SIMEON THOMAS-WILSON, Urban Affairs Reporter, Mercury September 22, 2017 12:00am
As the Board of Inquiry finalises its long-awaited report into the council, an investigation by Auditor-General Rod Whitehead into the procurement of goods and services by the council is also set to be tabled next month.
Local Government Minister Peter Gutwein revealed in July that the state's public-sector watchdog was investigating tendering issues at the council.
This coincided with his announcement of plans to resuspend Glenorchy aldermen when their initial six-month suspension expired in August.
The investigation by the Tasmanian Audit Office begun after the aldermen were first suspended by Mr Gutwein in February this year.
Although it has not been listed in the office's annual plan of work, Mr Whitehead is able to conduct investigations outside that plan.
The Mercury understands it initially focused on the council's tendering process with CT Management group, of which former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett is a director.
Multiple sources have told the Mercury that the Auditor-General's investigation has now been broadened to look at other Glenorchy business contracts. Mr Whitehead has declined to comment on the investigation.
Earlier this month, following Chief Justice Blow's dismissal of Supreme Court action by the council's general manager Peter Brooks, Mr Gutwein said he expected to make a final decision on the fate of the council within two months.
The final report of the Board of Inquiry's findings is yet to be completed but board member Barry Easther said the board was hoping to finish it shortly.
"We are working towards finalising the report as soon as we can," he said.
The inquiry has stretched out to nearly two years following numerous Supreme Court challenges.
Mr Brooks is able to appeal Chief Justice Blow's verdict but Mr Easther said he was unaware of any challenges to date. "I'm just aware of the reasons that the Chief Justice gave for his decision," he said.
"All we are focusing on is the report."
NOTE: This investiogation could most likely be reported in and applied to many councils in the State. The Local Govt./ model keeps on delivering less than satisfactory outcomes for ratepayers and generally this can be attributed to a cavalier attitude towards accountability. Often accountability is regarded as discretionary with contentious decision making being hidden behind a veil of secrecy and assertions of "commercial-in-confidence" behind closed doors.
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