That amounts to 40 years of accumulated leave, according to a report in today's Chronicle. Shock, horror, what a revelation. How did this happen under the watchful eye of the journalists who cover council meetings and scour council budgets looking for just this type of discrepancy?
This situation did not develop overnight. Where were the probing questions and in-depth stories? Probably missed because the journalists either put down their pens or looked the other way.
That staff were allowed to accumulate such a huge slice of leave in the first place is poor management practice and says a lot about the skills of a council overseen by four of our newly elected Fraser Coast councillors, Barb Hovard, Gerard O'Connell, Anne Nioa and Julie Arthur. Former mayor Barb Hovard explained it by saying Maryborough was an old council with a loyal workforce who were willing to postpone their leave if needed.
I am sure there are many more revelations to come as the lid is finally lifted on all four of our former councils.
Tomorrow marks the official beginning of the new Fraser Coast Regional Council. The mayor and councillors will be sworn in at a Statutory meeting at the Maryborough City Hall at 10am.
I urge interested members of the public to start attending council meetings. It is only by watching the councillors perform that you will be able to make a more informed choice at the next election. Unfortunately you cannot rely on getting that information via the daily newspaper.
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