The mayor of Dorset Council in Tasmania steps down after a scathing report reveals significant failures in governance, conduct, and decision-making. The report highlights issues of non-compliance, conflicts of interest, bias, and inappropriate behavior.
The mayor of Dorset Council in Tasmania 's north, Greg Howard, announced his resignation following the release of a scathing report that revealed 'significant failings of governance, conduct, and decision-making' within the council. The report, commissioned by the Tasmania n state government, highlighted numerous issues, including non-compliance with statutory obligations, conflicts of interest, governance lapses, bias, and improper use of legislative authority.
It also pointed to inappropriate behavior and communication within the council. The report identified 19 separate issues and made 22 recommendations, alongside 10 ministerial directions issued by Tasmanian Local Government Minister Kerry Vincent. The council, serving a large but remote area of Tasmania's north-east with a population of nearly 7,000, faced particularly serious findings related to the conduct of former general manager Tim Watson, who left the council in December 2022, and the language and conduct of Mayor Howard. The report recommended referring Mr. Watson to the Director of Public Prosecutions for potential prosecution based on allegations of breaching the Local Government Act. The investigation, which involved 63 submissions and over 40 interviews, concluded that the council's failings stemmed not from what councillors did but from what they failed to do. It emphasized the lack of policies and procedures to address statutory obligations. The report cited examples of Mayor Howard's correspondence characterized as 'combative,' 'highly disrespectful,' and 'rude,' including instances where he used offensive language in his communications. It also found Mr. Watson engaged in combative, inappropriate, and offensive language during his tenure as general manager. A key recommendation involved referring both Mr. Watson and former Dorset Council Director Works and Infrastructure, Dwaine Griffin, to the Director of Public Prosecutions for potential prosecution due to their alleged breach of section 55 of the Local Government Act. This relates to Mr. Watson's failure to inform Mayor Howard about his shareholding in Trailsnaps Pty Ltd, a company aiming to operate on local Blue Derby mountain bike trails. Mr. Griffin was also found in breach for not notifying Mr. Watson in writing of his interests in the same company. In response to the report, Mr. Watson vehemently refuted the findings, claiming factual inaccuracies and misrepresentations of evidence. He insisted on his record of delivering savings to the government and ratepayers, asserting that 'generations to come' would benefit from the council's achievements during his time as general manager. Mayor Howard downplayed the report's significance, stating that there was 'not much' in it and a 'clear lack of evidence to make many of the findings'
Tasmania Local Government Corruption Report Mayor Governance Conduct
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