Press Release from Cr Peter Coad, mayor of Huon Valley Council
Huon Valley Council’s mayor, Cr Peter Coad, has asked council’s general manager, Simone Watson, to request a police inquiry into the leaking of highly confidential documentation to a Hobart radio station.
The document in question, he said, related to council’s response to the initial confidential report of the board of inquiry into Huon Valley Council, ordered last September by the Minister for Local Government, Peter Gutwein.
The document, he said, was a report by a Hobart law firm that had been commissioned by council’s general manager.
Cr Coad said a formal inquiry into the leak was imperative if Huon Valley Council was to maintain the highest of security standards. Security, he said, was particularly vital because council was constantly dealing with supply contracts and tenders that involved highly confidential information and substantial amounts of money.
He said he had earlier presented a detailed report on the leak to the Director of Local Government and had asked him to investigate the matter; and he was disappointed that the director had not acceded to his request. He was also seeking Minister Gutwein’s support for an investigation.
“This is a very serious matter,” said Cr Coad, “and it should be investigated immediately. Any delay could seriously compromise the investigation of possible breaches of the law.”
An investigation into the leaking of the confidential document, said Cr Coad, would help re-assure the public that both the council and the State Government were serious about maintaining and implementing the highest standards of local government.
Cr Coad said he was hoping that Minister Gutwein and council’s general manager would support his request for a police investigation.
Huon Valley Council’s mayor, Cr Peter Coad
