News

A former Local Government Minister and the first Liberal woman elected to the Legislative Assembly have urged the Mayor of Boroondara and councillors to appoint Cr Coral Ross as their delegate to the Municipal Association of Victoria.

“I am pleased that both the Hon Jeanette Powell and Gracia Baylor AMhave written to Boroondara councillors urging them to re-consider their position and allow Cr Ross, the current MAV Interim President, to stand in the forthcoming elections to Victoria’s peak local government body”, said President Helen Coleman.

Former Local Government Minister Hon Jeanette Powell said: “I have been advised that you made your decision not to appoint a delegate because of serious concerns about the MAV. I believe it is therefore imperative that you do have someone at the table who can represent your council’s interests and concerns and make the changes your council believes are needed. There is an opportunity in March, if you nominate Cr Ross, to see your delegate become the President of the MAV, the first woman to hold that position, which I believe would give your council a great voice and advocacy and an opportunity to support Local Government in Victoria.”

In December Boroondara Council, in a closed meeting, decided not to appoint a delegate to the MAV. This unprecedented action means Cr Ross cannot stand in the election.

Gracia Baylor, a Boroondara resident, is a former President of the Australian Local Government Women’s Association (ALGWA), has always taken a keen interest in equality of opportunity for people in public life and against discriminatory practices.

“Given Cr Ross’s record in public affairs as a Municipal Councillor and her standing in the community generally … the action to deprive Boroondara Council and thus the citizens of Boroondara of a representative on the peak municipal body of Victoria is ludicrous” she said.

Ms Powell was the Local Government Minister from 2010 to 2014. She is an ALGWA Life Member, has been involved in Local Government for 25 years, and has a wealth of experience. She pointed out that ‘if you want to make changes, you have to be at the decision making table.’

“As Minister for Local Government I had the opportunity to meet with Cr. Ross a number of times and in all of my dealings with her I have found her to be intelligent, experienced, articulate and passionate about Local Government and supportive of women in Local Government,” added the former Minister.

The highly respected former parliamentarians have joined a host of local government councillors urging Boroondara to change its position, including current Australian Local Government Association President Mayor David O’Loughlin and former Brimbank Administrator, Hawthorn Mayor and MAV treasurer Jane Nathan.

“I express my extreme disappointment with the loss of Cr Coral Ross from the ALGA Board due to her council’s failure to support her nomination to the MAV Board,” said their President David O’Loughlin, while Jane Nathan said

“This retrograde action by some Councillors elected to represent their community leaves me dumbfounded, and will be seriously questioned as more community groups are made aware of a decision that was taken behind closed doors. What is their agenda?There would be no other Council paying money to belong to the MAV that would remove not only their delegate but the President, it’s like taking a double barred shotgun and blasting your Council off the agenda.”

Media enquiries:President Helen Coleman, 0437 940 930