Media release – Shooters Fishers Farmers Party of Tasmania (SFFP, 20 March 2025
Derwent Valley Council
The Secretary of the Shooters Fishers Farmers Party of Tasmania (SFFP), Phillip Bigg, has today called on the minority Tasmanian Liberal Government to support his call for a much needed 100% full independent forensic audit of the Derwent Valley Council’s finance’s going back for the last twenty (20) financial years.
“There has been far too many accusations and far too many questions of perceived or actual conflicts of interests also perceived or actual pecuniary conflicts of interests that require qualified forensic accountants and forensic auditors that specialise in this work to finally get to the bottom of this for once and all, so the rate-payers of the valley can be assured that their monies are and have been spent and accounted for 100%.
“The current system of council self-auditing is not fit for purpose and does not pass the pub-test, the 30+ year old Local Government Act 1993 is also not fit for purpose either. All successive Tasmanian Governments have had plenty of time to bring the legislation up to-date by now and haven’t. There have been far too many issues with the DVC being played out in the media that are of serious concern around certain activities and suspicions that need to be fully and properly investigated.
“As a resident of the Derwent Valley I am sick of hearing whispers of wrong doings in times past, this is not a witch hunt this is an opportunity for the community to have answers to questions that are valid and long overdue.”
“Data from the Derwent Valley Health and Wellbeing social profile 2024 shows the residents of the valley are the 11th most disadvantaged community in Tasmania, could this have been better with smarter financial choices made over the past decades?”
“No council needs to have an exorbitant surplus to operate effectively and efficiently for the betterment of the community, a council must be sustainable and with many under financial stress, putting up rates to cover budget shortfalls only hurts the future prosperity and pride of the Derwent Valley.”
“Had the DVC kept a local workforce instead of transitioning to contractors to streamline, we would not only see an increase in community pride but have the ability to provide a pathway for the youth of the valley with apprenticeships and qualifications.”
“Have monies relating to Willow Court been misused or not allocated after the council took ownership from the state government? It has been over 20 years, and little to no visible progress has been made to this site, despite community engagement and consultation demonstrating a desire to preserve and appreciate the historical significance and educational value of the site.”
