A long-running feud between Council Watch president Dean Hurlston and Stonnington mayor Melina Sehr has ended in a court battle over personal safety.
The penmanship on ballots lodged during last October’s council elections is among the evidence filed in alleged schemes of voter fraud uncovered by the Victorian Electoral Commission.
Two of the four candidates had made pre-election promises not to take any money from property developers.
More than $4 million was spent by businesses,political parties,unions and lobby groups to influence Victoria’s council elections. Use our search tool to see who funded your new councillors.
Lord Mayor Nick Reece pledged not to accept developer funding,but took a donation from the patriarch of the Myer dynasty who is among those behind a planned 57-storey apartment tower.
Nick Reece has already been facing scrutiny over his campaign donations,after accepting tens of thousands of dollars from donors with property interests in the City of Melbourne.
The case for a prohibition on donations by property developers has only been strengthened by this week’s disclosures.
Reece accepted tens of thousands of dollars from donors with property interests in the City of Melbourne despite pledging he would not allow developers to bankroll his mayoral campaign. See the full list of donors.
The campaign to elect the former AFL star as Melbourne lord mayor spent a hefty amount with limited success. One of his supporters has called for electoral reform.
The proposed inquiry would look at six different issues threatening to undermine the integrity of local government elections.