š„š£ THE ANGRY MONITOR: FEMALE COUNCILLORS ALLEGEDLY BULLIED š£š„
- Dean Hurlston
- Nov 8, 2025
- 2 min read
Explosive allegations this week that women councillors no longer feel safeĀ under the alleged behaviour of Municipal Monitor John TannerĀ ā the very man appointed by Minister Nick StaikosĀ himself to Hobsons Bay & Kingston Councils.
š©āāļøš„ Council Watch has seen shocking claims that women councillors have been allegedly:
Spoken to in a condescending, aggressive, or bullying toneĀ š”
Yelled at, with tables thumpedĀ š¢
TargetedĀ and pressuredĀ to obey his "directions"
Denied support personsĀ when questioned alone
And interrogated far beyond whatās reasonableĀ š
There are claims that some councillors do not feel safe meeting with Mr. Tanner.
Council Watch put these claims to Mr. Tanner, who initially agreed to reply. Following several days seeking his promised responses, Mr. Tanner ghosted Council Watch. Why? Did Mr. Tanner get direction from the Minister? Has he made him aware of the allegations? We are also aware that statements have been made to media organisations.
Council Watch notes that Mr Tanner appears behind the failed motion at Hobsons Bay to introduce job descriptions and selection criteria for Mayoral and Deputy positions.
We note that Kingston Council (where he is also monitor) have now called a special meeting to discuss the very same job descriptions - that is political interference.
(Council Watch makes no claim that the bullying allegations are true, just that multiple councillors have made the claims.)
If true, this is not oversightĀ ā itās intimidation, interference and control.
š£ Tannerās alleged involvement in both KingstonĀ and Hobsons Bay CouncilsĀ proves heās not just āmonitoringā ā heās manipulating or directing.
His role is to observe and report, NOT to direct and dominate.
Nothing in his terms of reference allow him to direct councillors in this manner, nor in the alleged heavy-handed behaviours complained of.
š Minister Nick Staikos, who loves to call himself a āchampion of women in local governmentā, now faces serious questions ā because his appointeeĀ is the one accused of bullying womenĀ behind closed doors.
If these allegations are true, Staikos is complicit in potential psychological and psychosocial harmĀ ā the very kind of workplace behaviour his own government has just made illegalĀ āļø.
What must happen NOW?
š Staikos must immediately stand John Tanner asideĀ and launch a full investigation.š If he refuses ā Premier Jacinta AllanĀ must stand Staikos down.
Female Councillors at Hobsons Bay and Kingston (an all Councillors) have a right to feel safe in a monitors presence.
Letās not forget ā Staikos is already being sued by Cr Aidan McLindonĀ for alleged political interferenceĀ and misuse of power. Now, weāre seeing the same pattern: ministerial control, political manipulation, and intimidationĀ of elected councillors.
š„ This is not democracy. š„ This is not integrity. š„
This is a culture of controlĀ ā and itās unravelling fast.
š§Ø Enough is enough. Time for Victoriaās so-called integrity agenciesĀ to wake up and act.
#CouncilWatch #VicGov #NickStaikos #JohnTanner #IntegrityCrisis #LaborHypocrisy #WomenInLocalGov #CouncilWatchInvestigates
I would think that some form of skill level would be appropriate to be a councillor or mayor. The problem that all suburbs have is they end up having people totally out of their depth who unfortunately get voted in and then they think delusionally that they are experts on everything. This is the main reason they are moving away from what they are required to do and go on their merry way and waste rate payers money on their personal agendas. So to have some form of statement regarding what skills they will bring to the suburb would give rate payers an idea of who would be a better candidate than someone who would offer nothing.
Great work
Deanā
There needs to be Accountability
These people Damage peopleās lives
Please let as know the outcome asap please!
Itās clear there is a deep seated problem that must be flushed out. There is no smoke without fire and what I see is an inferno. An investigation is required urgently and the bullies need to be named and shamed then prosecuted. This behaviour is totally unacceptable. If this happened in the private sector they would have been fired already. We donāt need people like this in our government. This is a negative to our community.
I wrote a very nice comment questioning what kind of "right" that Council Watch is talking about but it was censored. Looks like Council Watch is Woke and lacks humour.
Should there be a Council Watch Watch, to watch Council Watch?
Was it not some councillors who were the perpetrators of bullying in the last council at Kingston ? Is it not time for a bit of maturity and common sense?