The Hon. Beverley McArthur, The Member for Western Victoria and former Councillor of Corangamite Shire, Media Release, 4 July 2024

Bev McArthur raised the case of a Victorian councillor who experienced the weaponisation of complaints process by their ideological opponents.

The Member for Western Victoria and former Councillor of Corangamite Shire said “there is a steady rise in political intimidation of conservative Councillors in Victoria’s local government sector.

“The victims I am aware of are mostly women – conservative women – but I am not convinced this is a sex-based division.

“Sadly, some of the most enthusiastic bullies are women and the motivation seems to be political.”

Mrs McArthur detailed one story among many occurring across the state where a conservative female councillor was surprisingly charged with 17 conduct complaints by her Labor and Greens colleagues despite no warning or prior complaints in the past three years. She was never approached to resolve matters formally or informally by these councillors or council staff, nor did mediation follow.

Mrs McArthur called this a “deliberate and calculated ambush”.

“An arbiter was immediately assigned whose politics, to be careful here, could reasonably give rise to the apprehension of bias. At the hearing she was disallowed legal representation and since the procedure was confidential could not discuss it with others.

“How is this acceptable? It is downright intimidating.

“For an individual to be singled out and then feel unable to discuss the matter is shocking.

“The judgement reached was, I am told, not in line with the evidence of witnesses, yet I cannot judge this, as to date she has been unable to obtain a transcript – no warning, no mediation, a confidential process, no legal representation and apparently no transcript, the only remedy an appeal to the Supreme Court, obviously far beyond her means.

“The lack of natural justice is terrifying.”

Mrs McArthur described how the system has been weaponised against the conservative female councillor by those who wish to intimidate and silence her.

“It is victimisation – horrible, personal bullying dressed up as respectable procedure. It takes its toll.

“However right you may think you are, when everyone gangs up on you and you have no right of reply, when you are ordered to make an apology for doing absolutely nothing wrong, it is incredibly upsetting.

“This case is just one of a handful occurring across the state, all relatively recent, all deeply unjust.”

Mrs McArthur called on the Minister for Local Government to explain how the system should work and how the details of this distressing case cannot be true.

“I do not argue that no councillor ever does anything wrong, that they never deserve investigation or censure, but I sincerely hope there has been a mistake here because this is abuse, and with the passage of Tuesday’s Local Government Amendment (Governance and Integrity) Bill 2024 we are making an even more potent weapon for bullies.

“I hope this case gives some context to my deep reservations about those changes.”