By Brendan Rees
A Casey councillor has launched a scathing attack on a ratepayer for “throwing around untruth” and labelling his group as “Losers in Exile.”
Casey Ratepayers Association spokesman Brendan Browne, who was presenting his submission of matters related to draft revised Council Plan 2017-21 and the 2018/19 Budget at a Casey council meeting on Tuesday 19 June, said “Over a million dollar of savings could’ve been made through this year’s budget and last.”
Cr Sam Aziz questioned Mr Browne as to how he arrived at that figure saying “It’s very easy for you to turn up here and throw around the mantra that this is the tip of the iceberg when in fact it’s not.”
“I called you previously the ‘Casey LIE’ because I can’t get a word of truth out of you. That’s stands also by the way Losers in Exile,” Cr Aziz said in front of a packed public gallery.
Mr Browne said the association was “left scratching their heads” with what he claimed was 9.3 per cent increase in waste collection rate.
He also said: “We are really shocked and dismayed to see the figure of $257,000 being put forward” for the Commit to Casey campaign, whereby Casey Council is calling on the State Government and Opposition to fix Casey’s roads and extend the Cranbourne rail line.
Cr Aziz told Mr Browne he was only interested in “evidence based decision making.”
“The City of Casey is one of the tightest managed council’s in the state and you don’t have to take my word for it, just go and ask the Auditor-General that very question.”
A debate exchanged between the pair, with Cr Aziz interjecting saying “I’m actually elected by the people of Casey and you’re not, you’re just self-appointed.”
Mr Browne said: “I really do find it offensive the way you’ve spoken to me Councillor Aziz.”
With council’s China Engagement Strategy, Mr Browne said $650,000 had been allocated to china over a two year period and “We’re seeing very little value for money; there’s no review process.”
Mayor Cr Geoff Ablett said he made “no apology” for advocating to governments for the Commit to Casey campaign.
“We see this as a big opportunity with two elections coming up in the next 12 months,” he said.
“We’re going to go for the biggest amount of money in Casey’s history during these two elections.”
Cr Tim Jackson said council had “done very well” ensuring waste collection costs were kept to a minimum.
“Council cannot charge any more than it costs us to deliver that service,” he said.
