LESS than a year after the local government elections, Mount Gambier City councillors have complained to the state’s Ombudsman about other members three times for allegedly breaching code of conduct.
A report from the Ombudsman showed four council member code of conduct complaints were made from July 1, 2018 to June 2019, with chief executive Andrew Meddle confirming only one complaint was lodged during the previous council’s tenure.
He said council receives updates from the Ombudsman every six months about complaints, with January to June yet to be received, meaning three complaints have been made during that period.
While not commenting on individual cases, Mr Meddle said a common cause for internal complaints was the appropriate use of social media.
“Normally if there was a complaint to be made, it would either come to me as chief executive or her worship the Mayor and we would look at the severity of the allegation,” he said.
“We would then determine a method of investigation to ascertain both sides of the story.
“Social media is quite easy because you simply look at the social media post, meet with the transgressor and talk them through policy.
“There is a recognition with new councillors they are not a normal citizen anymore, they have to adhere to a higher level of conduct.”
Grant District Council has also received four council member code of conduct complaints but declined to comment.
