What have we achieved?
For over 20 years we have lobbied and dedicated our personal time to ensure local Government is held to account. We are regularly involved in all industry consultation and submissions to the sector.
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We were instrumental in delivering Rate Capping in 2015
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We caused around $20 Million in illegal parking infringements to be refunded by supporting staff whistleblowers and working with the Ombudsman
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We have caused several key investigations into specific councils and specific council issues.
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We are in the media almost daily exposing council conduct and poor decision-making.
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Current Committee
Dean Hurlston - President/Media
Jasper Cai - Secretary
Jamie Stretton - Treasurer
Arthur Bregiannis - Committee Member
Dr Chan Cheah - Committee Member
Claudio Bevilacqua - Committee Member
Eric Platt - Committee Member
Wendy Wright - Committee Member
Geoff Leigh - Committee Member
Marion Attwater - Consulting
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"Council bureaucracy is strangling the goodwill in our communities, rates are ever increasing and service standards are lower than ever, there are far more of us than them.
Sadly, we are in an ideological war - are they meant to serve us or are we their puppets for radical social policy? Local Democracy and the right to be heard is not negotiable, CEOs and executives are drunk on power despite being unelected - this must all radically change"
Dean Hurlston
President.
Skills and Experience
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Council Watch is represented by a group of specialist Local Government enthusiasts, who have diverse backgrounds comprising of:
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Accounting
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Finance
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Legal
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Administration
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Audit, Risk & Compliance
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Future Strategy
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Governance
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Marketing & Communications
What we do
We are a team of volunteers with a keen interest and history in Local Government.
We seek to advocate on behalf of all residents and ratepayers in Victoria. Local Government has very little oversight and makes its own rules. This leads to consumers rights being removed or restricted. We seek to help people know their rights and to challenge council where they have acted inappropriately. We seek to educate Victorians about local government and create a fairer system for all.
Special Tribute - Vale Jack Davis
Council Watch pays special tribute to our founder, Jack Davis, who passed away in October 2021. Jack was a dedicated and determined advocate for simpler, honest and effective Councils and devoted thousands of hours during his lifetime to supporting individual ratepayers and community groups across Victoria.
We miss him.
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