General News
6 April, 2022
“A line in the sand” for councillor
MOYNE Shire councillors have rebuked Cr Jim Doukas in his efforts to censure Cr Damien Gleeson and to compel council to further investigate allegations of targeted harassment.
MOYNE Shire councillors have rebuked Cr Jim Doukas in his efforts to censure Cr Damien Gleeson and to compel council to further investigate allegations of targeted harassment.
Cr Doukas tabled a Notice of Motion at this week’s Ordinary Meeting of Council calling on Moyne Shire acting chief executive officer Brett Davis to further investigate recent allegations Cr Doukas and two members of the community were identified at a meeting involving AGL Energy and Clean Energy Council in November last year.
The allegations were a hot-topic at last month’s council meeting when Cr Doukas tabled a similar motion, which was defeated 6-1 after a fiery debate between he and Cr Gleeson.
“As far as I am concerned, targeting myself and two others is a serious act,” Cr Doukas said.
“If councillors aren’t concerned with finding out why this happened then I’m very disappointed in the council itself.
“I want to know who it was that organised the meeting and why they’ve got such a hatred for a councillor and two community members.
“If you’re not interested in finding answers to those questions, don’t support the motion. You’ll have to take responsibility for any action that comes in the near future.”
Councillors expressed a unanimous disagreement with Cr Doukas’ claims, saying it had been thoroughly investigated and the materials Cr Doukas had provided did not support his claims, which he acknowledged were based on unnamed, third-party sources.
In a surprising admission, Cr Gleeson said he had already directly contacted the AGL Energy employee who Cr Doukas had named,
Lachlan Sturt.
“It’s not that hard to get on the phone and ring Lachlan Sturt. And I did,” he said.
“Lachlan is absolutely devastated a confidential email he sent in response to a query has become a focus in trying to bring the council down.
“He’s absolutely gutted and apologised wholeheartedly.”
Western District Newspapers contacted Mr Sturt, who confirmed Cr Gleeson’s statements regarding their phone call as accurate.
Councillors noted Cr Doukas did not present any new information to support his claims of targeted harassment or any individuals being identified, but had presented correspondence which contradicted his claims.
“Using a confidential letter with innuendo that it’s the council attacking the three parties and seeking answers, I’m not wearing it,” Cr Gleeson said.
“If you’ve got proof of those things, take it to a higher authority.”
The motion was defeated 6-1.
In a separate motion, Cr Doukas sought to censure Cr Gleeson over comments he made during the heated debate at the March Ordinary Meeting of Council.
Cr Doukas specifically referenced Cr Gleeson’s statement “you’re harassing our staff,” and called on him to “issue an unreserved apology... and a retraction of his comment”.
“All I am seeking from Cr Gleeson is an apology,” Cr Doukas said.
“Nothing more and nothing less, just an apology on his outburst which can’t be denied and which contravenes our code of conduct.”
A number of councillors spoke against the motion, saying the matter could have been handled through other avenues.
Cr Gleeson said his outburst at last month’s council meeting was “born of frustration” due to council being “continually distracted by Cr Doukas and his motions”.
“We’ve had 16 Ordinary Council Meetings since I was elected, and at eight of those Cr Doukas has put a notice of motion; seven of those have been related directly to anti-wind farm sentiment,” he said.
“I will never apologise for supporting staff from the chief executive officer down when they are accused of lying without any supporting evidence.
“Maybe it’s time for Cr Doukas to try being a councillor. To reside in the shire, get vaccinated and resume the duties he was elected to do.”
Cr Gleeson said the motion was a “line in the sand moment”.
“We as councillors have been too afraid to deal with major issues because we’re scared of offending Cr Doukas and his followers,” he said.
“Communities are missing out because we’re not providing leadership. This must change and we must get on with the job we were elected to do.
“If I need to apologise to anyone it’s the mayor and the councillors, certainly emotion got the better of me at last month’s meeting. But I will not apologise to Cr Doukas and I will not retract my statement.”
Cr Doukas called the comments a “cheap shot” but said he would not pursue the matter through code of conduct as he “does not have thin skin like other councillors”.
The motion was defeated 6-1.