Local Government minister takes aim at rebel councillors

Rebel councillors are in the sights of the Andrews Labor Government with a Bill to be presented to parliament that will spell out the expectations of elected representatives and six-month suspensions for those who step out of line.

Wangaratta Council was sacked by the former Coalition government in Victoria in September 2013 with Dr Fidge's repeated clashes with senior management and other councillors used as justification to have the council replaced by administrators.

Local Government minister Natalie Hutchins said the Wangaratta experience had played a part in shaping the proposed legislation.

"Wangaratta showed that we need a framework in place that responds in a timely and appropriate way," she said. "That example, and others across Victoria, have been the basis for these reforms.

"While these examples are in the minority, these are changes that councils and ratepayers have told me are important."

Ms Hutchins said improvements to the conduct system were "desperately needed" before the council elections next year.

Wangaratta has been under the control of administrators since the council's dismissal.

Dr Fidge hasn't ruled out contesting the next elections.

"The councillor conduct provisions in local government desperately need to be formalised in order to stop ministers from going off half-cocked and sacking high-functioning, honest councils, as the former minister did," he said.

"Comprehensive investigations and VCAT hearings subsequently cleared Wangaratta councillors of any serious wrong-doing.

"I was reprimanded by VCAT for saying the ceo should resign, which was clearly not an adequate reason to sack council.

"The current system, which allows malicious complaints to be made directly to the minister and directly to councillor conduct panels, needs to prohibit this in order to stop mischievous councillors abusing the system."​