Statement – Councillor Claudia Baldock, Latrobe Council, 8 April 2024
Enough is enough!
I, Councillor Claudia Baldock representing the Municipality of Latrobe have been personally threatened with litigation and possible jail time with the release of information to do with the appointment of a new General Manager for the Latrobe and Kentish Councils by the Latrobe Mayor.
I have had enough of the bullying and intimidation practices, the toxic workplace and the mismanagement of ratepayers funds which are all wrapped up in the staff selection process.
This entire process flies in the face of transparency and openness within local government.
I am forced to publicly ask: why are Latrobe and Kentish Councils being pushed to secretly fast track a vote for a new General Manager?
A candidate who has a question mark over history to do with a previous investigation into conduct and a forced resignation from a Tasmanian council.
The state is in caretaker mode and the Local Government Office cannot have a Minister take decisions. There can be no review of an appointment decision if it is put on our communities.
The appointment is not in the public interest. The candidate does not have a good history or one that can be explained by third party consultants. The process of selection having been outsourced without input or adequate scrutiny from the Councillors makes a mockery of the Local Government Act provisions about the appointment of a General Manager. The Councillors are not getting a say and are getting forced into a decision.
Helen Jaffray
April 9, 2024 at 08:18
It has always been the practice of the Latrobe Council (or should I say the mayor and selected councillors?) to form a panel to chose the General Manager.
I was Deputy, but I didn’t get a guernsey! However, the ‘yes men’ did. Then one of the selected few on the panel waited until I was in Switzerland and declared that the GM was no good, thus implying it was my fault as Mayor.
It’s funny that as he received the councillors’ vote as next mayor! Know where you’re coming from!
Bob Hawkins
April 12, 2024 at 11:43
Councillor Claudia Baldock is to be congratulated for having the guts to speak out on what appears to be yet another questionable local government exercise, this time by the Latrobe Council.
We get reams of high-flown words from candidates in election run-ups .. and then the successful candidates go to water to protect their council’s latest skullduggery.
More power to your elbow, Councillor.