Cr slammed for CEO ‘idiot’ rant

By Sarah Schwager
A CASEY councillor has been fined after branding the city’s CEO an ‘idiot’ at Tuesday night’s council meeting.
Four Oaks Ward councillor Paul Richardson refused to withdraw the remark, despite the insistence of his council colleagues.
The comment came after councillors voted to pay for some of deputy mayor Rob Wilson’s expenses when he travels to Malta for a waste management conference.
Cr Richardson’s outburst followed a string of heated remarks directed towards councillors during the evening’s proceedings.
Cr Richardson ranted about overseas travel before taking his seat.
He was then heard by fellow councillors and the press calling CEO Mike Tyler an idiot.
Fellow councillors were quick to call a point of order, but despite calls to apologise, Cr Richardson refused.
Deputy mayor Rob Wilson, who was chairing the meeting in mayor Kevin Bradford’s absence, ruled that the comment made by Cr Richardson was defamatory.
After further discussion, councillor Janet Halsall asked the implications of being found guilty.
Manager corporate services Steve Dalton said a person found guilty of committing an offence was liable for two penalty points, which equated to a $200 fine.
This is not the first time that Cr Richardson has been in hot water.
In February, councillors voted to write to the executive director, Local Government Victoria, advising of its concern that Cr Richardson had breached the Local Government Act by releasing confidential information to the media. This matter is still under investigation.
Councillor Steve Beardon asked for councillors to be lenient with Cr Richardson, saying he hoped the councillor would step back and apologise.
But councillor Mick Morland said every week Cr Richardson made defamatory remarks towards councillors.
“He has been warned numerous times,” Cr Morland said.
“As councillors, we have to conduct ourselves in an orderly manner.”