Victoria’s local government auditor today released a report identifying a series of governance concerns at Central Goldfields Shire Council, including lack of transparency, policy failures and financial mismanagement.
The report followed an investigation by the Local Government Investigations and Compliance Inspectorate and it has been provided to the Council and Minister for Local Government.
The report raises serious management and governance issues including land sales that did not accord with the requirements of the Act, human resources irregularities, a non-conforming internal audit committee and substantially incomplete registers of pecuniary interest.
The Inspectorate recently commenced a prosecution against the CEO and the matter is currently before the courts. During the course of the Inspectorate’s initial investigation, it uncovered information that led to a more lengthy investigation and the release of today’s report.
Minister Hutchins will demand a response from the Council within 28 days to the report’s findings.
The Minister re-appointed a monitor in July to oversee council’s progress in addressing its governance and operational methods across the following areas:
- organisational restructure
- culture
- policy and procedures
- property management
- councillor workshops
- confidential council meeting arrangements
For a copy of the Inspectorate’s report, which includes a preliminary response from the council, visit
Quotes attributable to Minister for Local Government Natalie Hutchins
“This is a damning report. Ratepayers and residents deserve a council they can trust and a council that works for them.”
“The council has a case to answer and I look forward to seeing how they respond to the Government and their community.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020