Pub Test Not Passed
Western Victoria MP Bev McArthur has hit back at comments by Warrnambool City Councillors who called the idea of installing an independent monitor “immature” after the questionable sacking of CEO Peter Schneider.
Mrs McArthur said, “Clearly, these four councillors are afraid of losing their own jobs after they thought it was wise to terminate the CEO’s job. The community appears rightly concerned that no proper explanation has been forthcoming regarding the abrupt termination of the CEO after having previously endorsed his performance review and even offered a pay increase (which I note he rejected).”
“If Cr Neoh says I shouldn’t be passing judgement without being privy to all the information to which he is privileged, then he and his fellow travellers should take the entire Warrnambool community into their confidence, treat them with the respect they deserve and release all the reasons and information behind their ham-fisted and unusual decisions.”
“Local Government needs to attract people of calibre and competence who understand the community; have experience and expertise in the management of multi-million dollar businesses; respect the need for transparency and good governance; and who are able to put Warrnambool ratepayers’ interests above all else.”
“Cr Neoh says we need to ‘move forward’ and ‘forget about the white noise’, no doubt in the faint hope that the community will pay no attention to their recent coup d'etat. Unfortunately for Cr Neoh, I doubt Warrnambool citizens see recent actions of four Councillors as simply ‘white noise’ and will likely express that view in the October elections.”
“I called for the appointment of a monitor because I believed it was totally unacceptable to appoint an Acting CEO from within City Hall at the same meeting as the sacking, without any thought to advertising the position, let alone seeking an independent outside manager of business. I believe most people agree this does not pass ‘the pub test’.”
“The four councillors talk about leadership – real leaders take responsibility for their actions and in the interests of transparency and accountability, should support the entire council standing down so that an independent monitor can be installed to fix up a mess created for unclear reasons.”
22 July 2020