Time sure flies! Tomorrow marks the second anniversary of our first post. From those early days we’ve gone from strength to strength – our hits, our average number of comments, our subscribers, and the personal emails we’re receiving are on a continuing steep rise.

Our objectives haven’t changed. We want to “keep the bastards honest” and accountable. We want to counter the perennial spin with facts, and we want to ensure that residents have a place where they can voice their views with the knowledge that those views won’t be ignored or arbitrarily censored. That’s not to say that we expect everyone to agree with us, or each other. But, unlike the mandarins and the all too precious souls that sit on council, we welcome “robust debate”.

In reflecting over the past two years certain things, sadly, stand out like beacons –

  • Transparency & accountability have NOT improved. If anything they have gotten worse. More and more items are decided in secret and there is less and less vital information being disseminated to residents – ie. GESAC and all its problems
  • Poor governance and repeated abuses of meeting procedures continue. It is outrageous that the ‘gang’ can vote in a local law that effectively gags councillors and denies them the opportunity to fully represent their constituents
  • There are still no structure plans, no height limits, no parking precinct plans in Glen Eira and worse – not even the honest attempt to explain to residents why this council is so out of step with the vast majority of other municipalities!
  • C60 stands as the hallmark of councillor/administration failure to adequately protect residents
  • Scandal after scandal continues to plague this council. Resignations, municipal inspections, ombudsman investigations and reports, CEO reappointment cloak and dagger, heritage fiascos and on and on.

We are however very optimistic. In four months time there will be an election. Residents will have the opportunity to ensure that the above failings are rectified with the ousting of the vast majority of incumbents. They have had just on 4 years to ensure progress on all of the above. That they have failed dismally is unquestionable. Residents deserve much better. October is the opportunity to wipe the slate clean and install candidates who will do more than pay hollow lip service to notions of consultation, transparency and accountability.