By Mitchell Clarke
A review into the expenses of councillor Collin Ross has recommended Cardinia Shire Council make further inquiries as to whether a code of conduct breach has been committed.
The investigation, carried out by Justicia Lawyers, was presented to the September council meeting, after outgoing Ranges Ward councillor Leticia Wilmot called for a review into the claims of Cr Ross.
The review was centred around the Central Ward councillor’s travel and out-of-pocket expense claims, with reference to his paid positions on the board of the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA) and the Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Group (MWRRG).
On a number of occasions – 15 February 2018, 30 October 2019 and 27 November 2019 – Cr Ross was found to have been paid sitting fees by MWRRG and was reimbursed for travel. But he is also alleged to have claimed travel expenses from the council too, for a 136 kilometre return journey from Pakenham to the CBD to attend unpaid meetings on the same dates.
The review found Cr Ross also received a sitting fee of $426 per meeting from the VLGA, in addition to being reimbursed by council to attend the meetings on 8 and 29 August, 28 November and 2 December 2019.
The reviewer recommended the council put further inquiries to Cr Ross and obtain legal advice as to whether any breaches had occurred.
A new report will be tabled to the November council meeting, but due to the timing of the investigation, Cr Wilmot fears the inquiry will be dropped.
“There’s a certain level of non-transparent behaviour here and I have a real issue with that. It’s in our code of conduct that we actually conduct ourselves with transparency and I don’t think there’s been full transparency here at all,” she said.
“It needs to be further investigated. There is still something there that is not right and I hope the findings are completely transparent and that whatever legal advice comes from this, is not just dropped and swept under the carpet.
“That is my biggest fear, because of the timing, that it will get swept to the side.”
The report also highlighted Cr Ross’ unconventional route of travel into the city. Google Maps stated the shortest route to VLGA meetings was 121.9 kilometres, which was 14 kilometres less than the 136 kilometre return journey claimed.
When questioned by the Gazette, Cr Ross said his actual routes were about 148 kilometres, and he took them to avoid traffic and notorious pinch points.
He said he deliberately claimed less (136km) in case he drove off track to visit his elderly father or pick up his daughter.
Central Ward councillor Jodie Owen said there were several points of the report that alarmed her.
“Councillors must take the direct and shortest route to any meetings or any venues. When I read Cr Ross’ response to how he drives to Melbourne, it raised alarm bells in my head because I have never in my life considered driving from Pakenham through that route,” she said.
“As councillors, our allowances are paid with ratepayers money. It is not our money and it is for this reason, I believe, that further legal advice is paramount.”
Cr Ross said he welcomed any inquiry, but said the whole investigation was an “election stunt” and a “witch hunt” aimed at causing harm.
“We just want procedural fairness and a natural justice, but there has been no fairness at all,” he said.
“It’s like they (council) gag you. They put tape around your head and they sit you in the corner and say you can’t talk in the council meeting to defend yourself.
“I have been the most scrutinised person in the history of Cardinia Shire Council.”
Port Ward councillor Ray Brown told the meeting he wouldn’t become part of the so-called witch hunt.
“I think as soon as people hear the word investigation, they think that equals wrongdoing, well that’s not always correct,” he said.
“I’ll let the report unravel exactly what the issues are, exactly what Cr Ross is accountable for, if anything.”
Council CEO Carol Jeffs will prepare a report for the November council meeting.
