Flagging issue
BACK in September, the Surf Coast Shire hit the headlines with councillors divided over the flying of the rainbow flag on a permanent basis. A pretty simple story that, after the pros and cons had been debated, settled and finalised, should have allowed the council to get on with what it should be concentrating on: rates, roads and rubbish.
Simplistic but true enough as councils are not arbiters of social policy or engineering.
Six months later it is still a story involving councillors, but now also the police force — from sergeant level through to a superintendent, to an assistant commissioner and past Police Command to the Police Minister.
Now, I don’t know how you feel about police interference in our political system, but I, for one, would be horrified. Corruption would inevitably come into play, as would harassment, bullying and abuse of power. Remember the debacle of the Queensland political/police fiasco when the good guy Commissioner Ray Whitrod resigned after the totally unqualified but politically connected Terry Lewis was appointed Assistant Commissioner against Whitrod’s recommendation? Lewis, of course, was later stripped of his knighthood and served jail time for corruption. I mention this history lesson to emphasise the dangers of the police becoming politicised.
Back to the Surf Coast and that flag.
Cr Brian McKiterick was opposed to the flying of the rainbow flag on a permanent basis as he, along with other councillors, considered it to be inappropriate.
Cr McKiterick in his working life is known as Sgt McKiterick and this is where my problem starts and so should yours. The Addy reported on the dispute between Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Tess Walsh and Western Region Superintendent Craig Gillard. Sources spoke to the Addy about an alleged incident where Supt Gillard was directed to pull the councillor cop into line over his stance on the flag, a directive the superintendent reportedly was not pleased about carrying out.
It has been speculated Ms Walsh instructed Supt Gillard to get Sgt McKiterick to change his mind about flying the rainbow flag on a permanent basis. You can see where this is going, can’t you? So a big boss allegedly tells a smaller boss to have a word to one of his employees — not about the work they pay him to do, remember, but an unrelated part of our local government democratic process.
Surf Coast’s Cr Heather Wellington has raised serious ethical concerns over this. Cr Wellington, don’t just raise concerns report them to the Office of Police Integrity or the Ethical Standards board for investigation.
Supt Gillard has been on leave for a while because of a dispute with Ms Walsh, leaving Geelong without a senior commander. Whether or not this is related to what I’ve said earlier in this piece I can’t really say.
Police Minister Lisa Neville acted to intervene in the crisis embroiling the force’s top brass but last Friday refused an interview request from the Addy, saying legal restrictions meant the minister could not get involved in disciplinary actions within Victoria Police.
Well, Ms Neville, how about getting involved not only as the Police Minister but also one of Geelong’s senior politicians? Is it not possible for the minister to ask one simple question to the Assistant Commissioner and really sort it out?
I am not suggesting Ms Walsh and Mr Gillard did seek to use their positions to influence the council’s position, only that there is a question to be asked as to whether they did, and the minister should ask that question.
If there is an issue, it needs to be resolved and I can tell Ms Neville exactly how it should go.
Ms Neville: “Hi Tess, just a quick word please, have you got a second?”
Ms Walsh: “Yes, Minister, what’s on your mind?”
Ms Neville: “Given the widespread rumours and speculation re that bloody flag on the Surf Coast, did you really tell Supt Craig Gillard to hop on his bike and try to persuade Sgt Brian McKiterick, an elected councillor, to change his mind. I’ve already got Craig and Brian’s versions.” Ms Walsh: “Umm yes/no.” How simple is that? If the answer is no, then democracy is not under threat from non-elected senior police. If the answer is yes, then we all have a problem.
We would then presumably have to look at whether such a directive is lawful, possibly even harassment or bullying and subverting the democratic process also getting a mention.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman stated no further comment would be made as it had “not received any complaints regarding this matter”.
Assistant Commissioner Brett Guerin, head of Professional Standards, resigned last week due to a lack of ethics and any standards of his own, so perhaps there’s no one to complain to. Regard this as a complaint please, spokeswoman.