Fury over new rules that ‘gag’ councillors
A western suburban council is in internal rebellion over new media policies likened to secrecy and state surveillance by “Big Brother”.
Hobsons Bay Deputy Mayor Lisa Bentley said council members were “strongly” pressured into agreeing to the rules, which were on the council’s agenda five days ago, under state government interference in the council.
In response, Bentley issued a “call to arms” for residents to attend a meeting Tuesday evening.
The proposed media policy designates the mayor as the council’s “chief spokesperson” and prohibits other council members from commenting to the media without the mayor’s “discretion and approval.”
A separate privacy policy would classify all agendas, officer papers and presentations for councilor briefing meetings as “internal documents” protected from public view.
Bentley said he believes the policies will prevent council members from representing “the people who legally voted for us.”
“I think it comes from strong-armed tactics. [the state government]”He appointed observers on our council who essentially became Big Brother,” he said.
“This is how we are being treated and there is no evidence… no explanation as to why we have two monitors.”
In a statement AgeA council spokesman rejected any suggestion that any threats had been made to extend the terms of state-appointed controllers if the policies were blocked.
On Monday night, Kingston City Council in Melbourne’s south-east adopted changes to its governing rules to extend the chief executive’s power to reject motion notices. Both councils are under the control of the same state-appointed city monitor, John Tanner.
Council monitors, appointed by Victorian Local Government Minister Nick Staikos, were deployed to Hobsons Bay in June last year. Although the controllers’ job descriptions were vague and cited the need to improve management, the appointments followed the sacking of former chief executive Aaron van Egmond over allegations of “unacceptable workplace behaviour”.
Australian Services Union it has been said before It had received “complaints about the behavior of some managers” at Hobsons Bay, which raised concerns about mental health.
Van Egmond subsequently resigned in April 2025 and Tanner was appointed two months later. A second monitor, Rebecca McKenzie, was appointed in January. Under the Local Government Act, municipalities are required to cover the costs associated with municipal monitors, which cover their daily fees and expenses.
Hobsons Bay councilor Michael Disbury, who represents Williamstown North, said most of the rule changes on the table had no name given and were an attempt to “joke” elected councilors and stop “reasoned robust debate”.
“This will severely limit what I can say to the point where I won’t be able to say anything at all. I’m afraid it really is that bad,” Disbury said.
He cited his public advocacy for the closure of the Champion Road level crossing as an example of a debate to be suppressed. “It’s black and white. It’s terrible,” he said.
“The Local Government Act says [we can speak] as long as it is in the public interest. This new policy will say that I cannot and will be subject to sanctions and possibly loss of wages.
Community advocate Gill Gannon said there were a number of “hot” issues in Hobsons Bay that she feared councilors would “remain silent”; these include organized crime, contentious developments for the Williamstown Life Saving Club and Wetlands Community Centre, and the impending closure of Champion and Maddox roads.
“If council members can’t speak freely to the community or the media, then who represents our community?” said Gannon, who is president of the Newport Traders Association and will run in the November state election as a member of the Western Party in his seat of Williamstown.
“You can’t represent your community if you can’t speak. Councilors are key; they’re a conduit between the community and the council executive, and if they’re silenced in doing so, it puts them in a very risky position.”
Gannon also expressed council members’ concerns about the short amount of time it takes to consider policies.
“They came up to be discussed and decided on Friday [Tuesday]. “It’s not a lot of time,” he said.
“Policies… can be up to interpretation… that’s a problem. If you don’t know what the boundaries are and what the black and whites are, then it shouldn’t go forward unless it’s really clear.”
Council defends proposed media rules AgeHe said councilors still “have the right to express their personal views”. But the draft policy clearly states that council members can only submit comments to the media “with the discretion and approval of the mayor.”
Regarding confidentiality rules, the council argued that publishing internal working documents could “mislead the public” and that briefings should remain a “safe place” for frank discussions with staff.
Citizens who wanted to speak or ask questions on Tuesday night had until Monday to submit their questions.
On Monday night, Kingston Council strengthened the chief executive’s power to reject motion notices that “pose unreasonable legal, reputational, governance or workplace health and safety risks”.
Age He approached the local government minister for comment.
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Rachael Dexter is a journalist working for The Age’s City team. Contact her at rachael.dexter@theage.com.au, rachaeldexter@protonmail.com or via Signal at @rachaeldexter.58.Connect with: Facebook or email.
