Explosive documents released under Freedom of Information show that during March-May 2019, the Office of the Shire CEO sent many documents to the Minister for Local Government (Delwp) appearing to “undermine” the Councillors and Mayor.

On one particular day, April 2nd, the date that the Minister sent the “show cause” letter to Councillors, a letter and email written by the Leongatha Business Association, and addressed to Adem Somyurek, the then Minister for Local Government, was sent from the CEO Office. A response was received from Delwp later that day saying “Thanks”.

The timeline of these events is as follows:

Council voted on Feb 27th 2019 to advertise the CEO position. Two Councillors who opposed that decision resigned the next day and this was conveyed via an online article from the South Gippsland Sentinel Times. During March, the two resigned but still sitting Councillors who opposed that decision publicised through the local media their views on this decision and also assisted in the Town Hall meeting of March 14th, 2019 calling for the Council to be removed.

The Leongatha Business Group wrote a letter to the Minister dated 29th March, 2019 calling for Minister Somyurek to take action.
The letter written by the Leongatha Business Association, was sent to the Minister for Local Government’s Office on April 2nd 2019, at 10.10 am. 

This email was sent from the office of the Shire’s CEO, Mr Tim Tamlin. At 10.32am the letter was forwarded from the CEO’s office to DELWP. DELWP had been the home of the Monitor. The Monitor was no longer at Council on April 2nd. DELWP noted “thanks” in their response to the CEO’s office at 11.55am.

The Minister’s “show cause” letter was sent to all councillors and CEO at 5.30pm on April 2nd.

See below for copies of the actual documents sent on April 2nd, 2019.