By GARRY HOWE
FORMER mayor Bill Ronald has hit out at Cardinia Shire for what he has labelled as an attempt to deny his right to natural justice.
Mr Ronald, who was a councillor for 16 years and a three-time mayor, was fined by council after several sheep escaped from his McGregor Road property in Pakenham.
When the infringement notice arrived in his letterbox in early August, he and wife Jillian were overseas visiting their son Sheldon and the matter progressed through Dandenong Magistrates’ Court in his absence.
Mr Ronald said he chose to invoke his right to contest the charge when he returned and was told by a court official that he could serve an affidavit to that effect to the council explaining that he was overseas.
He said he was stunned when council chose to contest his right to a re-hearing.
“I was just after my right to natural justice,” Mr Ronald explained.
“If they are happy to deny that to a councillor of 16 years and a three-time mayor, what are they going to do to other people?”
In the end, Mr Ronald won his right to be re-heard and the matter goes before the courts again later this month.
Council’s team leader prosecutions Owen Harrdidge said the decision as to whether a person was granted a rehearing was governed by the Criminal Procedure Act and not by council.
He said that, given the matter was currently before court, he could not comment any further.
