Local Government

WORST JOB IN THE WORLD: Governing the suburb Darlene Reilly lives is a fate worse than death

Victorian Local Government minister and disaster zone Richard Wynne has made the best of a bad situation in Brimbank, appointing a good Chair of the Administrators to preside over the troubled council until the next lot of municipal elections.

Those appointed will have the unpleasant duty to deal with anti-migrant groups like the Sunshine Ratepayers and Residents’ Association, made infamous for its race-based attacks on local councillors, even publishing a pornographic image on its website and labelling it with the then mayor’s name.

That group has campaigned vociferously to scrap all democratic elections for ten years after regularly failing to get anyone elected. They had previously lavished the interim Administrator Bill Scales who reportedly knocked back an appointment to continue after telling those within government he’d “had enough of Brimbank.” Who could blame him, dealing with groups like SunRRA.

Oddly, Liberal Leader Ted Baillieu, not normally associated with race-hate, has regularly solicited the support of the notorious Sunshine extremist group for a recent policy launch.

The militant leader of the hate-group Darlene Reilly (pictured here in white dress rather than her preferred white hood) was even quoted in a Liberal press-release endorsing Baillieu’s smart but expensive plan to have night-shift security at every metropolitan Melbourne and major regional train station. There was no mention of bus or tram stops in the policy announcement but Reilly – rumoured to be interested in Liberal endorsement for a western suburbs seat – was enthusiastic (emphasis from the Liberal media release):

“We think it’s a fabulous idea. It’s great that finally someone is listening, someone has delivered a plan, and we believe that the community deserves to feel safe, and also that if we’re to be encouraged to use public transport, there’s a duty of care of the government and the people who provide this service to take care of the people and make them safe all the way to their destination. So it fills that duty of care that’s been lacking.” (President of the Sunshine Residents and Ratepayers Association Darlene Reilly)

Reilly is also believed to maintain a Facebook friendship with at least one of Baillieu’s party room colleagues. In addition, she has formed Facebook links with ultra-left financier Dean Mighell, the tricky Socialist activist Stephen Jolly and Greens political party operatives including beefy Colleen Hartland MLC.

Only under the uninspired leadership of Ted Baillieu could a radical left but racist anti-development nutbag give comfort to the Victorian division of the Liberal Party.

We wish the Administrators well in dealing with scum like Darlene Reilly. While initially supportive, it’ll be reasonably certain she’ll turn on them like a jackal, political posturing for a possible Parliamentary run.

Media release
From the Minister for Local Government
Tuesday, 17 November, 2009
NEW ERA FOR BRIMBANK CITY COUNCIL AS ADMINISTRATORS APPOINTED
Minister for Local Government Richard Wynne has today appointed three
Administrators to restore good local governance and community confidence in
Brimbank City Council over the next three years.
Mr Wynne said that the Governor in Council accepted his recommendation to
appoint Peter Lewinsky, Joanne Anderson and Meredith Sussex AM as the
Administrators. They will form the new Council from tomorrow – Wednesday,
18 November.
“The panel of three Administrators, which will be chaired by Mr Lewinsky,
brings the necessary experience and skills to tackle the extensive reform
and rebuilding tasks at Brimbank,” Mr Wynne said.
“Mr Lewinsky has had exposure to all tiers of government across a range of
portfolios.
“He is well-placed to chair the panel given his experience as an
Administrator reforming other organisations, such as the Cheltenham and
Regional Cemeteries Trust and the Fawkner Crematorium and Memorial Park.”
Mr Wynne said the Local Government (Brimbank City Council) Act, which
dismissed the Council, ensured the Administrators had all the powers,
functions and duties of the Council.
The scope of these powers, functions and duties includes:
·      Managing and conducting all functions and activities which are the
normal business of Council;
·      Considering all matters presently before the Council, and all
matters duly brought before it; and
·      Holding Council meetings and making decisions in the normal manner.
Mr Lewinsky, who as Chairperson fulfils the responsibilities of Mayor, said
he was looking forward to working closely with the CEO and staff at
Brimbank City Council and engaging with the community.
“This community has experienced a prolonged period of frustration and
instability as a result of the Council’s inability to govern in its best
interests,” Mr Lewinsky said.
“Together with Ms Sussex and Ms Anderson, I’ll be setting an appropriately
high expectation of local governance for the residents and ratepayers of
Brimbank – and I intend to meet and exceed those expectations.”
The Local Government (Brimbank City Council) Act to dismiss Council was
passed by the Victorian Parliament on 12 November.
Mr Wynne acknowledged the excellent role of Bill Scales as interim
Administrator of the suspended council, and thanked him for his outstanding
contribution as both Monitor and Administrator.
“The passing of the Local Government (Brimbank City Council) Bill and the
appointment of the three Administrators signals the start of a new era of
effective governance and cultural reform at Brimbank,” Mr Wynne said.
“All three Administrators are experienced senior managers, combining strong
track records in government, financial management and local government
service.”
Biographies
Mr Peter Lewinsky, Chairperson
Mr Peter Lewinsky provides consultancy services to the private and public
sector on corporate governance, business planning, auditing and risk
management. He has worked with all tiers of government on major projects
and strategic plans in a range of portfolios from human services, to major
utilities and sport. He has particular experience as an Administrator in
reforming troubled organisations, such as the Cheltenham and Regional
Cemeteries Trust, and the Fawkner Crematorium and Memorial Park. Over the
last 15 years, Mr Lewinsky has been amember of public company boards and
chair of Government audit committees.
Ms Meredith Sussex AM, Administrator
Ms Meredith Sussex AM has extensive experience as a senior officer in
government.  Her broad local government experience spans eight years at the
former City of Sunshine (one of the predecessors of Brimbank City Council).
From 1974 to 1977, Ms Sussex was Community Development Officer at the City
of Sunshine before being appointed to Director, Community Services, and a
member of the Council’s Executive Team, until 1982.  She has also held
senior positions in a number of Victorian Government departments, and has
been Deputy Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet. Ms Sussex
led the Office of Commonwealth Games Coordination from 2002 to 2006.
Ms Joanne Anderson, Administrator
Ms Joanne Anderson is an experienced senior administrator, who has worked
for a number of Victorian councils at an executive level.  Ms Anderson was
Assistant Shire Secretary (1989-1991) and Shire Secretary (1992-1994) at
the former Shire of Euroa before becoming Chief Executive Officer of
Wangaratta Rural City Council from 1995 to 1997.  She was Administrator at
Benalla Rural City Council from 2002 to 2003.  Ms Anderson has been a
member of a range of Victorian boards and statutory authorities dealing
with local government matters, including the Municipal Electoral Tribunal,
the Victoria Grants Commission, and most recently, the Local Government
Councillor Remuneration Panel. Ms Anderson is currently a member of anumber
of government-appointed boards.

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