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POWER WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY IS A
RECIPE FOR DISASTER AND CORRUPTION
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Local investigations
Public accountability
Keeping them honest
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NEWS & ARTICLES


LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCILLORS: FROM GOOD INTENTIONS TO NARCISSISTS EVERYWHERE!
Plaques, photo ops, and self-promotion over community service! When did serving the people turn into serving themselves? By Dean Hurlston...

Dean Hurlston
Jun 304 min read
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Winds of change are blowing through Yarra Council
Cover of the latest Yarra Council Mayoral Report It is hard to deny that feeling of joy you get when you are hit by a refreshing breeze...

John White
Jun 115 min read
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Victorian Councils Cry Poor – But Refuse to Embrace Amalgamations to Cut Costs
In recent months, a growing chorus of Victorian councils has intensified its campaign to scrap the State Government’s rate cap policy....

Dean Hurlston
Apr 224 min read
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📣 Summary Report: The Local Government Act 2020 Is Failing Victorians
By Council Watch | April 2025 At its core, the Local Government Act 2020  is a document of strategic precision — not democratic...

Dean Hurlston
Apr 184 min read
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📉 Disconnect and Discontent: When the Local Government Act Undermines What Ratepayers Really Want
By Council Watch The recently released Municipal Monitor’s Report on Colac Otway Shire Council  is intended to be a roadmap to better...

Dean Hurlston
Apr 183 min read
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Your rates pay for their mistakes
Local governments in Victoria are no strangers to controversy, but one of the most glaring and persistent failures lies in the poor...

Dean Hurlston
Apr 63 min read
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Councillors Must Step Up: The Case for Stronger Oversight as CEOs Underperform
Across Australia, ratepayers are growing increasingly frustrated. Despite paying record-high council rates, they are witnessing a steady...

Dean Hurlston
Feb 83 min read
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LOW IMPACT: HIGH COST - Multi-Council Boards, Peak Bodies, and Alliances
Local councils across Victoria (and in every state) collectively contribute tens of millions of dollars each year to a range of...

Dean Hurlston
Feb 15 min read
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