By Belinda Nolan
FORMER Brimbank councillors are considering legal action against the State Government after being stripped of their offices last month.
At least two former councillors have consulted a lawyer and a further eight are believed to be weighing their options after being advised they have a strong case.
Former Grasslands Ward councillor Marion Martin confirmed she had spoken to a lawyer and would be likely to mount a legal challenge if formally sacked.
Local Government Minister Richard Wynne last week introduced legislation to Parliament which would dismiss all 11 councillors until 2012, when new elections would take place.
“We’re just biding our time until we see what happens with the legislation,” Ms Martin told Star.
“We know we’ve got a very strong case but we’re not going to take any action until we’re formally sacked.
“Then we’ll be looking at our options.
“We’re certainly very serious about this.”
Ms Martin said at least 10 councillors had discussed the possibility of mounting a court challenge to the government’s decision.
“I know there’s 10 of us that have been talking about it,” she said.
“We’re really angry about this.
“We feel there were no grounds for what the government did to us and we’re pretty confident it won’t hold up in a court of law.”
The government suspended the council last month after a report by monitor Bill Scales found the newly elected councillors had failed to govern effectively.
The findings came after the Victorian Ombudsman exposed a culture of misconduct, factionalism and self-interest in the previous council.
But dismissed councillors say they were made scapegoats for their predecessors and claim Mr Scales’ report failed to provide adequate evidence of wrongdoing.
“There is no evidence whatsoever,” Ms Martin said.
“There is nothing in the Local Government Act to justify dismissing us.
“We’ve done nothing wrong and have broken no laws.
“As far as we’re concerned it’s political and the government is just trying to clear the deck for the next election.”
If the legislation passes, it will be the second time a council has been dismissed under the Brumby Government. If the councillors are sacked, Mr Wynne will appoint a panel of administrators to act as the council’s elected body until 2012.
