Ross probe lingers

Councillor Collin Ross, who has long been against rate increases, is the subject of an expenses investigation. 209223_04

By Mitchell Clarke

The Local Government Inspectorate will investigate whether ratepayer money was illegally obtained by a Cardinia Shire councillor, after a final audit into the lengthy investigation left “more questions than answers”.

Following the release of the final report into personal expense claims made by re-elected Central Ward councillor Collin Ross, the council unanimously voted in favour of referring the matter forward at the 14 December council meeting.

The Justitia Lawyers report investigated Cr Ross’ position on the Victorian Local Government Authority (VLGA) Board and the Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Group (MWRRG) Board.

Despite VLGA board members being paid $426 per meeting – which covers travel, parking and related expenses – Cr Ross was also reimbursed by the council on five known occasions, the report found.

Although Cr Ross didn’t charge council for his attendance at any of the 38 MWRRG meetings, the report found he was reimbursed travel expenses for unpaid meetings in the city, which coincided on the same day of paid attendances.

On one particular occasion, 22 August 2019, Cr Ross attended a VLGA meeting in the CBD, which concluded at 6.07pm, the relevant CEO confirmed. His next meeting was due to begin at 6pm.

But Cr Ross claimed he was forced to travel back to Pakenham to take a family member to Mount Waverley, before commuting back into the city.

“I just find it difficult to see how it could be possible from that time of 6.07pm to travel to Pakenham, to Mount Waverley, and back to a meeting which started from 6pm to 8pm,” Ranges Ward councillor Jeff Springfield said during the meeting.

According to council documents, Cr Ross offered to reimburse the council for some claims, which would consider the matter concluded, but it was argued that was “unlikely to provide the Cardinia Shire community with the highest level of confidence that the matter has been adequately considered”.

The council was also presented with the opportunity to seek further legal advice to determine whether a breach of the Local Government Act or Council Expenses Policy had occurred. Instead, councillors voted in favour of referring the matter to the Inspectorate, who will now investigate in an independent setting.

It’s unknown how much the Justitia Lawyer audit has cost ratepayers, but Cr Springfield said the report was necessary to obtain answers.

“I’m not going to hold councillors to account for auditing a report, when information was not forthcoming and has raised more questions than answers,” he said.

Former councillor Leticia Wilmot, who in August this year requested the council investigate all claims made by Cr Ross, said she was pleased the matter had reached the Inspectorate.

“I think that’s exactly where it should go,“ she told the Gazette.

“What he is expecting people to believe is pretty unbelievable. It just doesn’t add up. Some of his reasonings don’t stack up.

“What price do you put on honesty and transparency? If someone is doing the wrong thing with public money, then no amount of money is too great in bringing this out to the public.”

Mayor Brett Owen said the recommendations from the recent council meeting would be enacted.

“To enable the most open and transparent governance process to be followed in an independent setting, council has referred this matter to the Local Government Inspectorate,” he said.

“As the matter has been referred to the Local Government Inspectorate it would be inappropriate to make further comment at this time.”

Cr Ross did not respond to requests for comment by the Gazette.