Tuesday, 5 March 2024

 Paul EDBROOKE (Frankston) (13:05): On 5 June 2023 a Frankston councillor stated several times on the record that council were removing the $6 million gymnastics component from a $55 million project, totally contradicting the council’s democratic decision. Later the councillor denied these statements, telling us that the federal and state members were wrong, all our records were wrong, our staff were wrong and former barrister Peta Murphy MP’s minutes were wrong, but the councillor could not explain why he did not amend her minutes. I discovered last Monday that eight councillors and the executive team were given secret fraudulent minutes that were not shared or approved and totally removed this councillor’s statements from the record to hide his double-dealings from the rest of council. This is clear, cut and dried evidence of corruption in Frankston council. Council directors Babbar and Hughes and council officer Thomson witnessed the councillor’s mistruths, and Thomson emailed the fraudulent minutes. All three and CEO Phil Cantillon, whom I have raised this issue with for months, must call out these lies with statements or resign. Our community deserve no less. Creating fake documents to cast a shadow on the late Peta Murphy’s integrity is an appalling act. I have referred this to IBAC and will continue to update Parliament regularly. The only question council need to ask themselves from now on is: how many good officers’ jobs will be lost to cover up the incompetence, the stupidity and the litany of lies of the mayor, failed Liberal candidate and now mayor again Nathan Conroy?

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I remind members that that word is unparliamentary.