By XAVIER SMERDON
CONTROVERSY has erupted within Wyndham Council after it was accused along with a former mayor in State Parliament of trying to pressure one of its councillors to quit his duties as a volunteer firefighter.
Member for the Western metropolitan Region, Bernie Finn, told Parliament last week that Councillor Glenn Goodfellow appeared to be under pressure to “either ease back his contribution to the CFA or get off the council”.
It comes after Star revealed that Cr Goodfellow was one of three councillors to take a total of six months off from the council last year.
Cr Goodfellow took 40 days off to deal with health issues and to work as a volunteer firefighter.
“Here we have a council which appears to be agitating for its councillors, in particular Cr Goodfellow, to give up their involvement with the CFA,” Mr Finn said.
“This seems to be coming particularly from a former mayor of the City of Wyndham, Kim McAliney, who was defeated at the last election, and it is not hard to see why if this is her attitude to involvement in the CFA.
“I do not know exactly what role she has to play in the council at this point in time, but it seems she has far more influence than is strictly necessary or indeed good for the council.”
Mr Finn officially asked the Minister for Local Government Jeanette Powell to step in and offer counselling to Wyndham Council.
Ms McAliney told Star she was “dismayed” by Mr Finn’s comments, saying she supported councillors being volunteers but also said being an elected official in Wyndham was a major commitment.
“I have the greatest respect for the CFA and all emergency service volunteer organisations particularly having chaired the City’s Municipal Emergency Management Committee for six years and being a recent graduate of the Australian Institute of Emergency Management. My grass roots stem from starting at an early age in a volunteer organisation for over 20 years,” Ms McAliney said.
“Wyndham Residents need elected officials who are serious about representing the interests of the 200,000 residents who voted them in. The residents are relying on all eleven elected officials to be part the informed decision making process of our growing community and not be left to the dedicated few.”
Wyndham Mayor Bob Fairclough hit back at Mr Finn’s suggestions, saying the council strongly refuted the claims.
“These comments have been made with no context as to how this council has allegedly pressured Cr Goodfellow which is irresponsible of a Member of Parliament,” Mr Fairclough said.
“Kim McAliney has made no representation to this council regarding Cr Goodfellow and it is highly inappropriate for this to be suggested. Parliament is hardly the place for private matters to be aired.
“This issue has not been raised with council directly, by either Cr Goodfellow or Bernie Finn – therefore it is disappointing that a Member of Parliament would use his position in such a way when other more important issues should be dealt with.”
Cr Goodfellow did not return requests for comment.
