Thursday, 23 February 2023

Western Victoria Region

Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:39): (43) My constituency question is for the Minister for Local Government. A month ago the minister issued a media release announcing her appointment of two municipal monitors to help in the hiring process of a new CEO at the City of Greater Geelong. Prue Digby and Peter Dorling have since been appointed. The chief municipal inspector is continuing his investigation into the council, focusing on matters of good governance, integrity and transparency. Actually perhaps he could move his attention to the Victorian government when he is done with Geelong. Anyway, moving on, given that the only direct employee of the city’s elected councillors is the CEO, can the minister please explain why monitors are needed to find a CEO, and secondly, why it will take so long – 12 months – to find a CEO for the city of Geelong?