THE State Government will introduce legislation paving the way for it to sack the Geelong council on Tuesday.

Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins said that after considering the Commission of Inquiry report, the State Government had been left with no choice but to dismiss the “dysfunctional” Geelong council.

THE MAN WHO BLEW WHISTLE ON COUNCIL

An administrator would be appointed to manage the council until the 2020 October council elections, a Government spokeswoman said.

“The report outlines serious governance failures, among other issues, leaving the government no choice but to dismiss the council. It is not a decision that has been taken lightly,” Ms Hutchins said. “The people of Geelong deserve better. The city is too important for it to be run by a dysfunctional council that is simply unable to work together.”

The Geelong Advertiser has been told the 100-plus page Commission of Inquiry report will be tabled before the Parliament about 1pm Tuesday.

The report recommends the whole council be sacked.

The State Government will then introduce a Bill, enabling it to dismiss the Geelong council for failure to provide good government.

The State Government’s grounds for dismissal include:

— A SERIOUS failure to provide good government with the council so dysfunctional it is unable to work together in the city’s best interests, with its standard well below that expected of a city of Geelong’s size and economic importance;

— FAILURE to develop a long-term vision and strategic plan for the city; and,

— FAILURE to properly respond to the ‘Halliday report’, which found deep flaws within the council.

media_camera The Commission’s investigation followed the damning Susan Halliday report.

Commissioners Terry Moran, Jude Munro and Frances O’Brien were appointed by the State Government late last year to oversee the Geelong council following a Geelong Advertiser investigation which exposed a decade-long history of bullying.

The Addy investigation led to a year-long review of council by former human rights commissioner, Susan Halliday, which found shocking evidence of bullying, sexism and favouritism at the council.

THE DAY THE TABLES TURNED ON CITY BULLIES

The “sledgehammer” Halliday report — handed down on October 16, 2015 — described Geelong council and some councillors as “aggressive, belligerent, threatening, disempowering, sexist, dogged, bombastic, arrogant, rude, spiteful, frightening, demeaning, belittling, objectified, exploitative, calculated, humiliating and intimidating”.

NO SAINT BUT LYONS REJECTS BULLY CLAIMS

Ms Huchins said in November the State Government would “form a view” on the council’s future after reading the commissioners’ report.

She described the findings in Ms Halliday’s report as appalling.