Council Watch Fleurieu Inc. has written to the Minister for Local Government and the Ombudsman SA requesting an investigation into the City of Victor Harbor’s refusal to release the names and amounts of recipients under the Farm Business Support Grant Program (Drought Relief).
At the Special Council Meeting of 7 April 2025, Council approved the program with a $90,000 allocation from the Community Grants budget. The minutes show no motion for confidentiality, and the resolution authorised only that the CEO approve the recommendations of the Grants Panel within the approved budget.
Despite this, CEO Victoria MacKirdy has since declared that recipient details are “not publicly available information.” Council Watch has found no Council resolution or delegation granting authority for this secrecy.
Council Watch Chair Terry Andrews said:
“Transparency in public spending is not optional. Unless Council can point to a lawful resolution under section 90 of the Act, there is no valid reason for withholding this information.”
Council Watch believes the community has a right to know how ratepayer funds are distributed and will continue to press for the release of all grant data. The matter is now before Minister Joe Szakacs MP and Ombudsman SA for review of the City of Victor Harbor’s compliance with the Local Government Act 1999 (SA).
Media Contact:
Terry Andrews
Chairperson – Council Watch Fleurieu Inc.
Post: PO Box 1753, Victor Harbor SA 5211
Phone: 0451 140 543
Email: councilwatch44@gmail.com
- Comment
-
Subscribe
Subscribed
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
Council Watch Victor Harbor 