Tag Archives: Hobsons Bay

Cr Daria Kellander repeatedly voted against funding for community infrastructure

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Over the 4 years former Liberal Candidate Daria Kellander has been on the Council, she has repeatedly voted against capital works budgets that included the following community infrastructure:

  • PA Burns Reserve Dog Park and beach – public toilet, entry improvement works, upgrade Dog off leash area, sand retention and beach access.
  • Altona and Seaholme Foreshore improvements – upgrades to seawalls, shared paths, access ramps, drainage, amenity & public toilets.
  • Pier St upgrade works including full upgrade of Pier Street (Queens Street to The Esplanade), upgrade of Weaver Reserve (including new car park), permanent closure of the Esplanade from Bent Street to Pier Street; and a new pedestrian entry point to the Altona Pier.
  • H W Lee Reserve open space upgrade, Altona – Upgrade of open space area across from the Altona beach.
  • Altona Tennis Club Refurbishment, Altona – This work has included the renewal of the existing clay surface courts and reconstruction of four synthetic grass courts and new lighting for improved training and competition. Minor pavilion renewal works were also conducted.
  • G J Hosken Reserve Upgrade, Altona North – The upgrade includes a new adventure playground, fitness equipment, footpath networks, new park furniture, a multi-use court with a basketball hoop and tree planting throughout the reserve. The western part of the reserve has been fenced to create a dog off-lead precinct, with new seating and bins.
  • Weaver Reserve and Pier St streetscape enhancements – Works included improvements to open space reserve, streetscape improvements along the southern section of Pier Street, and improvements to public amenities such as public toilets.
  • Brooklyn Community Hall upgrade and extension – The facility provides a place of belonging and an interchangeable space for several users groups, including two large multipurpose rooms, lounge area, industrial kitchen and business centre.
  • HC Kim Reserve, Altona – New Pavilion and oval upgrade, Altona – These works included the demolition of the existing pavilion with a rebuild of a new pavilion consisting of six change rooms, first aid room, umpire facilities, social space and storage. Works were also undertaken to the fields including the complete rebuild of pitch one and irrigation upgrades to pitches two and three.
  • WJ Croft Open Space enhancements, Altona North – The project has delivered a range of new facilities, including: A new playground, providing a safe and fun environment for children, new pathways ensuring accessibility and connectivity throughout the reserve, an overflow carpark to accommodate additional vehicles on game days, soft landscaping with grassed areas and seating, creating inviting spaces for spectators and visitors.
  • Altona North Children’s Centre Expansion – Altona North Children’s Centre Expansion (One Tree), to increase kindergarten spaces and accommodate introduction of three year old kinder program.
  • Drainage upgrades in Altona, particularly for the birdcage area in Altona.
  • Road and Footpath renewal program.
  • Unsealed laneway upgrade program.

The people of Altona and Seaholme should know these facts before they vote for their next representative on the Hobsons Bay City Council.

Authorised by Tony Briffa, PO Box 51, Altona VIC 3018

Daria Kellander – Liberal for Williamstown or Independent for Altona?

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Daria Kellander claims to be an independent candidate for Altona Ward in the Hobsons Bay City Council elections in October 2024, but is she really an independent? Is she being supported by developers?

Two years ago Kellander was the Liberal Candidate for Williamstown – as you can see from her campaign images below. She associates with the extreme right wing of the Liberal Party, including disgraced former Liberal MP Moira Deeming, and some of her campaign material reveals links with a local real-estate agent / developer. Does this pass the pub test?  Is this someone you want on the council?

She is standing candidates across all council wards to take over the council. In Williamstown North Ward, for example, she has her friend Alexander Ansalone standing as an independent. Ansalone was a candidate for the Freedom Party in the last state election, and a candidate for the Australian Federation Party in the last federal election.

Voters get the council and the representatives they vote for, but are voters really told the truth?

The candidates for Altona Ward are as follows:

  • BROWN, Irene – Political Party Candidate – endorsed by the Animal Justice Party
  • KELLANDER, Daria – Liberal Candidate for Williamstown in the 2022 State election.  Daria opposed successive capital works budgets including funding for local improvements to the foreshore, clubs, drainage, reserves, shopping strips, etc. Her campaign has links to developers. Kellander has also been found guilty of misconduct twice, and suspended from office earlier this year.
  • MILLER, Susan – Political Party Candidate – endorsed by the Victorian Socialists
  • PAULL, Phillip – Ally of Daria Kellander and likely to be standing to support her with preferences.    
  • RIPPON, Tim – Independent Candidate and local Altona resident.  Local Justice of the Peace, member of local clubs (including the Altona Lions) and runs a nursing business.

Having considered all these candidates I encourage voters to VOTE 1 Tim RIPPON.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is IMG_4551-1024x592.jpg
Kellander – a Liberal for Williamstown, not an Independent for Altona
2022 Liberal candidate for Williamstown Daria Kellander, right wing local government antagonist Dean Hurlston & expelled Former Liberal MP Moira Deeming.
2022 Liberal candidate for Williamstown Daria Kellander with the candidate for the right wing Freedom Party, Alexander Ansalone. Ansalone is now standing as an “Independent Candidate” in the Hobsons Bay Council Elections.
Kellander’s billboard shows the “Ray White” logo on top – the name of a local realestate agent and developer.
Liberal Candidate for Williamstown Daria Kellander
Alexander Ansalone, candidate for right wing Freedom Party, now standing as an “Independent Candidate” in the Hobsons Bay Council elections.
Alexander Ansalone, was also a candidate for the right wing Australian Federation Party, now standing as an “Independent Candidate” in the Hobsons Bay Council elections.

Authorised by Tony Briffa, PO Box 51, Altona VIC 3018

Cr Peter Hemphill Suspended for Several Misconducts

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Arbiter Simon Heath, a former IBAC Deputy Commissioner, was appointed by the Victorian Principal Council Conduct Registrar to hear two complaints lodged by Cr Briffa against Cr Peter Hemphill alleging that he breached 3 of the Councillor Standards of Conduct.

The arbitration process resulted in findings of misconduct against Cr Hemphill for breaches of clauses 1,3 and 4 of the Councillor Standards of Conduct.

The Arbiter subsequently directed that Cr Hemphill: 

  • Make written apologies to Cr Briffa and Ms Eyckens;
  • Apologise to Cr Briffa at the next Council meeting (being the Council Meeting of 10 September 2024) acknowledging that he failed to treat her with “dignity, fairness, objectivity, courtesy and respect”;
  • Apologise to Ms Eyckens acknowledging that he failed to treat her with “dignity, fairness, objectivity, courtesy and respect”; and
  • Be suspended from the office of Council for a period of one month to take effect the day after the Arbiter’s determination is tabled at the next Council meeting, or from 11 September 2024, whichever is sooner. 

Cr Peter Hemphill is the second Hobsons Bay City Councillor ever suspended from office (Cr Daria Kellander was the only other one).

It is also of note that the 1 month suspension is the maximum suspension an arbiter can impose.

Arbitration Details

Cr Briffa lodged applications seeking findings of misconduct against Cr Hemphill on 17 May 2024 and 12 June 2024. In relation to the first application, the Principal Councillor Conduct Registrar (PCCR) advised Crs Briffa and Hemphill on 7 June 2024 that he was satisfied that: 

  • the Application was not frivolous, vexatious, misconceived or lacking in substance; and 
  • there was sufficient evidence to support an allegation of a breach of the Councillor Code of Conduct as specified in the Application. 

On 21 June 2024 the PCCR advised the parties he was also satisfied of these two criteria in relation to the second application.

The first application was about an email Cr Hemphill sent on 29 February 2024 to the Council’s Executive Leadership Team, all Councillors, and Manager Corporate Integrity (Legal Counsel) in which he made numerous inaccurate, inflammatory and nasty remarks about Cr Briffa.

The second application was about Cr Hemphill’s statements during the Council Meeting held on 11 June 2024 in which he made inappropriate, inaccurate and disrespectful remarks about a council officer and Cr Briffa, and in which he breached confidentiality.

An Arbiter was subsequently appointed and issued written directions on 24 June 2024, establishing a directions hearing via video-conferencing for 9 July 2024. The arbitration process comprised a directions hearing on 9 July 2024, a brief hearing on 30 July 2024, which was adjourned to and completed on 15 August 2024. 

Cr Hemphill was advised of all of these processes and Directions by the Council’s Councillor Conduct Officer (CCO). Cr Hemphill contacted the PCCR to have the Arbitration process delayed to September 2024.  Cr Hemphill chose not to participate in this process. He could have joined the Hearing remotely but chose not to. At any rate, these complaints were about an email Cr Hemphill sent and his comments during a council meeting and nothing he could have contributed would have justified his conduct. The Arbiter read the email and watched the video recording of the meeting.

Arbiter’s Decision

The Arbiter’s decision notes: 

“The Arbiter remained of the view that the Respondent had been given ample opportunity to be heard and, in the absence of any explanation as to why the Respondent had not complied with the directions, further directions and additional directions, the hearing proceeded.”

The Arbitration ultimately resulted in findings of misconduct against Cr Hemphill for breaches of causes 1, 3 and 4 of the Councillor Standards of Conduct.

The Arbiter also finally puts to bed some of the nasty and erroneous nonsense Cr Hemphill has been spreading about me for years.

The full Arbiter determination is available via the following link:

Determination-IAP-2024-28-and-IAP-2024-31-v2Download

Also see post about Cr Daria Kellander’s suspension as a Councillor – https://briffa.org/cr-kellander-suspended-for-misconduct