The Andrews Labor Government will today introduce a Bill to dismiss Whittlesea City Council following a report from municipal monitor Yehudi Blacher that found serious governance failures at the council.

The report, to be tabled in Parliament today, found that Council governance has irretrievably collapsed.

In addition, the report found that:

• The council’s deep divides and personality conflicts have rendered it dysfunctional
• Councillors have failed to provide stability in the Council’s senior leadership with five CEO’s in five years and over $500,000 spent on legal disputes
• Councillor behaviours have not been consistent with the Councillor Code of Conduct and have caused significant harm to the council’s administration and reputation.

The monitor concluded that the present council cannot deliver the good governance needed by the City of Whittlesea.

The monitor has recommended the council be dismissed and administrators appointed until at least the 2024 general elections for local government.

An interim administrator will be appointed to ensure the functions of the council continue once the council is dismissed.