Messina Ink Pty Ltd and Ms Messina Pty Ltd, please explain the apparent inconsistencies. ■ In your latest Biannual return you declare a 'nil' answer to the return's questions about consultancies, contracts or agencies. Does this still apply? ■ In your latest Biannual return you declare a 'nil' answer, declaring that you have no personal debt. Does this still apply? Is it true that you have purchased property on the Mornington Peninsula? If so, are you debt free in regard to that purchase? Do you owe money to anyone regarding that or any other transaction? ■ In your Biannual return, you state that you are working in the aged care and disability sector as a 'Pandemic Officer'. You list your employment as being with COAS IT. Is this still the case? ■ Given the apparent inconsistencies between the answers you have furnished in your Biannual return, and the high levels of behaviour required of Mayors and Councillors, do you believe that you should continue in the role as Mayor and/or Councillor with Darebin City Council?
H-G17
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● FLASHBACK: The Local Paper has run a series of reports regarding governance shortcomings at Darebin City Council.
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