If you have good reason to believe that a councillor or Council staff member intends to or has engaged in improper conduct, we encourage you to speak up.
As required by the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012, we have established a Public Interest Disclosures Policy. The Act requires that disclosures are appropriately investigated and that the people who make them are protected from reprisals.
Examples of improper conduct include:
- a councillor or Council staff member taking a bribe to grant a permit or approve a development
- a councillor or Council staff member ignoring or concealing evidence of any illegal activity being conducted in the municipality
- a councillor or Council staff member selling or revealing confidential information to enable someone to gain advantage such as information about a tender
- substantial mismanagement of public resources
- a significant risk to public health or safety
- a significant risk to the environment.
The conduct must be severe enough to constitute a criminal offence or reasonable grounds for dismissal.
Watch the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) video "My Local Council: If something is not right, who do I complain to?"
Making a disclosure
We can only address disclosures that relate to City of Greater Dandenong.
Who to talk to
If you want to disclose a Council staff member, you can talk to our:
- CEO
- Public Interest Disclosure Officer: Matthew LeCouteur
- Manager or supervisor if you are a City of Greater Dandenong staff member
- Manager or supervisor of the person who is the subject of the disclosure.
Public interest disclosures about Councillors of Greater Dandenong City Council can only be made to IBAC or the Ombudsman.
Disclosing to the Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC)
You can make a disclosure by:
- completing the IBAC secure online form
- download a complaint form from IBAC and return by email, fax or post, or
- telephone IBAC on 1300 735 135 to request a form be sent to you.
Disclosing to the Ombudsman
You can lodge a disclosure:
- completing the online complaint form
- in writing via email: ombudvic@ombudsman.vic.gov.au
- in person (Level 2, 570 Bourke Street. Melbourne VIC 3000)
- by telephone 9613 6222
How to make a disclosure to Council
You can make a disclosure to our officers:
- verbally
- in writing
- electronically
- anonymously
- Delivered to or left in person at the Council’s Customer Service Centres
- Via Post and return to: City of Greater Dandenong, PO Box 200, Dandenong, Victoria, Australia VIC 3175
- Via Email - council@cgd.vic.gov.au
Council has established an independent, confidential and anonymous way for employees and members of the public to report misconduct or fraud at any time, day or night.
If there is anything you would like to report, the below contact details can be used:
Phone: 1300 924 705
Email: cgd@myvault.net.au
Mail: City of Greater Dandenong
c/o Fraud and Forensic Consulting
GPO Box 4736, Melbourne, VIC 3001
Read our Public Interest Disclosures Policy.
Who to speak with
The following Council staff are also available to discuss the process with you:
Public Interest Disclosure Officers
Nicole Rudden
Manager Governance
8571 5596
nicole.rudden@cgd.vic.gov.au
Matthew LeCouteur
Risk Management Consultant
8571 5115
matthew.lecouteur@cgd.vic.gov.au
Council’s response to a disclosure
Protecting your confidentiality as a discloser
People who report improper conduct and corruption can do so in the knowledge that they will be protected. Protections include keeping the identity of the person reporting improper conduct confidential and protecting them from reprisals, including bullying, harassment or legal action.
Council's complaint management process should be used for all other complaints.
Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012
The Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012 enables people to make disclosures about improper conduct within the public sector without fear of reprisal. The Act aims to ensure openness and accountability by encouraging people to make disclosures and protecting them when they do so.
