A series of text messages sent by Councillor Mick Newell to a member of the public have been provided to Tasmanian Times for publication. The content of these messages clearly illustrates the toxic culture that exists in what many in the Huon Valley community believe is once again a dysfunctional council.

These text messages were sent to a member of the public using Facebook Messenger over the past two years. Based on times and dates these text messages were sent is confirmation they were sent by Cr Newell whilst he was engaged in the Ordinary Meetings of the Huon Valley Council. These messages, and more, have also been made available to the Director of Local Government.

“Sally Doyle isn’t playing with a full deck”

“Get ready for an absolute circus tonight … with Sally running it”

“Her and Juarne are a total vacant lot … no knowledge at all it’s quite embarrassing at times”

“Omay and prince are two that have shocked me how bloody thick they are”

“It is a total joke the Bec Enders. Total grandstanding”

From left Mayor Enders, Cr Campbell and Cr Newell messaging on his mobile phone during the 9 December 2020 Meeting of Council.

“The sooner she pisses off the better”

“She’s an expert at passive aggressive manipulation who has Sally, Juarne and the two Greens totally under her thumb”

“I was pre warned about her from her time at Hobart Council. They said she was big trouble and they were right. Sally sucks up to her like you wouldn’t believe.”

 

Text messages sent on Facebook Messenger to a member of the Huon Valley community

The messages were sent to the respective councillors this past weekend and the Mayor has already hit back telling her fellow councillors they are nothing more than messages between Newell and former Councillor Wilson.

This is incorrect.

Tasmanian Times is in receipt of the original messages, knows the person they were sent to, and can confirm these are not messages between Newell and Wilson – these messages have been verified as emanating from Newell and being sent to a member of the public. Other messages from Newell have been sent to yet another member of the public and they are currently with lawyers.

Newell has previously been prosecuted under the Code of Conduct process for his indiscriminate use of social media which on the first occasion resulted in a caution. Then, following additional offenses of the Councillor Code of Conduct, Newell received a six week suspension from public office along with personal ratepayer-funded training in how to conduct himself as a councillor.

The following video grab is Cr Newell using what appears to be Messenger during the 24 February 2021 Ordinary Meeting of  Huon Valley Council at 21:54 during a discussion about changing the time of the AGM from the normal 7pm to a 4pm start time to suit the Mayor’s attendance at a conference in Burnie the following morning. Based on time and date, Newell’s interaction with his mobile phone has been correctly linked to one of the messages.

Cr Newell, along with Mayor Enders, Deputy Mayor Doyle and Cr Wilson were on the GM Recruitment Panel until Wilson was removed from Huon Valley Council 15 June 2021 over a technicality of not updating his details on the GM electoral role.

Cr Campbell was then elected to replace Wilson on the GM Panel, but resigned from the Panel 13 August 2021 over concerns with the whole recruitment process, the management of conflict of interest, and because of bullying and threats to her personal safety whilst on the GM Panel.

Campbell has told Tasmanian Times:

“I could not remain on the Panel as it would be me condoning an employment process that I feel was fundamentally flawed and unjust.”

Campbell also advised Mayor Enders she could not continue in the GM employment process because it was no longer a safe place for her to express her considered views. It is understood Enders took no action to ensure her ongoing safety during these meetings.

“My decision was not taken lightly, and was tinged with sincere regret,” said Campbell, “however, I felt morally bound to uphold my own ethical standpoint and to protect my well being.

“I was elected to the Panel after a previous Councillor left. I received the highest votes from Councillors which indicates a strong level of confidence in me to perform the role of selecting the next General Manager honestly and fairly. This is what I had aimed to do,” she said.

On Wednesday 16 March 2022, in a Special Meeting of Closed Council, the nine Huon Valley Councillors will determine the fate of the conflicted General Manager, Jason Browne.

Jason Browne, who is the confirmed relationship partner of Joanne Inches from Red Giant Executive Recruitment based in Hobart, was employed by Council 15 September 2021 on a five year contract worth in excess of $1.25 million. His six-month probation period ends 21 March 2022.

Tasmanian Times has received information confirming that a number of Huon Valley Council staff are desperate to have a voice in this flawed GM recruitment process, that morale is at an all-time low, and that a number of staff are seeking alternative employment outside of the council.

Given the ongoing dysfunction over this recruitment process it appears the Huon Valley councillors are in no shape to make the most important decision they can possibly make during their time in office: the selection and appointment of a General Manager. The HVC Council General Manager oversees some 160 staff and an annual budget of $28 million.

Independent reviews by the Auditor General and a separated HV Council-commissioned and ratepayer funded report from Edge Legal have confirmed the GM Recruitment Process was flawed.

The Auditor General  released 12 October 2021 identified three key concerns where decision-making related to the management of the conflict of interest was inadequate. These are when the council:

  • accepted the consultant’s suggested approach to managing her conflict and did not seek to appropriately mitigate the risk that emerged as a result of that decision
  • identified the consultant’s partner as the preferred applicant during the interviews with the full Huon Valley Council
  • decided to proceed with the recruitment despite knowing, after receipt of the report from the Legal Adviser, that the process lacked integrity.

The Auditor General report also stated the inadequate management of the conflict of interest resulted in a flawed recruitment process has the potential for bias and unfair treatment of applicants was significant throughout the process. In addition, the process undermined the public confidence required in the appointment of organisation’s head.

The Edge Legal report which has cost ratepayers in excess of $18,000 has never been made public.

In a HVC media release 30 September 2021, Enders stated:

While we recognise the community may want to see the whole report, due to confidentiality and privacy obligations, as well as potential defamation, Council is unable to release the full report following legal advice in relation to what can be confidently released without creating further issues for the council.

In order to restore public confidence in Council’s recruitment processes, Council has agreed to the report’s recommendations that it implement a guideline or supporting document to the Code of Conduct as a best practice approach to managing conflicts of interest in recruitment, and further, that Councillors undertake training in relation to managing conflicts of interest.

Enders has refused to release a redacted version of the report, and a Right to Information request has been refused by the council. This is now a matter before the Ombudsman and has recently been escalated as a priority by the Ombudsman’s Office.

In a 14 December 2021 media release Enders stated “Huon Valley Councillors will undergo training in February to ensure current and future councillors are better supported in identifying and managing conflict of interest in recruitment processes.”

On 27 January 2022 the HV councillors took part in ratepayer funded training by Blackadder and Associates at a cost of $9,377.50 and on 1 February the councillors received further training from WLF Accounting and Advisory at an additional cost of $7,920.00. Council ignored the requests of the community to undertake the no cost training readily available from the Integrity Commission, and instead used private consultants.

Councillor Newell has been contacted for comment.

Declaration of Interest

Since 2015 Geoffrey Swan has been actively involved in following the activities of the Huon Valley Council as a resident and ratepayer of the Huon Valley.

Swan has attended most of the HVC Ordinary Meetings of Council until COVID which has been via online streaming of the meetings. When contacting Council Swan delineates between being a ratepayer and being a reporter for Tasmanian Times. Swan has previously been involved in Code of Conduct complaints against Cr Newell and Cr Wilson.