Melbourne City Council candidate
Brooke Wandin was elected to council last year but then excluded after it was
found that she had falsified her residential address. The machinations that
followed are having ongoing implications for the make-up of the council
including the fortunes of Queen Vic Market trader Michael Caifia who was also
elected.
There has been much legal debate
over how the election should now be treated including a decision by magistrate Michael
Smith at the Municipal Electoral Tribunal which was subsequently overturned by VCAT
president justice Greg Garde this week when he ordered a recount.
The whole matter is quite
complex with a recount having significant implications for council. The voting
majority of Lord Mayor Robert Doyle is at stake as is the future of QVM Trader
Michael Caifia. Michael could lose his seat in the recount to either Susan
Riley or Nick Frances Gilley.
Actually this is not so much
about a market trader losing his seat because ironically Michael is not able to
vote on issues to do with our market. Conflict of interest rules prevent all
councillors from voting on matters in which they have a direct interest. At
Tuesday’s Council meeting, Michael had to leave the room when QVM renewal
details were presented to Council.
No doubt more is to come including
the possibility of a Supreme Court challenge to the latest decision.
