Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Local Government spokesperson
The withdrawal of a second councillor from the Huon Valley Council’s mediation process should send a strong message to the Local Government Minister that his process has been corrupted.
Huon Valley Council appointing their own mediator has fuelled the division on an already dysfunctional Council.
Councillor Mackintosh withdrew from mediation because he was concerned it wasn't independent. This can't be a process designed by the Minister just to tick his boxes, but keep the status quo.
Instead of demanding that the popularly elected Huon Valley Mayor “step aside”, Minister Gutwein needs to return to the original recommendation of the Board of Inquiry.
Minister Gutwein has to stop pointing the finger at Mayor Coad, and have a good look in the mirror.
The Minister’s own Board of Inquiry was very clear about what's needed - fresh elections, following a 12 month period with an independent administrator. This is the only way to clean up the dysfunctional culture that’s developed on Huon Valley Council.
Huon Valley residents have launched a petition, calling on the Minister Gutwein to implement the Board of Inquiry Recommendations. They don’t like the Minister’s 'pick a side' process and want this handled responsibly.
Premier Hodgman has said he wants the people of the Huon to be confident that they’re getting the right level of service from their Council. That begins with Local Government Minister, Peter Gutwein, doing the responsible thing and taking the Board of Inquiry's advice.