VPRS 12009 Transcripts of Public Hearings

This series consists of paper and cassette copies of the transcripts of the public hearings conducted by the Commission of Inquiry into the Nillumbik Shire Council. These hearings were conducted by the Commissioner, Mr David Abraham, in line with requirements established in of the Local Government Act 1989 for the conduct of such enquires. Copies of exhibits tabled during these hearings have also been transferred (refer to VPRS 12008).The public hearings were conducted over a period of 8 days during March and April 1998. During the first 6 days only the Shire CEO and President gave evidence. By the end of the sixth day of hearings (2 April 1998), the Commissioner had formed the view that if the public hearings were to continue ... any semblance of retrieving the opportunity to set processes and procedures to enable good governance at Nillumbik Shire to be led by the current Councillors and the CEO was likely to be lost. (Interim Report p. 17). As a result the hearings were essentially aborted. The seventh day (3 April 1998) was taken up with attempts by the Commissioner to negotiate with the parties concerned. The hearings were resumed on an eighth and final day (17 April 1998).The transcripts of these hearings represented one of the four main sources of evidence received by the Commission, the other three being the receipt of submissions, copies of documents received from the Council and interviews conducted in .