A FORMER Indigo Shire councillor has accused the shire of being “underhanded and sneaky” in its decision to exit home and community care services.
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Roberta Horne said the council acted in “undue haste” by voting last month to leave the field to a government-appointed provider from July 1.
“It was underhanded and sneaky and very disrespectful to our community.”
Ms Horne, who was a councillor from 2012 to 2016, said she would have stalled the move.
“I would have delayed it, it needed to have proper processes with advising of staff and the community and walking them through it together,” she said.
Indigo mayor Jenny O’Connor rejected the criticism, saying the move was discussed when Ms Horne was a councillor.
“We made a decision about two years ago in open council to continue providing services until 2018 and then change,” Cr O’Connor said.
“It wasn’t underhanded or sneaky, that was a decision made by the last council.”
Barnawartha mum Tennielle Evans, who has two autistic sons and receives respite help via the service, is also critical of the shire.
“I think they need to take stock, recognise the hurt and the alarm it’s created, recognise procedures could have been better,” Mrs Evans said.
She said the process had been shrouded in secrecy and she sought clarification from deputy mayor Sophie Price who said at the time of the vote those concerned should contact her about the decision.
“I did as asked and contacted Ms Price directly on the 19th of December 2017, it’s now the 16th of January 2018 and I’m still waiting for your reply deputy mayor,” Mrs Evans said.
“She grandstanded and said to hold them to account, all those lovely things, but when I did that there was nothing.”
When asked by The Border Mail why she had not replied to Mrs Evans, Cr Price said: “I’ve got no comment for that.”
Pressed on the matter she said : “Our mayor makes all comment to the media.”
Cr O’Connor said the council wanted to remove “anxiety and uncertainty” by acting well ahead of a 2020 deadline which allowed it to make recommendations to the federal government on the new provider.
She said the council had proposed a provider to the government but it was subject to a confidentiality clause.
“Our decisions are very much dependant on government funding with things we can and can’t do and often the local government cops the flak for that and that’s okay,” Cr O’Connor said.
“The reality is this is a change in funding from the federal government.”
