URGENT UPDATE: Opposition MPs are demanding immediate answers regarding the installation of municipal monitors overseeing Kingston Council. The Victorian State Government has appointed John Tanner AM and another monitor to ensure “good governance and support for council’s decision-making procedures” until the end of 2025.
Liberal MP Ann-Marie Hermans addressed Parliament on August 28, seeking assurances that the monitors are not being used as a “political tool” to “silence great councillors” and push through controversial planning issues. “Monitors’ interventions like this are supposed to be justified,” she stated. “They must be transparent and grounded in evidence. But I have not seen any explanation of why these newly created positions are justified.”
The announcement of the monitors follows a large public gathering opposing development at the Rossdale golf course, a project that Kingston Council has publicly opposed. Residents have also expressed strong resistance to a proposed development of 941 dwellings on the former Kingswood golf course. Hermans emphasized that the council is simply acting in the interest of the community.
Liberal MP Bev McArthur accused Local Government Minister Nick Staikos of “covertly weaponizing” his portfolio to “seize control of councils that refuse to toe the Labor Party line.” She argued that Kingston, which overlaps with Staikos’s Bentleigh electorate, is “well run” and does not need this added oversight. “Their crime is opposing cost shifting and inappropriate development,” McArthur added.
In response to these accusations, Minister Staikos stated on August 22 that “Victorians expect their councils to maintain a high standard of processes and practices.” He asserted that these monitors are essential for ensuring the council serves the Kingston community effectively.
The roles of the monitors will include addressing issues such as conflicts of interest, health and safety practices, and the relationship dynamics between councillors and council officers. With tensions rising and community opposition growing, the focus is squarely on Kingston Council and the implications of this government intervention.
As this situation develops, all eyes are on Kingston to see how these monitors will impact council operations and community relations. Residents and local leaders are urged to stay informed as this story unfolds.
This latest controversy has sparked widespread discussion, and many are questioning the motivations behind the government’s actions. Will this lead to greater accountability, or will it further alienate the council from its constituents? Only time will tell as Kingston navigates these turbulent waters.
